The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-24
Gordon Finley in Congressional
Race to Win.
Indignantly Denies He Is Try
ing to Help Martin.
LINES ARE NOT DRAWN
Gets Support From Both Regu-
lars and Insurgents.
Judge Thompson Not Demo
cratic Candidate.

The fight in the Seventh district for
the Republican congressional nomina
ton is a hummer. While it had been
thought that the race would be be-
tween Judge Martin of Hutchinson and
r. L. Hopkins of Garden City, it now
appears that Gordon Finley of Dodge
| City, successor to Ed Madison as judge
of that district, has a chance to win
Finley is the dark horse.
1t has been charged in the Hutchin-
son papers that Finley was brought
into the race by Senator Curtis in the
interest of Judge Martin in an effort
to beat Hopkins. Dumont Smith, w.
Y. Morgan and other skillful leaders
/ of the old convention days live at
Hutchinson and they are said to be
behind Martins candidacy.
But Finley declares that he is in the
race on his own hook and will fight to
a finish and expects to win. He an
sWers the Hutchinson papers in an
open letter to the State Journal and
also explains the support of Louis
Madison, brother to the late con-
gresham. While Ed was progress
! Sive, Louis is regarded as a regular in
politics. Judge Fin1ey's letter follows:
Editor State Journal: The Hutchin-
son Gazette charges that was
brought into the congressional race in
the interest of F. L. Martin and that
Senator Curtis is behind my candidacy.
This is an unqualified falsehood and is
printed solely for the purpose of in
juring me before the people of this dis
trict The Gazette, being Dem Ocratic,
is evidently trying to create trouble
among the Republicans. 1 am in this
race to win and the prospects of my
success are more than bright. My
DeOple at home know me to be a pro-
gressive Republican but they are sup
porting me there regardless of faction
alism. They know l. am candidate in
good faith and because there is
splendid chance for my success.
Ia I m k
ing and the assurances of support I
am receiving from both factions of our
party, indicate my good faith better
than anything I can say
l. A. Madison, a brother of our late
representative, is charged by the Ga
zette with actively supporting me- This
is true and is due to lifelong friend
ship, having been SchOOlmateS and law
partners. and is also because he be-
lieves that my political views more
nearly coincide with those of his
brother than do those of the other
candidates. If it is wrong to have the
friendship and support of the Madison
family, then 1 am not only guilty of a
wrong but am proud of it.
GORDON L. FINLEY
The Liberal Democrat pays the fol-
lowing tribute to Judge William H.
Thompson of Garden City, a former
Topeka boy:
Judge William Fl. Thompson of this
district has been urged by many men
of all political parties to get into the
congressional race, and even Champ
Clark when here, promised if he would
enter the contest he would come into
the district ana make speeches for him.
With such encouragement, it would
seem difficult for anyone to resist.
While Judge Thompson fully appre-
ciateS the honor rendered him, yet lie
feels that with the handsome endorse
rnent given him by the people of this
district last fall that he now owes
them a duty to remain where he IS.
To leave the bench now would result
in an appointment by Governor Stubs,
dictated by the element which Judge
Thompson and his friends have twice
prevented securing control of the judge
ship, and would not at all be satisfac- |
tory to the people of this district. He
is therefore grateful enough, and big
enough 70 decline the high honors. His |
many loyal frieI DIS are in hopes, how |
ever, he may enter the senatorial race |
next year, when there will be a much |
better chance for the judgeship to Re-
main Democratic, and at the same |
time for a higher advancement for
Judge Thompson.
The Grinneu Record discusses con
gressionsI politics in the Sixth district |
as regards a Democratic opponent COR
Congressman I. D. Young as follows:
while the Democrats of the Sixth |
district are casting about for a candi- |
date for congress, we want to suggest |
that they let their consideration rest |
for a moment on Wayne j. Davenport, |
the big farmer who represents Cove |
county in the legislature. Frank Rookie |
Teller, who made the race last year, |
may want to try it again, but his name |
is an unfortunate handicap. John Con- |
nelly is a big man, but he is reticeut |
about getting in the game Fred Rob |
ertson has other ambitions. The De- |
catur county bunch is in family quar-
rel which makes them not altogether
desirable Mr. Davenport is not one |
of these silver tongCed spellbinders, but |
If he went down to Washington it would |
be safe 10 bet all hopes of the here |
after that he would never cast dis
honest vote, that he would fight with |
his face to the front and that nobody |
would work him for a minute He is
a farmer and man of the people |
and that is the kind or a man we /
want to send down to Washington. We |
believe Mr.. Davenport has never con-
sidered the possibility of himself being |
a candidate for congress, but we cant |
think of a single reason why he /
wouldn't be a good congressman !