The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-12
PICKING A MAN.
Insurgents Are Looking Over
the Material on Hand
With a View to Naming a Man
to Succeed Taft.
NOT FOR LA TOILETTE
Wisconsin Man Is Considered to
Be Too Radical.
BristOw Is Keeping an Eye on
the Situation.
NOT FOR LA TOILETTE

| Washington, May 1.-THE long head
ed tribe of politicians say they have
| the secret of Senator LaFollette's iso-
lation as an insurgent candidate for the
presidency. There is talk of other in
surgents but hardly any of them ap-
| pear to have lightning rod up. Sen
ator Cumnins seems to have relin-
guished the field suddenly. According
to an explanation, some people are exc
cutting an old-time and often success
full maneuver.
Senator LaFollette is an EXTREMIST
in politics. He is ultra-radical ultra
progressive and ultra-insurgent. Other
insurgents say they question whether
he can be nominated. On the other
hand, if it should happen that the NOM
ination does not go to President Taft
or some other regular Republican. it
will not go to leader among the in
SurgentS. The man upon whom the
compromise in politics is likely to be
made will be an insurgent who is bro
ken to harness and who will work dou
BILE. Senator LaFollette is not that
kind of an inSurgent.
1t has been matter of speculation
in Washington that Senator Cummins,
of Iowa has allowed himself to become
so much the tail to the LaFollette kite.
This is the explanation. Senator Cum
minis is an astute politician. He knows
that the regular Republican would rath-
er see even Representative Victor Ber-
insurgent leader. So Senator CumminS
lets Senator LaFollette take the spot
light, and with it the criticism and the
kicks.
During the last month friends of SEN
ator Cummins have been saying that
he will increase his chances of nominal
ton if he would cut loose from the in
surgent organization and take middle
course. This he has not yet done.
There are some things in his manner
of campaign that would indicate that
he looks beyond 1912 to 1916, when can
didates will be fewer and chances OF
election perhaps better for a Republl-
can of any stamp.
Senator Joe Bristow, of Kansas, who
does not regard himself as out of the
presidential running by any means is
an exception to the view that Senator
LaFollette is too radical to get the
nomination. There is a suspicion that
Senator Bristow might regard himself
as fit timber for vice president upon
the LaFolIette ticket. To get this place
he would have to overcome handicap
of being from the same middle western
inSurgent belt.
Practical men who look ahead in pol
itics regard the tactics of the insur-
gents in the last month as bringing
them very close to the precipfce. The
leaders are firm in the belief that they
have done the right thing in connec
ton with the organization of the sen
ate There was grave disappointment
that the insurgent fight in the senate
against the organization turned out to
be merely splash in the pan. 1t was
advertised to be a two to four days
jogging of the country's elbow to call
attention to the abuse of power. House
insurgents who congregated in the SELL
ate to watch the regulars Writhe, saw
the organization triumph.
The friends of Congressman A. c.
Mitchell, representing the Second Kan
sas district. still have great concern
over his condition of health. He has
been able to attend but few sessions
of congress.
Kansas arrivals in Washington: s.
B. Wilson, Atchison; r. E. Miller, Fort
Scott; B. n. Kelley, Lawrence.