The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-11-16
Democrats Will Need to Stand
United to Save Hodges.
CONTEST TO THE SENATE
Now Likely That Thompson Be
Elected without Dissent.
His $4,000 Majority Looms Too
Big for Politicians to Oppose.

a
hands in the coming session of the leg
islature, the well defined and shreWdly
laid plan to spring a dark horse Iof
the United States senatorship has Id
ken a back seat. In fact there VIII
probably be no bolt of Thompson az
all and all the craft and cunning u
the wise political leaders will be com
bined with the activity of the polltlcdl
oil can carriers to aid and abet the
Hodges cau5e in the senate II Is IL
the zeal to save Hodges that Ihoihp-
son will be saved a tight IN MS own
party and unless there is change IN
the present alignment, Thompson Win
go to the United States senate Will
out a murmur of protest
A few days have made a great
change in the Kansas situation
Thompson was slated for pumping
when the election was over 1t was
proposed that at the proper time
new candidate would be announced
that a situation could be forced WhlcA
would call forth a deadlock and thd'
some one of three or four Democrats
prominent in Kansas affairs might sue
ceed Charles Curtis to seat IN the
upper house in Washington. But some
thing happened. That something was
the Capper- Hodges fight for the Kan
sas governorship and the apparent GER
taiuty that the new Democratic state
senate will be called on to decide the
fight.
In the last few days the wise Dem
ocratic leaders have realized that TOO
many fights might sidetrack all their
plans They realized right from the
start that it was a difficult task TO
organize a successful bolt OF Ihomp-
son. But to keep their organzauoI'
behind their party candidate Ior gov
ernor, is much easier. To attempt TO
successfully execute both programs
There would = /
cross fire N the alignment. Then
Thompson would be provided with
back fire that must be reckoned Wlth'
His friends in the senate might 1or-
get their party fealty in the Suoerna-
toriaI scrap and chaos would result
where there should De hdl lnioHS A
united effort.
The Democrats are coming to Topeka
this winter with a grim determination /
to do something. 1t is the hrst time IN
18 years that they have held undlsputeo
control of both branches of the legisla- |
ture They have just won fiVe or the
eight congressional contests, elected a |
limited States senator for the first time
since Senator Harris was sent to |
Washington. And ON top of it all, they |
have at least a good fighting chance
to contral the state patronage with
Democratic governor. So why spoil
this picture with a fight on Thompson,
who could certainly kick back and
might arouse a world of factional |
strife? And what is the occasion for
internal troubles among the Kansas
Democrats just at this time, anyhow?
So there you are. If Hodges must
contest for the governorship, he will go
to the senate. That senate will at least
give Hodges a good and fair hearing.
In addition to the q tried and true
Democratic members, there are at least
a half dozen of the regular Repubi-
can members-staunch Taft supporters
and in no wise ardent political admirers
of Capper.
And now, six weeks before the legis-
lature convenes, the situation is appar-
emily fair and serene. Hodges inter
ests alone are hanging in the balance
and in an effort to protect his rights,
the proposed plan to tidetrack Thomp-
son is laid on the rack.
And then, fight or no fight for COVER
nor, Judge Thompson Won the fight
fairly before the people of the state.
both for nomination and election. 1t is
not likely that many legislators will be
found who care to go on record against |
the choice of a majority of the people !
1t is not well to wrest honors fairly won
from man and give them to some one
who did not enter the stress of the
fight.
The Throop hotel has been the
scene of a lively political discussion
the last week and in the hotel, which
Is known as Democratic Headquarters
plans have been laid for the fight to
put Senator George H. Hodges in the
governors chair. Appeals have been
sent to Dem ocratic workers in all parts
of the state and already Chairman
Martin is assured thar the party
workers in the state will finance the
gubernatorial fight in the senate.
Last night a half dozen prominent
Democratic leaders We're in conference
with Chairman Martin of the Demo-
cratic state committee. Plans for the
Capper-Hodges contest were discussed.
but the nature of this discussion has
not been made public. Among those
who attended the conference were
Judge A. NJ. Jackson of Winfield. con-
lender for the gubernatorial nomina-
non in the August primaries: Dudley
Ooohttle, congreSsman-elect from the
Fourth district; DR.. j. H. Sippy. who
tS,,.n = prominent in his party's affairs in
sumner county, and Frank Comiskev
or OF crawford county. Judge Jackson
VIII spend the day in Topeka and viii
prooaply appear as one of the attor-
heSs Tor Hodges in the contest case.
me Democrats will probably CON
t o[ol - votes in the legisla ture next
WIller on joint ballot of the two
houses. This is IA votes more than a
w Wothlng majority of the two branches
0o,..t On s.e leslslature. There are 21 Dem
1 GGs IN the senate and of the los
hhoWn members of the 1q12
mouse, there are SO DernocratS r. =;
claiIi!eo that at least seven of the re-
Inalhlhg 20 members of the bo,Ise 90 |
80 relts and this number will in
sure saTe majority for the Demo |
Gratis in both houses In +ba Io11 .Io
SION there We're 81 Democratic NEW
hers of the house and five ~. -.s.t
in the senate. q -