The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-27
NOT A DOUBT
In Mind of DOlIey That
Capper Was Elected.
Republican State Chairman
Issues Strong Statement.
CHARGES ELECTION FRAUDS
Alleges Irregularities and a Lot
of Other Things.
Says Denied Recount Because
of TechnicaIity.


state protesting against Arthur Cap
per's decision to allow George H.
Hodges to retain the governorship. In
commenting on the numerous protests
he received, Mr.. Dolley says:
Il fully appreciate Mr.. Capper's posi-
ton as set forth in his published state
ment of his decision not to contest.
The Democrat leaders have shown that
they have no regard for public senti-
ment and Mr.. Hodges has demonstrated
fully that he belongs to the old school
that believes any method of winning is
excusable in politics. A hoard of hun
cry henchmen are clamoring for pie,
regardless of efficiency and the best
interests of the state, consequently, it
is extremely doubtful that a partisan
senate submitted to such pressure
would be willing to render a just de-
cision. No matter how clearly we
proved our case, at the best, they would
and could delay action until it would
be too late for Mr.. Capper to do more
than wear the title of governor without
in reality rendering the efficient serv-
ice the people of Kansas expected OF
him.
There can be no doubt in the mind
of any man who has looked into the
case at all, as to the legal election of
Arthur Capper, George H. Hodges
knows it and the men who engineered
the deal know it. I am firmly con-
vinced that a recount would show that
fully 0000 valid ballots cast for Mr..
Capper were thrown out by judges of
election Many of them under an
honest misapprehension of the provi-
sions of the present Australian ballot
law. If even one-tenth of the Capper
had been counted, Mr.. Capper would
have a clear plurality.
But that is not the worst feature
of the case. In precincts the count
was accompanied by fraud of the most
open and notoriously fragrant charac-
ter 1 have been shown some ballots
stolen out of regular ballot boxes in
certain county. These. illegally cast
ballots were not only stolen, but il
legally and corruptly obtained ballots
We're substituted in their stead. This
is a steal as notoriously corrupt as any
ballot box thievery ever perpetrated
by Tammany in its most prosperousiy
wicked days. If I had not seen and
examined these ballots with my own
eyes, 1 would not have believed that
such a fIagrant theft could have been
successfully accomplished or even at
tempted anywhere in Kansas. The
people of Kansas have believed that
they had an absolutely honest election
in all of the precincts and counties
under the Australian ballot law. 1 re-
gret to say this is not true.
81 am told, and I believe it is true,
that enough of these crooked ballots
were substituted in one precinct alone
to more than make up the majority
upon which a certificate was given to
Hodges on the face of the returns.
IF these statements, exhibits and
reports are true, and I believe they
are said Mr.. Dolley, discussing the
decision of the supreme court, Il ask
in all fairness and justice, If the re-
turns illegally and dishonesty made
by these officers of election should be
counted final, and the men who pro-
fitted by them given certificates OF
election, in a state whose proudeSt
boast is submission to the sovereignty
of law and whose best asset for eight |
years has been the aggressive fight it
has been making for civic righteous !
ness and for the rule of the people by |
the deliberate and legally expires
wish of majority OF the cluZehs-
NO candidate for governor has ev- |
er been more honestly, fairly and !
squareIy elected governor, since KAN I
sas has been a state than was Arthur
Capper and no decision or an opinion
from any tribunal on earth can square /
itself with justice in denying him the
right of a qualified citizen to be inaug- /
urated into the office to which the /
people elected him by a decisive ma [
jority.
I'm less than 800 of the 1900 voting
precincts of Kansas we have discover /
ed more than 1000 ballots that were /
legally cast for Mr.. Capper and bodily 1
thrown out because marks were made /
in the circle as we'll as in the square, /
which under an old law were illegal, |
but which are perfectly legal and /
proper under the present existing law. |
IF we have no judicial machinery /
to correct palpable errors OF this sort, |
without going before prejudiced po-
Htical body for redress at a great ex- !
pense to the public, then 1 believe |
with Justices Johnston and West, that |
the clock of justice and civic right |
eousness in Kansas has had its hands
turned a long way backward
Mr.. Capper is a man who can be |
to view the matter from a
patriotic plane and he has never been
a hard loser and is not hard loser
in this case, although he knows, and /
was fraudulently and technically de-
feated for governor, although he was
the majority candidate by several
thousand votes. 1 cannot help sharing
the general regret that his decision is
such as it is
THE Inauguration of Hodges is an
outrage against common honesty and
thinking of Kansas Republicans and /
Democrats alike will forever resent
Mr.. Hodges will go into Kansas his
tory as governor of Kansas placed
there by a minority vote and techni-
calities.
Mr.. Capper has said from the be-
ginning, November 6, that he did not
want to be governor of Kansas unless
he was fairly and squarely elected. Mr.
Hodges should be patriotic, square
and fair enough to say to the people
Of Kansas that he would insist upon