The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-13

to Kansas. The widest dreamer IL
American politics would not pretend
to say that there was any thought al
that time of Colonel Roosevelt's sue
ceeding MI Taft as president of the
United States.
Upon President Taft's own sugees-
ton and request, I recommended the
appointment of arkansas man for assis-
| tant attorney general, and If I have
ever made any other request of Presi
dent Taft for appointments, they have
been of such a formal character, that
I have no recollection whatever of
having made them.
THE Taft campaign managers evil
IDENTIFY have double purpose in send
ing out this attack upon me; one, to
swat Roosevelt's popularity; and an
other. to help Senator Curtis come
back to the United States senate.
Referring to the statement that
am endeavoring to ride into the Unit
ed States senate on the coat tails Of
In stating that during the past three
years that I have been governor of
Kansas, have not, publicly or priv
ately, announced that I would be a
candidate for the United States SEN
ate, neither have / asked one solitary
citizen to work for me, or vote for
me for United States senator
Il am, however, fully satisfied that no
state in the Union ought to re-elect
United States senator who voted last
year to give a man the right to represent
the Aemerican people in that honorable
body, when that mans election had been
secured by corrupting members of the
legislature of his state. A vote to give
Senator Lorimer seat in the United
States senate was a vote to make the
rights of a senator whose election had
been bought with corrupt money good
as the election OF a man who had received
the honest vote of an honest people. Il
is not important whether Senator Lorim &c
personally purchased those votes, or
whether they were bought with the
money of the big corporations, who are
charged with doing the job. The sole and
only question involved in this matter IS %
determine once for all whether, after a
election TO the highest legislative body in
the world has been secured by corruptinS
members of the legislature of state. the
senate will place its final approval upon
that transaction. I hereby declare that
Senator Curtis vote for LOrimer was O
vote representing the wishes of the cor
rupt interests and influences of this ma
on and did not in any way represent
either the wishes or the welfare Of the
.'Since the vote on Lorimer last year.
twelve United States senators who voted
for him have been defeated in their
states, or retired from the senate. And
1t seems impossible that the Kansas
people will re-elect Senator Curtis. even
though he, through fear of them and TIE
certainty of Lorimers defeat by the
twelve new senators, may change his
attitude and the next time vote to Gust
Lorimer
ssrrherefore. for this and various other
reasons, believe it is the duty of some
one to become a candidate against Sena-
tor Curtis, and I am pleased beyond ex
preston TO be assured by my friends all
over Kansas that they are expecting me
to be that candidate have been so busy
with official duties that I have not at
tempted to make any define plans for a
senatorial campaign. but when am con-
vineed that the proper time has come 20
do so. I shall publicly announce my cam
oidacy and the reasons therefor"