The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-17
VIM. Allen White Writes ID. w.
MuIvane's Political Obituary.
Says He Went Down With Ship
Like Gentleman.
HAS SERVED HIS PARTY WELL
Loyal to His Friends and POIit-
ical Associates.
Three Republican Congressman
Not Opposed for denomination

William Allen White thinks that
Dave Mulvane, national committeeman
ought to have better political obit-
uary than the one Mr.. Mulvane pre- ,
pared for himself. Mulvane told the
State Journal reporter, IF you must
write my obituary. put me down as
the national committeeman who never
used the place to get himself job
Mr.. White. who will take Mr.. Null
vane's place as committeeman after
the national convention next month,
declares that there ARE many and
better things to say of Mulvane than
that" White looks over MulvaneS 5
record and finds that it was ideal for
the cause he represented. That hs
played the game according to the old
rules. That he was loyal to his friends
and associates. That he could not
change his methods because he believed
in them. $50 he tipped his hat and
went down with the ship like gentle
man." In an editorial in his Emporia
Gazette Mr.. White says, under the
heading of Dave:
Our genial and urbane friend. David
W. Mulvane, is quoted as saying, II
you must write my epitaph, put me
down as the national committeeman
who never used his place to get him
self a job There are, however, many
things and better things to say Of
David M. Mulvane at the close of his
II years incumbency of the national
comnitteeship. He has worked hard
for his party with great efficiency and
with a zeal born of deep convictions
about the Importance of his party in
the scheme of the universe. Moreover
while serving his party he has served
his friends. He has been loyal to his
friendships, to his political associates
in the wing or faction of the party to
which he belonged He never was
known as a compromiser. He was an
in haf af
that believes that the interests OF the
party hold all of the good Of the coun-
try; that the success of a faction is
necessary to the best success of a
party, and logically, therefore, that the
promotion OF the fortunes of his per
sonal friends is one of the first and
greatest duties of a political leader.
THAT was Dawes idea of things. He
followed it consistently and with te-
nacity of purpose. When he was elect
ed twelve years ago, that was an ac-
cepted ideal of practical politics. Every
one who could get into county con-
vention believed that it was dishon-
orable to desert a personal friend In
politics, that it was disgraceful to leave
your crowd, that it was treason to
your country to bolt your party But
times change and men change with
them. Perhaps the pendulum will swing
back to that theory of politics again.
At present it is swinging in the other
the shoulders of the nation. Factions
chystallize around an idea or a leader,
and when either has served its pur-
pose or run it's course, the faction
atrophies and disappears. It is con-
Sidered bad form in politics to let ones
personal friendships Influence ones
political actions. Men today vote not
for their friends but for principles
A man and his friend may be violent
political opponents. A man may get
ffOhf
candidate running on the wrong plat
form.
But Dave Mulvane has small use for
this kind of politics. He considers il
twaddle. He finds himself out of SYM
pathy with his state upon matters of
political faith. and practical politics.
Any man in public life for twelve years
VIII meet one or two things: Either he
comes to place where he will have 10
change his methods or get out of pub
lie life. Dave could not conscientfouslv
change his method They were what
they were because he believed In them.
So he tipped his hat and went down
with the ship like gentleman"
The fight for Republican congress
sional nominations has been lined up
and it may now be said that the en-
tries are closed. There will be con-
tests in the First. Second, Third, Sew
enth and Eighth districts jackson
in the Forth, Rees in the Fifth ana
Young in the Sixth do not appear to
have opposition.
In the First. Anthony will be on
posed by Judge Stuart of Troy In
the Second, State Senator J. L. Brady
of Lawrence, John F. Crider of Fort
Scott and e. A. Enright of Kansas
City will contest for the nomination.
In the Third, w NJ. Gray of Chanute
will go after Phil CampbeIIs seat. In
the Seventh, Lieutenant Governor
Richard J. Hopkins and Judge Cor
don Finley will fight for the nomfna-
tion. Hopkins is from Garden CITY
and Finley from Dodge City. In the
J. B. Adams of E1Dorado will
try for Victor Murdock's seat.
Anthony, Murdoch, Campbell and
Curtis are the only four left of the
Kansas delegation of ten at Washing
ton four years ago. Long was de-
feated by Bristow for the nomination.
Anthony was assailed for the nomfna-
ton but kept his seat. Scott was de-
feated by Alex Mitchell and then
death claimed Mitchell and hfs seat
Is occupied today by Taggart, a Demo-
crat. Campbell successfully defended
his seat two years ago. Miller was
beaten by Jackson and Ca1derhead by
Rees and Reeder by Young Madison
defended his seat successfully against
human effort only to succunb to ia
tai Illness. This year these four states
men will all have to fight for the
nomination of their party. Murdock
alone appears to be sure of renomfna-
ton and he will have a harder fight
for election.