The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-10

Arthur Capper, Republican Candidate
nOunceS That He Will Not Contest
Election of George Hodges, Demo-
crat.
loyal supporters to try so far as lay
in his power to gain possession of the
office. The decision of the supreme
court not order a count of rejected
legal ballots decided Mr.. Capper not
to go further into the matter. If the
court stopped at a technicality then
the Democratic senate the only other
recourse, would be apt to see this
same technicality grow to mountain
size. Thus argued Mr.. Capper in
reaching his conclusion.
The statement of case and conclu-
sion by Mr.. Capper is manly and
clear. He is a game loser after hav-
ing made a good fight. He takes a SEN
sible, cheerful view of the situation.
The statement, which follows, does
him credit:
a plurality of 5000 or more. Accord
ingly, 1 have felt in duty bound to
stand by and defend the choice of the
people. This 1 have done so long as
there was fair possibility of rectify-
ing the blunder made by many of the
election judges in rejecting the thous-
andS of circle and cross marked bal
lots cast in my favor, which the law
expressly states are legal and should
be counted.
In submitting this difficulty to the
supreme court of Kansas, l appealed
for redress to the highest legal tri-
vote of to 2, under a technical con-
struction of the law, was unable to
find a remedy other than a recount
several weeks in the future by the
Democratic senate, a very doubtful ex-
pedient for an OppOition candidate
looking for justice, merely, instead of
q dispute.
In the meantime Mr.. Hodges will
have been inducted into office He will,
of course, proceed with his appoint
ments and much of the work of the
legislature will have been accomplish
ed before this partisan board in the
senate can or will take up and con-
clude such a contest.
Even if the blunder of the election
judges could be righted in a political
body at that late hour, which is ex-
tremely doubtful, 1 can see no hope
that as governor 1 should be able to
carry out any definite program of leg
islation with hostile political major
ity against me in both branches of the
legislature.
on the other hand, Mr.. Hodges,
working with a legislature of his own
political faith, will have an ideal op-
portunity to serve Kansas. feel it is
now for the best interest of the state
that Mr.. Hodges, and the party he
represents, be given that opportunity,
and that, so far as may be in their
labor for the public good, that political
differences be forgotten. Mr.. Hodges
has my best wishes for the next two
years and I shall be glad to assist
in any way I can in making his ad-
ministration one that will be helpful
to the state.
I became a candidate for governor
strong in the hope that, through a pro-
gressive policy and a businesslike ad-
ministration, 1 should be able to do
something still further worth while for
the state in which 1 was born and
which has done much for me. I tried
to the best of my ability, to conduct
clean, clear-cut campaign. free from
mudslinging and personalities.
The resuIt-though I am deprived
through technicalities of the honor I
sought-is not without its compensa-
tions both to me personally and to the
cause I represented. For my handsome
majority in the primary and my un-
questioned election by the people of
Kansas during a time of political up
heaval and with so many of the old
am keenly and deeply appreciative-
But more important than my personal
feelings is this campaigns contribution
to the cause of more efficient methods
in the conduct of popular elections. !
The spectacle of the highest tribunal of
the state with it's hands hopelessly tied |
in tangle Of absurd technicalities,