The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-09
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Speakership Fight the Main
Topic of Conversation.
Orr's Candidacy for the u. s.
Senate.
1T MAY AFFECT THE FIGHT
West Against the EaSt-BrOWn
Is Formidable.
Orr Claims 80 Votes Pledged
to Him.

Did James w. Orr. OF Atchison, make
technical political mistake in an
nouncing his United States senatorial
candidacy at the particular time he
made known his ambitions? Only the
developments of the next week can
tell. But among the wise men who are
talking political affairs in the hotel
lobbies, there is a we'll defined idea
that other Democrats with senatorial
ambitions in their hood will teeter on
the Atchison mans political wishbone
when the speakership caucus is held.
For some months it has been well
known that Orr would be a candidate
for the speakership of the house if the
Democrats won. Well. the Democrats
won. But there are at least four other
men with ambitions for the speaker
ship and their zeal is just as keen as
is that of Orr.
Then, only a week ago, Orr made
public declaration that he was in the
running for the United States senate
two years hence. And now there is
serious question as to whether Orr's
speakership campaign has paid any
dividends since the senatorial an
nouncement. Kansas Democrats, who
are expected to quietly show much
strength in the 1913 legislature are
saying but little about the speakership
fight. Some of them have ambitions
of their own Some of them, perhaps,
might themselves welcome a United
States senatorial boom. And they re-
count the fact that with Orr's sue
cess in the speakership fight, the Atch-
ison man would land big asset in his
proposed fight to succeed Joseph L.
Bristow in Washington.
Aside from the men who actually
have a vote in the legislature, there
are at least a half dozen men of known |
quality and prominence who have quiz |
city hoisted their senatorial lightning |
rod and possibly as many more are |
willing to follow suit on slight provo |
cation. Some of these men will have |
weight and influence among the mem
bers of the house. And from that an
gle, the politicians urge that they will |
not strain any ligaments to advance !
Orr'S chances to win.
There is Hugh P. FarreIley, Hender-
son S. Martin, Col William P. Sapp,
Bale Waggener and some three or
four others who, it is claimed might
be crowded into the running on proper
invitation. So, with a senatorial nibbIe
or their own hook it would be a rank
infraction of political ethics to foist the
cause of an avowed opponent. They re-
call that there are other candidates: !
and while they concede the ability of
Orr to keep things moving in the house.
there is really little occasion for them
to lather over the Atchison mans de-
sire to swing the gavel in the 1918 ses-
sion. And So the politicians argue one
to another, might not the possible OPP
ponents of Orr two years hence, gently
hand their compliments to some other
man who is at least not so dangerous?
Iron Jaw W. L. Brown of King
man, wants the speakership. He wants
it badly. So does Miles Mulroy of
Ellis. And so does. Shuey. of Decatur.
and Lyon, of Lincoln
1t is admitted by the wise politicians
that the fight is really between Orr
and Brown. The Kingman county pio-
neer is considerable of an antagonist
4
that makes him look dangerous. Only
last week a paper in Olathe, Governor
elect Hodges home town, said so many
nice things about Browns candidacy .
that the Kingman warrior looked like
the only safe bet. And with the pub
location of that editorial, another seri-
Gus question arose in the advance
speakership contest.
What will Hodges do about It? Kan
sas politicians recall the fight of 1911
They remind you that Robert Stone, !
of Shawnee, friend of Stubbs and a
Stubs patriot of the first water, !
wanted the speakership. But when !
Stubs took hand in the speakership
fight, he dftched Stone and the Stubs
following went to Judge Buchanan. And
Judge Buchanan won.
To be sure Hodges has SHE'D at any /,
statement of his stand on the speaker
ship fight. But suppose Hodges should
mix in the contest. Would he support Q
OTT@W1Ln In6 possibility gaming the
disfavor of all Orr opponents-or would 5
he advocate the cause of Brown and /
reap the disfavor of Orr and his
friends? Look at it either way. But L
from any angle, it looks like beauti-
full fight 1t will be the first real fac q
tional Democratic fight, but the results s
may be noticeable for many days
And above it all and staring the DEM u
ocratic leaders in the face is Orr's can I
didacy for the United States senate. Sapp 1
For have haar +,yslI
for the Democratic party in the sena- II
toriaI fights in the lean years and Mar
tin has run for congress and guided the Il
destiny of the state committee in sea- o
sons when there were no hopes of vic I
tory Now Orr comes into the lime =
light a full Pledged candidate in what :
promises to another Democratic sea- q
son. And as a stepping stone, he asks |
for the house speakership. II
Possibly the Democratic leaders who a
have no votes in the caucus will stay
out of the fight. But such would hard Z
Nv be true to precedent. And with this
situation less than week before the
opening of the legislature, you are
at liberty to pick the winner. In the
Orr says he has IS votes
more than half of the Democratic
in the house.
Democratic National Committeeman
F. Sapp of Galena has issued
another appeal to Kansans to get be- 7
hind the candidacy of President Henry :
J. Waters of the State Agricultural
college for the appointment as secre- y
lary of agriculture in President Will
sons cabinet Sapp makes appeal not
only to the individual citizen, ire O
spective of party, but urges the Kansas
press to boost the Manhattan man. {
Some time ago I issued an appeal c
to the Democrats asking that they en- [
1orse President Henry j. Waters of !