The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-24
POLITICAL GOSSIP
DIR. Graybill Has About Con-
cIuded to Run for Governor.
Joe Mercer Comes Out Square
Bull Moose.
NOT HARMONY CANDIDATE
Way Run for Congress in
Fourth District.
Chase County Man Talks Poll
tics Without Quibbling.

| DR.. ]. w. Graybin of Newton will
doubtless be a candidate for the Re-
publican gubernatorial nomination
next year. The Newton man admits
as much himself and expects to make
a formal announcement of his plans
about the first of the year.
| As a lodge official Graybill has spent
| much time in the various counties of
| the state. He is in close touch with
conditions and believes that the Re-
publicans will be able to win in Kan
sas next year, especially in the cleo
ton of a governor. Governor Hodges.
/ according to the Graybill claims, is not
nearly as strong as last year and in
event the Republican harmony move
ment bears fruit in Kansas, a Repub-
lican will be elected chief executive to
succeed the Olathe Democrat.
Politically, DIR. Graybill is hardly in
the same classification with the aver
age harmony candidates. Most of tho
| harmony candidates have been men
who voted for Roosevelt last fall and
| opposed the Stone resolution if they
had vote in the party council. But
! Graybill is different. He is an old
line Republican and admits that he is
| rather proud of it. Still further, he
| voted for Taft last fall and has never
been heard to apologize. OF course
! that doesn't mean that Graybill is
| finding fault with his brethren as to
| their political beliefs. He is just diff
ferent from the average harmony cam
didate.
Thinks Republicans VIII Win.
II have been pretty well over the
state in the last few MONTHS" said Dr..
Graybill, land the Republicans are go
ing to win in Kansas next year. 1t
isn't the harmony movement alone
that is responsible for the present con-
ditions in the state, although there
have been hundreds of Roosevelt sup
porters of last fall who have come back
to the party. But the real hopeful con-
dition of the Republicans, so far as
state issues are concerned. is the
weakness and the blunders of the
Democrats.
Governor Hodges will unquestion-
ably be beaten in the race for re-elec =
ton next year He made the fight last
fall with dissension in his party. But
conditions are worse now. 1 look for
him to lose, even in a three-cornered
fight. The appropriations of the last
legislature and the admissions of the
Democrats that they are unable to re-
duce taxes will lose them the conf
dence even of members of their own
party and they have a tremendous
handicap to carry in the next election"
May Run for Governor.
''Will you be a candidate for the Re-
publican nomination for governor next
year?" was asked of Graybill.
''Wel1, there is this much about thu
matter" replied Graybill as he ran his
hands through a head of black curly
hair, 'I am thinking the matter over
mighty seriously-you can say that
much for me. AS for a final state
rnent, I will probably not make one
before the first of the year. have re-
ceived hundreds of letters asking me to
run and L don't mind saying that che
running looks pretty good to me-.
I,,,r~ fNT1iz
Republican gubernatorial candidate,
might be a Progressive candidate for
congress in the Fourth district and
would be glad to see Arthur Capper
take up the Progressive burden in
Kansas and accept the Bull Moose
nomination for governor. Such is the
text of a statement made today by the
former representative from Chase
county and recent live stock sanitary
commissioner.
Recently it was reported that Mer-
Ger was wavering in his fight for the
Progressive cause in Kansas and might
return to the Republican camp. On
the heels of this rumor came the re-
port that Mercer might also be offered
up as a harmony candidate for COVER
nor next year. For several weeks Mer-
Ger allowed the little boonlet to float
around loose. But today Mercer re-
called the harrnonized governorship
gressive and is for harmony only when
the leaders have agreed to support pri-
mary nominees and when some ma
chinery in the national organization
is properly repaired.
Il was asked on the occasion of my
visit to Topeka some five weeks ago
if I would be willing to run for gov
.ernor as a harmony candidate on the
Repu blican ticket" said Mercer II
had never thought the matter before
that time and have given it but little
consideration since. 1 admitted to a
few personal friends that such a pro-
position had been made and that is
all. I appreciated the honor suggested
especially from the fact that it came
from such splendid fellows as it did.
Il am chairman of the Progressive
committee for my county 1 did not
attend the Troutman-Stone harmony
meeting in June. 1 did attend the Pro-
gressive meeting on the same subject
May Run for Congress.
''I have been talked of as a Progress
sive candidate for congress from the
make that race. At present, however.
1 am not a candidate for any office,
therefore am under no restraint in
speaking my political thought
'sSome of the regulars and progress
siveS are still talking harmony, but it
seems that talk is all there is to it.
They say let's have harmony That's
all. They don't give terms. speciffca-
tions or contracts. If they were COM
wen have harmony if you will give
me my way. That's what 1 would say
you mark me, that's about what they
all would say.