The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-11

woman suffrage. Many men and wo-
men in Kansas seek to eliminate all
old leaders and those who took part
in the splitting of the G. o. p. into
factions. These three political condi-
lions make the major a candidate to
be reckoned with. Consider what eff
feet loo, 900 women's votes will have on
the outcome.
Democratic Situation.
The Democrats are in a bad way on
the senatorship. Henderson Martin,
their ablest man, has withdrawn from
the fight. Congressman Medley OF the
seventh district has been stung by
senatorial ambition and it looks as
though the sting would either make
him or undo him quite in the next
twelve months. He thinks he has been
badly treated by the state administra-
ton, or some one has told him he has
been badly treated, and it comes to
the same thing.
Bale Waggener of Atchison will
run for senator and he looks like the
Democrats best bet at this time, now
that Martin is out. Brown of Kingman
must pacify Medley from his own dis
trict before he can make much head
way in a state campaign.
Hugh Farrelley of Chanute will not
likely run for the senate. He is lined
up to get Phil CampbelPs congressman
job in the third district. He is sure of
his party nomination, and with a Pro-
gressive in the field it looks bad for
Campbell.
The Kansas People.
Kansas people are not talking or
thinking politics very much at this
time. But rather they are looking with
satisfaction at their pastures coming
green again after the summer drouth.
The 1914 campaign may start very late.
But the bitterness over the Chicago
convention has not abated nor has the
faith in the ultimated destiny of the
G. o. P. grown cold. The reading pub
lie is waiting to see what the national
committee is going to do about south
ern representation at national cOnVen-
lions. That is real issue from the
Kansas viewpoint. The only merger
that seems possible now to the maj or-
ity of Kansas Bull Moosers would be
one that would embody Bull Moose is
sues and keep the Republican party
name. There are simon pure Progress
sive leaders who care little for name if
their principles are saved, while thou
sands of Kansas Republicans will stick
to their party name to the very last,
even while regretting some of its prin-
cipleS. If this trade could be made be-
tween factions of principles for name it
might be a bad trade for the Demo-
Gratis.
Fear a Merger.
1t is q TACT Inat the democrat leaders
leaders of Kansas fear q merger of the
factions of the old dominant party. It
is their nightmare that spoils pictures
of certain success next year. They fear
it more than they do the tariff reac-
ton, the senator fight or all other
things that might happen in the course
of checkered events. There seems to
be little ground for their fears. But
how much or how little it is hard to
tell
Status of a Political Prophet.
A political prophet in Kansas is not
worth the parlor matches used to
start his altar fires. Few leaders are
who talk say but little. The country
dailies and weeklies have cut their
editorial pages to a half column or
less Outside of the clarion utter
ances of the Emporia Gazette and
Charlie SCOTS lola Register, there is
little politics in the papers over the
state. Last year the PrOgreSsives out
voted the regulars two to one, and
they are organized and have money
for next years campaign,
The regulars have the party name
as a trademark and they will make
the most of that. They will depend
upon it like another Aaron's staff to
strike the rock that votes may flow
forth like water. The name is doubt
less worth thousands of votes in every
state in the Union. The old party
leaders here in Kansas are as deter
mined as ever. They say they will get
out and fight next year and put up
the money from their own pocket.
They may do so.
The Kansas battle-ground.
The Kansas battle-ground next year
is sure to attract the attention of the
nation. Bryan is coming here in
February to open the Democratic
campaign. Roosevelt is coming in the
summer. This state is the home of
reform issues. 1t has been Repubh-
can since the war by forty thou
sive strength in Kansas is as deep
rooted and wide in any state in the
nation. The test next year will make
history. w. r. Stubs. Henry Allen
and William Allen White are ma
tional characters. So are those reg
ulars, Charlie Scott and ex-senator
Charles Curtis The Democrats have
developed some able and forceful men
in the past two years. The fight in
general will be warm and it will
make and unmake for years to come.
But the fight for the Kansas Sena-
torship in 1914 will be a scrap to date
political history from. 1t Will have
the famous affairs of Kilkenny hang
ing to the floating wreckaSe in the
midst of the calm waters of peace
and concord. 1t will be a tempest
and a tidal wave and an earthquake
served at one sitting and handed out
all at one time from the MIDST OF me
storm. 1t will remain a riddle I'M
solved to the end-a c1Ouded sky that
only the counting of the ballots can
clear. -. A -
When Will State Committee Meet:
Just when the Republican state COM
mittee will be called together is stlll
a matter of considerable speculation
At present the state committee is In
bad shape It's membership is uncer-
tain and the political affiliations OF
some of the men who were made cOUn-