The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-14
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Hodges Columbus Speech on
National Prohibition.
It Causes Mutterings Among
Some Old Line Democrats.
WILL BILLIARD RUN AGAIN?
Will the Wet Vote Support
Hodges for U. s. Senate?
His Vote There VIII Count
Heavy for Prohibition.

Governor Hodges Columbus speech
favoring nationaE prohibition is caus-
ing mutterings among some Kansas
Democrats of the old school. The
policy supported by the Kansas ex-
ecutive is in direct conflict with the
fundamental principles of the party.
they declare; and while some OF these
Democrats were either luke-warm
or openly opposed to Hodges In the
last campaign, it is quite certain that
his Columbus speech will do almost
anything except win them back.
The Kansas governor first made his
stand on national prohibition when he
sent a telegram denouncing the stand
taken by Governor Baldwin of Con-
necticut in his opposition to the ma
tional prohibition platform in the re-
vised doctrine adopted by the Con-
gregational churches at their national
convention in Kansas City several
weeks ago. That brought the first
outburst of opposition from the DEM
ocrats. Then when it was announced
that Governor Hodges was to journey
all the way to Columbus, Ohio, to adj
vocate national prohibition in speech
before the Anti-saloon League of
America, the mutterings became a
howl of opposition.
billiard Democrats Are Wroth.
To be sure most of the opposition
to Hodges stand has come from the
faction known as the Billiard Demo-
Gratis in Kansas. They are the friends
of the resubmiSsiOn movement, or II
not so strongly stated. firm believers
in the old theory that Democratic
principles are in conflict with state
or nationwide prohibition. And
Hodges, being of a younger generation
with new views, laughs at the old
crowd and arouses against himself an
opposition which may be of more
than passing importance in the next
campaign-regardle of whether
Hodges is a candidate for governor
or United States senator.
1t was the Hodges announcement
that he would defend the cause OF
national prohibition, it is claimed. that
occasioned the recent statement by j
b. Billiard, former mayor of Topeka
that he was contemplating making
the race next year as an independent
candidate for governor.
Would Billiard Opposition Hurt?
Since that announcement, however
some of the Billiard following have re
considered the matter. So they are nov
trying to keep the Topekan out of tn
race 1t Is urged that with Billar'
out of the race the Democratic re
submission vote would be cast solidl.
for an opposition candidate who Nigh
beat Hodges in the election.
But with Billiard running independ
emit and en- straight resubmissiol
platform. he would collect ~all of tn
resubmission votes of all parties. Tha
vote, it is contended, would not b
enough to elect Billiard. but would b
amply sufficient to insure the election
of Hodges by an overwhelming major
ity, since every vote cast for Billar
would be a half vote for Hodges. ar
guing from the standpoint that all re
submission votes would be against tn
present governor. It is with this theor,
in view that the resubmission Demo
Gratis are now trying to keep Billar
of the gubernatorial track
Many of the Billiard followers in To
peka admit that they will not supper
Hodges in the next election and the
excuse their opposition by the state
ment that Hodges violated the teach
ings Of the party in his Columbu
speech. OF course Hodges received som
Of the votes in the 1912 election whic
bad been cast for Billiard in the Aug