The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-06-28
POLITICAL GOSSIP.

CONTINUED from Page One.)
| Speaker w. L. Ironjaw) Brown is in
| the fight and really hasn't been out OF
it since the speakership fight was de-
cided last January. Brown has made
| score of speeches recently and has Done
| more visiting to remote corners or the
| state than usually comes to the lot OF
| country lawyer and real estate man
| at this particular season OF the year.
| Senator Bale P. Waggener OF Atchl-
son is running his campaign in a
manner after his own notion ana ~
! one seems to be able to accurately
measure his strength. Waggener hasn't
| been away from home much. but the
veterans yearsin Kansas politics have
given him a prestige over the state that
will make him a dangerous contender
| for the nomination.
Then there is James w. Orr-also OF
Atchison. Orr is a logged. determined
fighter. He has refused to be side
tracked or conjured into the con-
gressional race and will go to the
finish in the senatorial fight, according
to his statement.
Added to this field of four is the
grave possibility that Congressman
George A. Neeley of Hutchinson may
want to run. That will make two SEN
atorial candidates from the Seventh
district and the district is the home of
r
W. r. Stubs in the senatorial race
last fall But there is a report to the
effect that Medley really wants In and
that Senator Jouett Shouse of Kinsley
will try for Neeley's place in congress.
Yet the Democratic congressman In
Washington could untangle the party
difficulties in Kansas to a great extent,
it is claimed. Certain Democrats pc
lieve that Kansas needs new FED
eral judgeship. Those same Demo
Gratis are rather unanimous IN the De,
lief that Henderson S. Martin would
make an exemplary federal judge ana
heartily favor handing him a life JOB.
Presto Things would change al
most instantly in Kansas politics. Fut
Martin on the bench and the pqilli t,s,.
wise ones argue that "Ironjaw' Brown
could be educated to the be1er tnaC
he should sit for two years IN tne
governors chair Governor aouGeS
has already received all the honor anu
glory that comes to the chief execu-
tive of a state. But six years In Inc
United States senate is an added Story.
And with Martin on the rederal DenCh
and Brown running on clear field TOT
the governorship, Hodges would not
cross either of his two close advisers,
and would be at liberty TO jump HlIo
the race himself.
That situation would leave Wag-
gener and Orr in the race ana pos
change his mind in regard to making
the race under these conditions
the result might not be so nara TO
predict as some campaigns or the PAST
Hodges would have Martin and Brown
behind him. waggener is not physi-
cally able to make a personal cam
paign and the fact that he lives in the
same town with Orr, would easily give
Hodges the inside track.
Then again. With Martin ana
Brown in the race, as at present,
Hodges cannot support both candi-
dates. 1t would make an embarras-
sing situation for the administrator.
So the federal judgeship plan was
cooked up, not alone because Kansas
needs someone to help Judge Pollock,
but partly because the Kansas delega-
ton in Washington realize that some
thing must be done to preserve peace
and order in the party ranks
IJncer.-inty concerning the ultimate
success of the harmony movement adds
uncertainty to the predictions and de-
auctions of political weather forecast
ers who freely admit that a probable,
Progressive candidate today may be
Republican possibility tomorrow. This
condition is especially true in the
guberna torial and senatorial contests.
Among the Republican possibilities in
the gubernatorial race are Troutman,
Sessions and Morgan. Each has been
prominently mentioned. And yet there
is the possibility that Capper might de-
eide that the harmonized Republican
party is amply broad, progressive and
efficient to cover his political views.
Under such conditions, there would be
an effort to inject Capper into the
gubernatorial running.
Take the senatorial race. Joseph L
Bristow, the senior United States sem
ator from Kansas-elected as a Repub-
lican-might and may take his chances
in the new Progressive party. Under
those conditions there are the political
dopesters who admit that Charles Cur
tbs might try to come back and
would seek the Republican nomination.
And yet It has been rumored that
Bristow would not object to another
nomination on the Republican ticket
provided the harmonized factions de-
posit a surety bond to keep faith at
the ensuing election. Again. Should
Bristow run as Progressive and Cur
tbs seek the nomination on the Repub-
lican ticket, there is almost certain
to be a second candidate for the Re-
publican nomination. Just who that
man may be, is a matter of which lit
tie has been said. But with Curtis
running it quite certainly would not be
a clear field and some candidate with
out past affiliations to explain would
most likely be crowded into the race.
Yet Curtis himSelf has said nothing as
to his plans.
That bugaboo, the minimum wage,
is to be an issue in Kansas politics
again next year. Last winter the bill
found its way through the house. Then
the senators took a Saturday after
noon off and threw bricks at the pet
hobby of the women's clubs And