The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-13
Same. Answer Now He Made
Three Months Ago.
HE IS STILL WAITING
Far Away Look in His Eyes
During Interview.
No Announcement on Governor
Candidacy or Convention.
Arthur Capper is wabb:,ng.

certainty that has cnaracterlzeo tne az
tions of the Topeka publisher since he
took his first lessons in the harmony
hesitation waltz. He may be Re-
publican candidate for governor. Yet
wise men Of all parties believe today
that Capper has quit. Within an hour
after Henry j. Allen announced as
the Bull Moose gubernatorial candi-
date, the political stock ticker began
to show a depressing, bearish tendency
toward Bristow- -Capper stock in the
political market. Now the harmony
leaders are looking for a new and more
promising investment.
Nothing to say-now.
following the Allen announcement at
the Progressive meeting of Thursday.
That was all. Nothing-now. 1t was
the same statement which Capper Is
sued three months ago. Maybe tomor-
row, possibly in a week, perhaps IN
month, Capper will have something TO
say. He set no dates. He Is think
ing.
Blotting Out of Fond Hopes.
With Aliens announcement, many
fond hopes in the Capper camp were
bIotted out. For several days the Cap
per following had sought to work out
a plan whereby the Progressive leaders
WOulQ enQOrSe lue 1Opckdn AOA SoNCA
nor. 1t was a brand new harmony
program which didn't seem to provide
terminal facilities for Senator Joseph
L. Bristow, but made the Capper can
didacy look several shades brighter.
The Capper endorsement plan was
first tried on w. r. Stubbs. then the
news was slipped to Murdock, Allen.
White and others of the third party
leaders. 1t is said that Stubbs might
have endorsed Capper and not Allen be-
come a candidate. But with Allen in
the running. the Progressives are uni
ted. To run now, Capper must make
the race on a triangular track, with
most Of his old friends on the Allen
corner.
So Capper hesitates-still.
Has Nothing to Say.
IT have nothing to say-now," said
Capper today in answer to questions
about his probable candidacy. will
not say anything for several days." he
addeu.
Twill you make a statement In
week?" was asked.
Il don't know was the reply.
Did you expect Allen to announcer"
asked visitor to Capper's Office.
well. I am not surprised" said Cap
per. Il rather thought the Progress
But there was an evidence of sadness
in Capper's tone and a far away look
in his eyes as he talked Of the Bull
Moose festivities. Their celebration,
apparently, contained little Joy for him.
In the hotel lobbies last night and to-
day the ProgreSsives were rejoicing.
White Doesn't Think He Will Run.
"Capper will never make the race. in
my opinion said William Allen White,
Progressive national committeeman
He has no starting point and no ter
minal facilities and his plans for COM
1,ox 20 1n6
first button Is still his guiding star and
he will not be candidate"
Democrats wore broad smiles Tney
foresaw victory in the three cornered
fight and the whirlwind campaign
which Murdock and Allen will make in
Kansas this fall. Governor Hodges
showed less interest in the matter than
any state house Democrat.
TT doesn't make any difference to
me-" said the governor. I'VE are WILL
don't want to take advantage Of any
one. Personally would welcome Cap
per's candidacy in straight two party
fight
Governor Hodges would make no
statement about the probable strength
which Allen will command in the CUB
ernatorial contest Yet several state
house Democrats admitted that they
believed Allen would be contender in
the campaign for election this fall.
-
the Allen announcement on his prob
able candidacy was the chief topic OF
discussion today among political lead
ers. Not only has Capper hesitated in
the matter Of an announcement. but
he is not disposed to discuss the plan
for a pre-primary convention and ten
tative state platform.
What do you think of the pre-pri-
mary and state platform plan?" was
asked Of Capper today.
Would Not Talk About Convention.
Il do not care to discuss the matter
at this time,' said Mr.. Capper who
begged to be excused from a further
discussion of political affairs since he
had an important business engage
ment.
With the record of failures Of the
Bristow-Capper combination to effect
compromises with the Bull Moose in
Kansas, there is a general belief that
Capper will not ask for the governor
ship nomination this year. Should he
refuse to run there is belief that eth
er Charles F. Scott of lola or Senator
James A. Troutman of Topeka will
seek the nomination. Secretary OF
State Charles Sessions is also men,
toned. But all Of these men will prob
, ably await Capper's final decision be-
fore making an announcement of their
plans.
And Mr.. Capper's plans are a mat
ter concerning which he himself ad-
mits are in considerable doubt.
TrOuthman Nothing to Say, Neither
Senator James A. Troutman had
nothing to say today about his candi-
dacy for governor-will say nothing. in
fact, until after the meeting of the
state committee some time hence
Troutnnan has been the motive power
for the harmony movement in Kansa:
as Victor Murdock declared, the
physician who performed the operation
d