The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-05
THE KANSAS VOTE.

to the Republican party was just as
pronounced as 1t was in nearly all the
other sections Of the country, with the
exception, of course. of the Solid South
where the Republican party has been
little more than a name ever since it
has been in existence. And in this
state the Progressives made one of
their most vigorous campaigns. 1t did
not, however. make the slightest i'm
preston on the Republican state ticket,
although it appears to have been strong
enough in some of the congressional
contests to have defeated Republican
candidates and given the victories to
their Democratic opponents.
But as far as the Republican state
ticket is concerned, the Bull Moose ef-
fort was in vain. Many Of the Kansas
Republicans who participated with
such enthusiasm in the third party
movement two years ago, returned to
their old love-. and an old-fa shiOned
sentiment in favor of Republican rule
in the state was registered in most con-
vincing fashion. Enthusiastically. the
voters of Kansas said on Tuesday that
they were as dissatisfied with the
Democratic methods in the adj
ministration of state affairs, as
the voters all over the country
apparently are with the national
policies of the Democratic party that
have been put in operation. And there
is also little doubt but the mistakes of
the Democrats at Washington also
worked to the disadvantage of the
Democratic party in Kansas and played
some part in piling up the landslide that
overwhelmed the Democratic state
ticket.
Never has Kansas experienced a state
campaign that was SO complicated. The
Bull Moosers made a big showing in
Kansas two years ago. 1t was gener-
ally recognized that this movement was
disintegrating in Kansas. as it was in
other sections Of the country. Just
what strength the Bull Moosers would
develop at the polls was problematical.
Then there was the candidacy Of Mr..
Billiard as an Independent candidate
and on resubmission platform. Such
as there are in Kan
sas are of the noisy variety, and it was
almost impossible to guess their num-
bers. But the way the voters marked
their ballots on election day makes it
apparent that a victory for the Repub-
lican state ticket would have been reg
istered just the same, had there been
only a straight out and out fight be-
tween the Republicans and the Demo-
Gratis, or had the fight been without
Mr.. Billiard In the ring and three
cornered affair between the Republic
can, Democratic and Progressive cam
didates. Mr.. Allen undoubtedly polled
as many votes as he would have had
Mr.. Billiard not been in the race. And
they would hardly have been enough
to re-elect Mr.. Hodges and defeat Mr..
Capper. For it also is pretty much Of
a certainty that II Mr.. Billiard had not
been in the race, all of the votes he
received would not have gone to Mr..
Hodges. 1t would be serious mistake
to imagine that Mr.. Billiard drew all
his strength from the Democratic cam
didate. And considerable of the DEM
ocratic vote that he did get came from
the faction in the Democratic party
that is opposed to Mr.. Hodges. and it
would not have been given to the gov
ernor even if Mr. Billiard had kept out
Of the contest.
Another factor in the success Of the
Republican state ticket was the per-
sonality of the candidates, most Of
whom were candidates for reelection
and who were well known to the peo-
pie of the state as efficient public
servants. And there is no doubt but
the personality factor played con-
siderable part in the significant vote
that was given to the head of the
ticket. Mr.. Capper. He is a Kansan.
born and bred. one OF the states
most successful business men, and ex-
cept for his ono lapse from political
grace when he seemed, at least, to be
flirting rather ardently with the Pro-
gressive party movement. he has been
q consistent Republican.
There IL assurediy one indisputable