The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-20
Governor Hodges Stirred Up
Fight on Late Tour.
Early Date War Between Re-
publicans and Democrats.
BILLIARD DENIES HIS DENIAL
TOpekan May Be Candidate for
Governor After All.
Senator Loring TrOtt Out for
Congress in Fifth.

That Governor Hodges speeches in
the Sixth district last week started
something" il the opinion of the men
who are watching political develop
ments in Kansas this year. The DEM
ocratic governor has already stirred
up q fight with State Auditor Davis
and w. d. Ross, state superintendent
of public instruction; and all of the
Republican and Democratic forces in
the state house have been called into
conference to discuss war plans.
Not in years has the prediction
fight between the Republicans and
Democrats been started at such an
early date. But Governor Hodges
speeches have been the opening wedge
for what promises to be one OF the
most bitter political battles in the MIS-
tory of the state. Since the governor
visited the Sixth district, the politi-
clans have been busy. They have held
many conferences. They have out
lined their fight and issued ultima
tums, challenges. declarations and ex-
plantations. And when governor
Hodges returns Saturday from a trip
through southern Kansas, the stage
should be properly set for political
war that will be worth watching.
State Auditor Davis Is peeved. Ditto
Ross. Emphasize Ross Because the
state Is d Olt HlOIc ca
citable than the auditor and things
that tend to annoy and tantalize the
average man in politics, drive super
intendent Ross to frenzied despera-
ton. In answering the governors
charges against his record. Ross has
hung on the brink and almost resorted
to language that caused State Senator
Ganse to wear a discolored optic for a
week when he tried harsh language
on the johnson county Democrat in
the senate session of 1911. Davis has
shown more self control and he has
counseled with shrewd advisers in
finding loop hole out of the recon-
mendations which he sent to Governor
Stubs regarding appropriations.
In mentioning Auditor Davis. the
governor referred 10 the Davis recon-
mendations to Governor Stubs and
the state legislature. as submitted near
the close of the Stubs administration.
The state budget for two years a. sub
mitted by Davis. totalled $11, 3s9,3S
The legislature appropriated soI'.e two
and a quarter million dollars less than
the budget sent to the governor by
the auditor. Governor Hodges took
advantage of this fact to claim saw
ing by the Democrats over the Repub-
hcan estimate of ccst of running the
state.
Replying to this statement, Davis
quoted from scattering portions OF his
report to show that he really didn't
recommend the appropriations in the
budget. Someone may have slipped
state reports" was the explanation
which Davis offered Yet the COVER
nor took printed copy of the Davis
report on his Sixth district trip. The
budget when analysed shows that
Davis really used the pruning knife
on appropriations sought by the state
institutions and departments ara sent
his report to the governor and the
legislature without further recommen-
dations. On mis- own motion. Davis
Pre- priations and he deftly removed
from the budget the requests for new
buildings at the state institutions The
budget was still $S.013.8S6 greater
than the appropriations Of 1911. Davis
pointed out this fact in his repor; and
but made no recommendations Us to
where the knife should be further
used.
Now the governor and the auditor
rust fight out the Issues Of taxes and
appropriations.
But that isn't all. In his speech at
Hoxie, the governor Nayed w. D.
Ross, state superintendent of public
instruction. for his failure to enforce
the picture Aim censorship. law. Ross
Is now aggrieved and offended and
his official pride and dignity have been
hurt. He has made a lengthy reply
to the governor. He points out the
fact that he had no funds, that there
were not proper provisions made for
the enforcement of the law and that
he was working single handed and
alone and doing the best he could
when the film manufacturers tied up
the legal machinery with a writ of
Injunction. Since that time no films
haze been censored. Truly Superin-
teldent Ross feels badly. He has Sc
cured an affidavit from the state
treasurer and another from the audi
tot and they have been duly sub
scfibed AMI sworn to and offered as
apart OF Defendant Ross case in
tie film censorship controversy.
THAT Is briefly the situation in the