The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-12
y NAN AND q RErUBI1CAN. :

A MAN AND a HEPUBLACAN.
/ That seems to b. . fitting character
| in ton OF william A. Ca1derhead Of
IMarysville, = foru5st representative IN
congress from Kansas for many years
who has AGAIN tossed his hat into the
political ring by formally announcing
his candidacy for the Republican con-
gressional nomination In the Fifth dts
trict
There il no room for doubt about the
Republication OF Calderhead. Call 1t
OF the old-fashioned variety. II you will.
it Ia nevertheless tho Republicanism
that placed these United States on their
feet after the Civil War and that de-
veioped them within brief cycle of .
half-century from a nation totterins
almost to its fall to one of the most
powerful and prosperous that the world
has ever known. Regardless Of what
it's critics may say 1t is Republican
ism Of progress, q Republicantsm that
has SO far succeeded In solving in
most satisfactory fashion the vexed
problems Of government and civilization
that have arisen. and that Is just al
competent in honest hands as it ever
was to solve those problems Of the pres
emit and the ones that are likely to de-
velop in the future.
Mr.. Calderhead is typical of this Re-
publicanism. Indeed. in his lengthy
service in congress he. assisted ma
teriaIly in It's making and Development.
Furthermore. he Is. Republican who
isn't afraid to let the people know just
where he stands on every question. A
vote for or against Calderhead is not
a vote in the dark. He bubbles on no
political question. In his announce
ment he takes a firm stand against the
Initiative and the referendum as proper
methods for general law-making; also
against the recall Of judicial decision.
the triplets that are SO dear to the Bull
Moose heart. Whatever may be the
merits Of these radical theories Of gov
eminent. 1t is q fact nonetheless that
they constitute a weapon which could
be used to destroy the system Of gov
eminent under which this nation has
grown great, and which is just as eff
cient for the conduct of the affairs OF
the future as it has been for those of
t. /, past. Radical changes in the meth
ocs OF our government do not necessar-
lily mean progress in the right direction.
no matter what their champions may
say. They nigh. results reversely and
do a damage that could never be re-
paired. And 1t would seem. therefore.
that plain and emphatic platform IKE
the one which Mr.. Calderhead has pro-
for his congressional race il
the kind that should be adopted by the
party and its candidates in
Kansas and throughout the nation. 1t
presents q clear issue between orderly
progress In the development Of govern
ment under a system that has proven
it's worthiness and a proposal to SUBJ
stitute for 1t some radical changes in
governmental methods that a.e untried
and fraught with grave danger should
t.ey not work out as their enthusiastic
admirers insist that they would. It Is
a right Of the voters that they be given
a chance to register their opinions in
this important particular and decide for
themselves which road shall be taken.
They haven't been able to do this
IN recent campaigns, for all Of the par
ties, and especially in state campaigns,
in their efforts to meet the demands OF
what has been deemed the popular will.
nave Occu WIAtAAS PAdtAoAIu HIS AAOu6 tu0
same lines, and the battles Of the bal
lots have ragged around men rather
than principles
Ex-Congressman Calderhead has new
err been swayed by the popular fancies
or fallacies Of the moment. When the
men Of all parties in Kansas generally
joined the free silver brigade, he was a
gold bug OF gold bugs. In this particu-
lar his judgment was certainly vindi-
Gated. A man of strong convictions. he
Is eminently fair minded. And his hon.
esty and integrity are above suspicious.
His political rivals call him a stand
patter' But nobody has ever suggest
ed that the odium Of pursuing politics
FOR private gain in questionable ways
which occasionally goes with the classi-
fication could be applied to him. His
friends know that he left the public
service financially poorer than when he
entered it.
He is a clean man. And his re-entry
into the Kansas political arena, in
these days Of clubbing and lodging in
the pursuit Of the elusive vote. on a
;lean-cut platform that presents i'm
portant issues squarely to the people
Is welcome. Calderhead has served |
and the nation well and honest
" in congress And 1t is for the voters |
If the Fifth district to decide whether
ne shall be given the opportunity to de |
20 again. |
n