The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-08-21
THE TOPEKA IDEA.
How State Government Centers in the
Capital City. The Primary and
Publicity vs.. The Old Order.
(Smith County Pioneer.

(Smith County Pioneer.)
! The time was when every congress
sional district in Kansas was recogniz-
ed in the selection Of elective state
officers. That was before the ''prim-
airy and publicity made Topeka the
clearing house for the state. In the
palmiest days of the old convention
/ system the bosses would not consider a
division of the spoils that did not give
to each congressional district represen-
tation on the state ticket or an appoin-
tive office high in the councils of the
administration. Now the bosses under
the primary system, who hold the of
fees in the state house at Topeka, de-
eide who the candidates shall be and
proceed to put them over by publicity
/. through the Topeka papers No longer
are congressional districts considered
in the makeup of state tickets except
by subterfuge. The Topeka colony
assembled In the state house fix up the
slate and parcel Oat the plums far in
advance. Already, assistants in the
last four state departments are slated
for promotion by their bosses. These
chiefs and the assistants they have Sc
lected to succeed them al live in Tope-
ka, and nearly al of them own homes
there.
For purpose of district representa-
ton several of the state Off GERS anI
assistants who own homes and have
lived in Topeka many years, and who
are there to stay, keep up the subter-
fuge of ''going down home to vote. -
They haven't had a shirt Numbered
down home" for fifteen years. At
least two of these, State Treasurer
Akers and State Auditor Davis, who
are not candidates for reelection, have
announced that hereafter they viii vote
in Topeka and quit the going down-
} home-to-vCte" business.
The Topeka idea is to bunch things
Last year after Topeka grabbed gov
erner, superintendent of public instruc-
ton and superintendent of insurance,
it parceled to the Seventh district the
lieutenant governor, state auditor and
state treasurer, two Of whom own their
homes in Topeka, forcing third term
on the auditor. For next year the
punching is to center in the Third dis
trict. State Printer Smith has lived in
the Third district and cannot yet be re-
garded as part of the Topeka crowd
Tom Botkin claims the Third as his
residence" though he has lived in To-
peka II Or Is years and owns home
there. The Third district, being a good
residence" locality, the Topeka clear
!, ing house-which is the state house
has decreed that it Will locate the
next state auditor down there. State
Auditor Davis, who has had three terms
and ought to be willing to let the voters
select his successor, has arranged to
have a Topeka man succeed him. This
Topekan is next-to man TO Mr. Davis,
save one, his father-in-law The man
whom Auditor Davis and the stat,
house crowd have selected as his sue
cessor lives IN Topeka, OF course, bul
. he can prove his residence In the third
= for he once lived down there and ha;
= actually gone back to vote Topeka
y being nice city to live in, and as Au
y ditor Davis owns fine home there, h'
y would, according to state house gossip
y stay right in the Office as assistant.
y To get very far as a candidate TO
y state office under the new regime
- Topeka plan-the candidate must b,
- Sin line of promotion as they say a
- the state house. You must become a.
- assistant in state Office and take a:
- the Topeka degrees; that is, you mus
- stand blythe state house crowd. That
y the Topeka idea" A Sixth distric
= Republican was complaining of tn
10 Topeka" system few days ago. H
,e was a supporter of Dan B. Dyer of thi
It city for State auditor. We've fixe
that job for Topeka man" he wa
told by one Of the state house f'fixers.
l. well get around to the Sixth distric
In two years more. We've got a ma
d 'in line of promotion now for secretar
of state. That viii have to satisfy 70
10 Sixth district fellows" And so, Da
80 Dyer will have to look for votes on;
10 side the state house if he, hopes to b
50 elected auditor of state. In this cor
So nection it should be noted that five c
six candidates for congress in tn
DO Fourth district are in the same boa
30 with Dan Dyer. The Topeka stat
DO house crowd is actually backing Clyd
DO Miller Of that city for congress in tn
50 Fourth. Miller has lived in Topeka fc
IS nearly ten years, owning fine HON
IS next to the governors mansion. H
DO Fourth distrio t political manager is tn
s. State Fire Marshal, one OF the stat
65 house crowd who spends all his time
30 Topeka-mucho of it, however, for Clyd
10 Miller of the First district FOR membe
20 of congress from the Fourth distric
90 The Topeka Idea is a great thing.
GO for Topeka politicians.
e5 Can't Afford to Advertise