The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-11
A CHANGE OF GOVERNORS.

49, AS~S>~
Politically speaking. this is the be-
ginning of a new year, or rather. q
new biennium in Kansas. A. change
Of administrations was effected at the
state house today. George H. Hodges.
executives chair Arthur Capper, Of
Topeka. stepped into the position thus
vacated.
Just what the change pOrtends for
the people OF Kansas. time alone will
tell. That it will make any material
difference in the fortunes of the bulk
of them is not at all likely. The af-
fairs of most of the American COM
monwealths have got to running along
in such a well-defined groove. that it
doesn't seem to matter much who is
entrusted with the guidance for the
time being SO long as he is disposed
to be honorable and fair.
There is q great hurrah during the
campaign periods preceding a state
election. The several parties contend
with vigorous insistence that the well
fare of the state is entirely dependent
upon the elevation of their candidates
to office. Most of the candidates are
not too modest to make such claims
for themselves. But when the sue
cessful ones get to sailing the ship of
state, they trim its sails and steer its
course in just about the same way as
their predecessors. whether these be
of the same political party or of
different one. The government of the
states like that of the nation, is one
Of such a variety of checks and bal
ances and scattered authority. that the
changes any one new state official.
new governor. for instance, can bring
about are more than likely to be Of a
negligible quantity.
OF course, every aspirant for office
has differing ideas from these. He
makes this promise and that one to
the people and to himself of the re-
forms that he will inaugurate. But
after he has been in office for while
he awakes to q realization of the fact
that he is only one spoke in the wheel
of government, and about the best he
can do or the most he can accomplish
is to discharge the duties of his par
ticular office with an answering hoD-
esty and the largest possible efficiency
Of which he is capable.
Honesty and efficiency, these. after
all, have come to be the tests by which
the public officials of today are meas
ured. And Kansas has been fortunate
these many years in selecting men for
sterling fashion. George Hodges is no
exception. His uprightness and integ-
rity have never been questioned. He
has been a conscientious, Woodworking
governor whose ideals are of the
highest. He has made his mistakes like
all men, in and out of office, do. But,
in the main. his work has been well
and faithfully done. Certainly he has
earnestly striven SO to discharge his
duties. And he must go out of office.
if mere justice is done him, with the
respect and good will of most of the
citizenry of Kansas, even though a
large majority of them voted against
his reelection to office. (.
That Arthur Capper will AXE up the
work where George Hodges leaves it
and will prosecute it as vigorously, as
intelligently and rs honestly, is IN the
nature of a fore9One conclusion.s This
will only be in keeping with the reputa-
ton that he has already made in Kan
sas. 1t is also reasonable to conclude
that he may be able to, make some
changes for the better No condition is
so ideal but it can be improved upon.
There is also the possibility that some
of the experiments which may be tried
during the Capper regime will not work
out as successfully as anticipated. But
this is an experience with humans that
is as old as their race. And as long as
a failure is built on hontest intentions.
its promoters are not to be criticized
too severely. For the mistakes are
few which cannot be rectified before
much damage is done.
No one has reason to doubt for a
moment the sort of intentions that will
be paramount with Arthur Capper dur
ing his career as governor Of Kansas.
He enters upon his new and important
tasks with the full confidence of a
friendly constituency that they will be
performed with a. fearless probity that
will not only be creditable to him but
also of advantage to the state.
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