The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-04
1t Is Reported That Head OF
Utilities Commission
Has Decided to FOregO a Place
on the Big 4.
MIGHT PROVE EMBARRASSING
Both to Himself and to the
State Administration.
A Precedent Was Established
by Henderson S. Martin.

| 1t is probable that Joseph l.. Bris-
tow, chairman of the public utilities
commission, will not be a candidate
for delegate at large to the Republi-
can national convention in Chicago.
Close friends of the former United
States senator believe that Bristow's
desire to observe most rigidly the spirit
of the utilities act will not permit him
to allow the use of his name before
the state convention. The letter and
spirit of the utilities act does not take
kindly to political members of the
commission. For that reason Bristows
friends have launched the story that
he will not run.
When the 1911 legislature enacted
the public utilities law, it safeguardeo
against charges that members of the
commission would play politics. In
order to surround the law with safe
guards, the legislature made a sweep
ing provision that no member, attorney
or secretary of the commission should
mold any other political job of profit
or trust or any appointment under any
political party. 1t is known in Topeka
| that Chairman Bristow is very sensi-
tive concerning criticism that he has
on certain occasions played politics
| while a. member of the utilities COM
mission In order to put at rest any
| charge that he is promoting his can
didacy for the United States senate in
1918, it is claimed that Bristow will
Keep safely within the letter and spirit
of the law.
Might Cause Criticism.
Friends of the state administration
feel that Bristow's candidacy for a
place on the Big Four would not
only embarrass the administration,
put would occasion criticism of Bris-
| Tow and other members of the COM
mission 1t is to avoid this possible
crltlclsm, 1t is stated, that BristoW
may decline to permit the use of his
name.
The utilities act seems quite clear
that members shall not mix in politics.
AFTER recltlng that no member, attor-
ney or secretary shall own stock or
ponds in any public utility, the lid is
clamped on politics. Section s, page
42O session laws 1911, continues:
NOR shall such commissioner, at
terney or secretary hold any office of
pro1lt or any position under any conf
mlttee of any political party, or hold
any other position of honor, profit or
trust, under or by virtue of the laws
of the United States or the state of
Kansas"
Why Martin Resigned.
! 1t was because of this provision in
the law that Henderson s. Martin.
Democrat. resigned as chairman Of the
democratic state committee after be-
ing appointed by Governor Hodges to
the position now held by Bristow. OF
course the law didn't just say that
Martin couldn't hold the job. But
Martin knew that it was connected
with politics, called for the drawing of
/ political lines and occasioned political
criticism. So Martin resigned from
! the state committee.
| The exact letter of the law doesn't
| say that Joseph L. Bristow shall not
| De a delegate to the national convan-
| ton. 1t merely mentions that any
member, attorney or secretary of the
commission shall not hold a political
place of honor or trust. Delegate to
| the national convention is purely
| job of honor and trust" It calls for
a considerable outlay of cash, but the
place is one desired by men with po-
litical ambitions. The place on the
Kansas delegation might even help
Bristow IN his fight for the United
States senate two years hence.
But that is not all. Election 20 a
place on the Kansas delegation to Chi
cago might occasion criticism of Bris-
tow, the utilities commission and the
state administration. 1t would also be
a violation of the spirit and intent Of
the state law. So persons close in
t Bristows counsel have launched the
story that the utilities commission
! chairman has refused to subject the
commission to criticism and will re-
| fuse to be a candidate before the Pc
/ O1Ib1ipaD state convention