The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-19
He Has Made No Formal An
nOuncement of Candidacy.
But All His Friends Know That
He Is a Candidate.
MAY QUIT UTILITIES COMM.
His Capper Commission Will
Expire in January, 1918.
He Has the TOga in Mind for
for Many Months.

Joseph L. Bristow will be candi-
date for United States senator in 1918.
His announcement came via Norton.
Horton and Holton. In Topeka TINS
afternoon Bristow admitted that ne
expected to run for senator. He did
not state whether he expected to re-
sign from the public utilities commits
sion.
Bristow stated today that he had
made no formal announcement He
didn't think it was necessary, he said.
He expects to be in the race nexr
year, however. Announcements that
Bristow would run have been printed
in several country weeklies. Bristow
is chairman of the public utnltleS
commission by virtue of an appoint.
mcnt two years ago at the hands o.
Governor Capper. His commission
expires in January, 1918.
Il have made no formal announce
ment." said Bristow. Il didn't thlnH
it was necessary. My friends nave
known all along that 1 would be d
candidate when The proper time
comes
Was on Progressive Fence
Bristow went 20 the United states
senate in 1909, following his defeat
of Chester l. Long in the first state
wide primaries in 1908. He was de-
Charles Curtis in 1914. Preceding
the 1914 primaries several months
Bristow came to Topeka and In re
Spouse to a question stated that ne
had not at that time determined
whether he would run as a Repuoll-
can or Progressive. In January, 1914,
the famous Bristow-Capper confer
ence was held at Governor Capper--S
home Il was agreed that Capper
should support BTistow for the MONT
ration and Bristow was to denver the
Progressives back into the Republican.
fold. That night Brristow gave out an
interview in which he declared his
undying allegiance to the Republican
party.
But in the primaries. Bristow lost.
He came home from Washington late
in the prediction campaign and made
several faint and half-hearted Repub-
lican speeches. Altho the governor
sent a representative on Bristows
campaign trip, the defeated senator
did but little boosting in the Capper
campaign.
Didn't Go to Convention.
Last spring BristoW wanted to fur
Their his senatorial campaign by going
to the Republican national convention
as a delegate at large. Following the
state convention, charges were printed
that Bristow had used the machinery
of the public utilities commission to
WIN votes In the convention. NO pup
lie denial was ever made of the charge
and the record of the Bristow vote
from Crawford county was never eX-
planned. Bristow didn't go to- the con-
vention.
For months representatives of pub
lie service corporations have quietly
charged that Bristow was using his po-
sition on the commission to further his
senatorial aspirations. In support of
these charges mention was made of
the refusal of Bristow to approve gas
rate agreement that would have given
patrons a reduction in rates over the
rates now paid. In political circles it
was also urged and generally under
stood that Bristow was grooming him
self for senator. Several railroad rep
resentatives from time to time men,
toned that they understood Bristow
wanted to go to the senate and re-
ports have been current that the pas
senger rate case was to be decided at
the proper time for campaign ma
terial.