The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-16
AFTER 3RD TERM?
RumOr Is Governor Allen
May Be a Candidate Again.
His Attitude Puzzles the Poll
ticians and Reporters.
MANY POSSIBILITIES ARE SEEN
Would Give Governor Advan-
tage for a Senatorial Fight.
Mrs. Allen, However, May De-
eide on Trip Around World.
MANY POSSIBILITIES ARE SEEN
BY A. L. SHULTZ.

a. l.. II.
Maybe Governor Allen is preparing
to call his strategy board together for
some mystery plays in politics. Maybe
he is just being mysterious on pur-
pose. Maybe he is just kidding a
bunch of newspaper chaps and fel-
lows in politics. Maybe he will return
to private life on his own motion at
the end of his second term. But there
is a rumor that he wants third term
There are all manner of possibilities
in the development of the rumor- IN
fact it is one of those speculative
things in politics which don't change
greatly by virtue of formal statements
and explanations. There are whole
flocks of reasons for speculaaon'
There are possibilities and probablll-
ties in the third term thing that may
keep it afloat almost in spite OF
direct denial by the governor. Ihat
doesn't mean that the public Woulo
discredit the governors statement. II
merely means that in politics man
has so many privileges of changing
his mind.
Governor Good at "Game."
The other day the third term ques.
ton came to the surface during one OF
the conferences with the newspaper
men who cover state house and po-
litical assignments. Governor Alien
prinned broadly. He is a newspaper
man himself and he parties an attack
bv fnterviewers much better than the
average public official He antlcl-
I pated all that was coming.
Just say that I blushed and refused
TO be quoted" said the governor. But
the governor didn't blush. And some
now il didn't exactly seem that he was
hearing the third term mentioned 1or
the first time.
ont in the political world where
b neonIe think and scheme regarding
public affairs and sometimes spea1k1
very frankly, there is as yet only mllo
tendency to take the third term mat
ter seriously. on the other hand there
is no disposition to overlook us po of
sibilities-particula in the case Oh
Governor Allen a,
It lust happens that Governor Al
lens second term ends at a time when
he must drop into private mo anu anu
away from public attention lot hedalS
two wears before the big show of 1924.
And a third term might enable Gov
ernor Allen to overcome some OF the
trouble which fell on him in Chicago
last June. 1t might also pave the
atorship OF course this is all specu-
lation. To be sure it would destroy
the trip around the world which MRS.
Allen has planned. But that IS mat
ter for determination within the gov
ernor'S household.
o. Much to Be Gained.
Possibilities behind the third term
tihnatter are apparent Last year the
Twice presidential boom which started
iIfor the governor blew up when the
y Kansas state administration placed all
its collateral securities in the Wood
+, bank There wasn't much to expect
and little was received-when the
Harding forces won.
Then there is the possibility that
with a third term Governor Aliens
Z attention might be directed toward the
United States senatorship. A third
term would keep the governor before
the public. would permit him to retain
his organization and control of patron
age and would provide a logical sit
nation for his race for the senate or
appearance as a receptive candidate
for the vice presidency.
VIII Mrs. Allen Have Say?
There is also the possibility that the
administration forces might not agree
on a candidate to succeed Governor
Allen. And that situation. it is pointed
out, would place a new responsibility
on the governor.
OF course it is speculative. As a
a gambling proposition it is seemingly
I much safer to bet that Mrs. Allen
gets her wish and that the family
starts on a world tour in 1923. On
the other hand the person who makes
political books should not remove
Governor Allen from the picture until
further developments.