Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1921-04-14
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Here's an Interesting Piece Of Kan
sas Political Prophecy

The prospect that ]. II. Burton Will
be a candidate for governor In 1877
has been rumored for some time and
is becoming a rather important mat
ter. He Is geenral attorney Tor the
Non Partisan League and 1t Is not DIFF
ficult to guess what his eloquence
and sarcasm would do with the rec
ord Of the legislature just adjourned
and In consequence with the admin
istration as a whole. The State
Journal thus describes what is In
the air:
There Is something more than q
mere prospect that Burton may be a
candidate for the gOvernorship.
There Is considerable probability.
His old fight and fire and hatred has
been aroused because Of the Barton
county incident. Burton was one Of
the league speakers escorted from
Barton county recently and made a
guest of honor at tar party some-
where near or just over the Rice
county line.
Now Burton is out beating the
brush for the league. In spite Of the
years that have crept on since the
Ironton incident made vacant Bur-
toms seat in the senate In 1905, the
former senator retains his singing
sarcasm and much of his old fire as
an orator. Since Burton's heyday In
politics the statewide primary has
come on. 1t Is new game to the
warrior who helped organize the dele
gate conventions and made his sena-
tOrial fights before the state senate.
But Burton seems clearly the logical
leader for the battle, and the news
clear that there Is a strong probable
ity that that opening of the 1920
campaign will see him in the COVER
norship race.
Through Republican Party
The Non Partisan Lea que is to seek
control of the state through the Re-
publican party. That is the sort of
game 1t plays. The league doesn't
run its campaigns under own banners.
1t selects the players and musicians
from its own tribe. Then they are
advanced before the public through
the strength and organization Of ex-
listing political parties. So in Kansas
with the Republicans in control. me
league will seek to win over the state
through that organization.
Combined with the league is the
radical labor element Of the state. In
fact Burton and J. o. Stevic. walked
hand in hand as martyrs for their
cause in the tar party affair."
Nor is this combination one which
should receive too generous scott and |
derisiOn. 1t is an organization which |
alst year gave George s. Snow more
than 25 per cent Of all the votes cast |
In the Republican gubernatorial pri
maries. That little feat was per-
formed in spite of the fact that Snow
was under parole from the state hos
pital for the insane. was without a !
dollar for campaign expenses, had |
never seen the inside working Of a
political organization. knew nothing
Of politics or its manipulation and
easily COUluSc tht
Charta and the Jewish synagogue in
4 discussion of public issues. Then,
too. he was opposing Governor Allen
For denomination and his only public
ty was ridicule and sarcasm.
Wave of Discomfort
Give the Snow strength to the
adroit, versatile Burton. Start full
field Of gubernatorial contenders. Split
strength and organization among a
half dozen men likely to be in the
Add to the Burton strength
he wave of discomfort that has swept
he rural districts with slump of
arm prices. Put on little extra for
strenuous organization work and hos
ility aroused against existing state
government because Of the Barton
county affair. Then add to the sum