The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26

Ryan's defeat of -McCray was the
big surprise OF the primary. Wftnout
publicity and without campaign liter
allure of any kind-with neither or
ganization nor newspaper backing
il appeared that he merely filed his
papers and won. He appeared to con-
quer his political enemy without
blow
moment had all of the weapons OF
political warfare at his command, and
in use McCray probably got more
gratuitous newspaper advertising than
any other candidate on any uc t...
Almost every newspaper in the state
gave him a boost And he had the
backing of the politicians in almost
every county. He made personal
letter campaign that was extehsL ry'
and the politicians were unanimously
agreed that he was the one candidate
with an opponent who had nothing 10
worry about his nomination was con-
coded on all sides
done nothing except file his papers,
won by a majority of approximately
10000 votes And ever since. ne mas
been asked the question; How old
Here are his answers to these ques-
tons:
BY Making Friends.
"All nv life 1 have been engaged
in making friends of the people OF
Kansas During my six years service
as railroad commissioner VISITED
practically every county in the state,
some of them many times, and IN an
of these counties 1 made 1t my ousl-
ress to get acquainted and make per-
sonal friends.
After twenty years of travelling all
over the state. believe may be par
doned for saying that I know as many
Deople by their first names as any
one who ever lived in Kansas dli
not have time to see all my persona
friends. but I managed TO get tne
news of my candidacy TO SO,uoO Oi
them, and on August L these persona
friends voted for me and 1 was noml-
mated. That is all there is 40 it.
II there is anything else connected
with his victory that was so uneN-
Ryan believes it is the fact that never
in a political campaign has ne at
tackled or villified an opponent
However. there must be something
besides the mere fact that he knows
people that puts this man Ryan on
TOP in political contests. He has been
a figure in Kansas politics Tor many
years Never has he been considered
a factor by the politicians-never mas
he been taken seriously-yet, usually
sooner or later. he comes out on top
Broke Into Convention.
In the old days of the convention
system, when he was serving as clerk
of the district court at Leavenworth,
ne QeClQGQ 10 get AnlO EAdAG POAANASS'
He came to the convention. as a can
didate for state office. None of the
politicians took him seriously. He
was not one of the inside ring. But
he came out of the convention with a
place on the old railroad commission
in his hip pocket and he served as
railrad commissioner for six years
There were many explanations and ac-
counts of how he turned the trick.
But the important thing to him was
that he did 1t under the convention
system
And now he has shown that he
knows how to do it under the primary
system
Ryan was born in Leavenworth, be-
ing the youngest of ten children After
attending the city schools he learned
telegraphy and worked as a railroad
telegrapher from Chicago to Cali
fornia He was first elected to politi-
cal office in 1895 when he became a
member of the Leavenworth city coun-
Gil. After serving as railroad commits
eioner he became a candidate for gov
ernor, but was defeated by SEN Arthur
Capper. Four years ago he was a
candidate for the nomination for sec
rotary of state against L. ]. PettiJohn,
but was defeated by Pettijo1n-
The politicians believed this was the
end of Frank J. Ryan, politically.
Twice he had gone down to defeat.
He was a has been"
But now he Is come back"-very
much OF a come back. And despite
his simple explanation, there will be a
great many, among them his opponent,
.. o. McCray. who will still wonder
just how he did it.