The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-25
PAVE ALLEN'SWAY
Kansas Democrats Make Third
Term Shedding Easier.
Attack ON Court Law Means a
Call to Governor.
HIGGINS A STUMBLING BLOCK
Judge Always Has Monkey
Wrench Ready for Action.
BOurbOns Undoubtedly Want
Allen To Get In.
HUGGINS A STUMBLING BLOCK

BY A. L. SHULIZ.
The Democrats played their cards
with a view of making a third term
announcement by Governor Allen a bit
easier. When they bumped into his
industrial court law with a resolution
FOR its repeal they hung up the early
spring swimming sign-'Come on IN
the waters fine" In acceptance OF
the challenge, it appears that Cover
nor Allen may be ready to step in
some time in March. His friends be-
lieve he will make definite statement
in two or three weeks
It is likely that the Democrats
spoiled in a large measure their orig
inal plans to make the tax question
the big issue in the campaign When
they adopted the minority report OF
the resolutions committee condemn1ng
the industrial court, they gave Cover
nor Allen the chance to take the
stump in defense of his labor court law
and put the tax problem in the list
of less important state worries. 1t IS
likely, tho, that Governor Allen will
wait until after the taxpayers conVen-
ton in Topeka March before making
a definite announcement regarding his
plans.
Governor Allen wants the industrial
court law made the feature attraction
in event he runs The Democrats want
him to run. They believe he is the
logical man to draw the anti admins
tration fire and they are anxious TO
capitalize the sentiment against third
term. Maybe these ideas were Turk
ing in the minds of the Bourbon dele
gates when they voted for the Carpen-
ter resolution and gave Governor Al
lon a chance to come back with a
statement CHASING the convention as
Howat and Townley sympath1zers- II
certainly put a clincher on any claim
which the governor may make to a
right to run again.
Higgins a Stumbling Block.
The other day W. L. Higgins, pre-
siding Judge of the industrial court
Issued a statement simultaneously
with the announcement from the gov
errors office regarding the Democrat
resolutions. But there was lot OF
difference in the tone and sentiment
of the expressions. Both declared the
stand was a play to the radicals. But
Judge Higgins said in substance there
was a lot of merit in the Democrat
complaint. He said ambitious pollt1-
cian ms had been using the court for po-
lit cal gain and that the divorce bill
had cost the state thousands OF dol
lars in unnecessary expense. He also
admitted that the court really ism
doing much-less than in its first
year, he said-with expenses greatly
increased.
Maybe the dope5ters don't know
lneir SLuIt- But Iney nave a IdlleI
+ rm conviction that this Judge Hug
gins is likely to hang a monkey
wrench on the administration safety
valve every time the steam gets high.
Judge Higgins is not the least bit
friendly in spite of the fact that he
received the long term court appoint
ment. He broke with the administra
ton eighteen months ago and the
breach was never bridged. Judge
HugeinS remarked in effect that he
wouldn't be a party to the playing of
politics in industrial court affairs.
Governor Allen hasn't hesitated to
confide in his friends that it would
MT break his heart if Judge Higgins
came down town some morning with
an uncomfortable desire to return to
his private law practice in Emporia.
None the less the Allen third term
thing is looming up bigger since the
Democrat convention than any time
since he said he would consider MAX
ing another race.