The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1922-08-10
TOPEKA LETTER

IS q little amy OF tired, sleepy eyed
over-wrought stenographer ladies
about to join ranks of the unemplOy-
ed unless someone gives them jobs.
Weary, worn and disappointed candi-
dates are closing their desks and in an
undertone muttering words to the eff
feet that statistical returns on the
number of campaign liars have been
altogether too low.
Nothing much in this world is sad
der than the day after big political
fight. 1t is the blast of a sudden biz
card after day in warm room when
one enters the quarters of a candi-
date who is trying to figure out in his
own mind just how it all happened.
For weeks he has listened to soft,
soothing words. He came to believe
the nice things he heard. 1t all look
ed like such a kindly old world that
he wondered just how the cynics had
been so rough.
Night before the primaries when
the final speeches were made he sat
around his Offices and gave the re-
porters and his apparent admirers
cigars with real tobacco in them. He
handed out interviews which occasion
ally one of the boys tried to print. He
didn't see anything but roses and
beautiful women and great glory for
the future. He knew the birds would
be singing for him in the morning and
he wondered if the police would lose
control of things and if some limo
cent person might be hurt in the mad
rush to vote for him.
And this is the day after the pri-
maries.
Some of the fights haven't been
settled. But the whole thing has
been an awful disappointment to a
lot of people. In a few instances a
half dozen candidates sought a single
nomination. Those five sad ones will
never have an entirely acceptable
count of the pepole who deceived
them Tuesday. They viii wrangle
with Saint Peter and tell him he has
been too kindly and declare the re-
cording angels We're not listening
when the candidates talked with the
voters.
There is some JOY in politics today.
But it isn't a time to rejoice. This is
the day to drop a tear for the fellow
who can't understand why the voters
were so deceitful.
In a few days the wreckage viii be
rather well cleaned up. Except for
few unpaid campaign bills and big
stock of left over personal planks of
the candidates, there WON'T be much
to show when the week ends. Next
week everyone will get ready for the
big fight in November
Most of the fellows who have been
active in the campaign are good
sports. Men who managed the cam
paigns have rather generally been
through the mill before A few in
dividual candidates will be slow get
ting their bearings. But the real
workers will be out on the track away
ahead of the party council.
The fellows actively in politics will
get into the hraness just as soon as
the final results are posted. Almost
without exception they will be out
fighting for the nominees.
A few of the individual candidates
may sulk. But the laggards are not
the fellows who make party organiza-
tons a success. Most of the chaps
realize that a person canit win every
time And this wasn't their year
There may be a few bumps and sore
spots. But nature and little time
will take care of these minor hurts
To the fellow who plays politics the
personal fighting is over. He is going
out next week TO elect the ticket.
In many ways the campaign thi.
year has been one of the most unique
the state has known. Regardless OF
the big field of candidates there was {
drag to the primary fighting almos
until the final hours before the poll!
opened. Only in counties where bit
ter local fights were waged were tn,
candidates able to arouse interes
during early July. The low interes
was maintained in most counties il
spite of the fact that more candidate
sought state nominations than in an,
campaign in the states history.
A few defeated candidates may g
into the campaign with their finger
crossed. But they are in the minor
ity. Most of the men who went dow
in Tuesdays smash will get benin
the ticket. Some of the men most ae
greSsive in fighting for individua
candidates may be expected ITO tax
the stump for the other fellow now
1t is the spirit that makes polite