Walter Stubbs was born in Wayne County, Indiana, and later moved to Hesper, Kansas. He married Stella Hosteller and had five children, though one died at birth. Stubbs held various odd jobs and attended the University of Kansas, though he did not graduate. He entered politics in 1902, eventually becoming the Speaker of the Kansas House and later serving two terms as the 18th Governor of Kansas. During his governorship, Stubbs enacted significant economic reforms, including the nation's first state blue sky law to regulate securities trading. Despite his advocacy for prohibitionist policies and efforts to combat illegal bootlegging, he faced challenges in fully eliminating these activities. After his tenure as governor, Stubbs returned to Lawrence, Kansas, and later sold his mansion to the university's Sigma Nu chapter.

Walter Stubbs's political identity is marked by a blend of progressive economic regulation and prohibitionist fervor. His signing of the nation's first blue sky law demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to securities trading, yet his relentless focus on prohibition reveals a more socially conservative streak. Stubbs's call for the recall of public officials suggests a desire for accountability, but his poor administrative choices hint at a disconnect between his ideals and practical governance. This juxtaposition of progressive legislation and socially conservative policies creates a compelling tension in Stubbs's political persona.