The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-09

ity and honor This is what has been
going on i'm Kansas, and for all we
know it may have gone so far that the
state viii cast her vote for sound mon
ely q month hence.
Such a revolution of public sentiment
reflects infinite credit upon the intelli-
gence and integrity IF the much-malign-
ed people of Kansas, just as the same
change has in its operations throughout
the country demonstrated once more
that Americans are q people Of keen
sense of right and wrong, mad of quick
discrimination between falsehOod and
fallacy on one side and truth and rea-
son on the other. The change that has
already taken place in Kansas, even if
1t be not followed by other changes and
the practical result which is so fondly
desired. is a great moral and intellect
ual triumph, which speaks well for
the future of this great. alert, original
people
on the side of practical politics
the Republicans as usual. have display
ed splendid skin and energy. Some of
the leaders had first to convert them
so speaks volumes for the discipline Of
the Republican party Nor does their
change of view convict them Of insin-
cerity or supernciality. The money
question is now, really for the first time
in America. something more than
matter Of theory 1T has passed beyond
mere academies and become a practical
problem 1t is the very storm center of
national emergency. There has been
an awakening everywhere. Let the
reader of these lines ask himself if he
understood the money question six
months ago. care not how intelligent
and thoughtful man he is; III he did
understand it before the opening Of the
campaign ne is the exception of the
rule Nine out Of ten Of us viii confess
we did not understand it, and among
the ten there may easily be four or five
who cs1reIessly or indi1erently gave
their allegiance TO the wrong side so
long as it was simply a theory But now
that it is a burning question of honor
and prosperity all men who really think
do understand it, So with the Republi-
can leaders of Kansas. They struggled
before the battle began; now they are
shoulder to shoulder on the right side.
The first thing Chairman James
Simpson did was to start in motion q
new plan Of organization As a novelty
in practical politics It deserves descrip-
ton The chairman Of each coun-
ty central committee was instructed to
divide his county into four districts,
and to put one of the four county can
didates in charge Of each The can
didate went about in his district or
ganizing Mckinley club in each town
ship or road district. as was locally
preferable The organiza ton of this
club enabled the party workers to poll
the township without appearing to do
SO, without asking any voter point
blank how he was going to vote. If a
man accepted the invitation and en-
rolled his name on the club list he was
all IlBLlI- II WnGn Eal1EQ upon ne QE-
clined to join he was asked for his rea-
son. and his name went down among
the list of those who were doubtful,
and who needed Htera ture and other
attention. The clubs have held weekly
meetings and the county candidates
have shifted districts. SO that every
candidate has had chance to meet
all the Republicans in the county at one
time or another.
This plan Of organization has worked
admirably. There are Mckinley clubs
in nearly every school district or road
district of the state. Their member
ship has increased from the start. Re
publicans who at first declined to join
have since come in. Those who still
stand out are receiving intelligent at
tention. The enthusiasm and conf
dence Of the working members Of the
party have constantly grown. Chair
man Simpson. who is an experienced
politician and skillful. adrOit man. says
the poll of the state taken through the
Mckinley clubs shows that sound
money viii carry Kansas II am not
ready to give figures; it is too early for
that" he says, "but we are going to
win. We have already won, and we arr
now working to clinch our victory We
shall carry the state for Mckinley and
Hobart. elect our state ticket and Sc
cure every one of the eight congress
men.
Other Republicans with whom
talked were not so sanguine, though not
one of them was in position to know as
much about the situation as Mr.. Simp-
son I asked quite a number Of men
if Mr.. Simpson was inclined to be over
sanguine. or if he had talked to me for
effect No they all said, The is
careful sincere man He knows what
he is about If he says We are going
to carry the state. Wen carry it, But
I am told he was chairman in 80, and
claimed the St ate then" THAT lis true.
But he ade no claim as to figures,
and was only a few thousand votes out