The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-13
CAN SILVER MEN VOTE.
Republican Committee Discus
ses the Question Last Night.
Many Favor Letting All Who
Will Support the Ticket
Participate in the Coming Primaries
But the Resolutions Don't
Say So.

Shall the silver Republicans be allow
/ ed to vote at the coming Republican
| city primary? That is the question con-
| fronting the Republican city central
| committee. 1t was discussed at the
| meeting last night, but not solved, for
no vote was taken! A resolution was
adopted which says that none but
| known Republicans be allowed to
vote" which is construed as meaning
that the Republicans who went off with
the silver craze will not be eligible
to vote al the primary.
That is the construction put upon the
clause by George w. Smith, a well
known colored leader, and he was in
favor of having the clause modified to
include the silver Republicans
There is quite a class in the city,
said Smith, who insist upon having the
word silver placed before Republican,
and 1 would like to know what you are
going to do with him? If he says he
will support the nominee, won't that be
enough to entitle him to a vote?"
A. J. Kane said: Il am not in favor
of allowing this class to vote at the
Republican primary. The men who de-
serted the Republican party during
such an important election as that last
publican primary As far as am con-
cerned, 1 have more respect for a Dem
ocrat than have for the so-called sill
yer Republicans. They are nothing
more than Populists, for they slept in
the same bed with them. I do not be-
lieve in allowing them to vote. The Re
publican primary is for Republicans,
and no one else should be allowed to
vote
Committeeman Smith: ST am not in
favor of doing anything that will drive
people away from the party. We have
done too much in the past, as our re-
duced majorities show. You white men
have kicked up SO much devilment al
ready that you almost have the colored
a m not in
favor of doing anything else. When a
lot of good Republicans voted for COT
ran for mayor, they were not kept from
voting at the next Repu blican primary.
I believe that all men who say they
will support the nominees of the party
should be allowed to vote.
Committeeman D. c. Naylor-There
are ever so many good Republicans who
went off with the silver people who
want to come back, and they should be
allowed to come. 1 do not believe in
putting up the bars to keep them out
w. s. Eastman take a back seat for
no man when it comes to Republicanism
away from us. We should strive to build
up the Republican party instead of trying
to tear it down 1 heard a man say that
there are 700 shop men who want to come
back to Shall we keep them away.
ing of the party lash. You had better ap-
ply a little love and take these men by the
ranks. We are here to make Republicans
and not destroy them
Chairman Currier ruled the discussion
out of order on the ground that it had not
been properly presented and the discus
sion was dropped and the clause left as
it stood originally. none but known Re-
publieans shall be allowed to vote
The date for holding the primary was
fixed for March 13. A part of the faction
opposed to Mayor Fellows favored March
6 but We're defeated by a vote of "A to s.
The resolution originally read that the
Australian ballot should be used at the
primary but on motion of G ". Smith
the words Crawford county system were
substituted. All the colored men in the
committee supported the amendment
though the vote was no test of the
strength of the two wings.