The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-18
A LEAGUE NOT WANTED
Local Republicans Say it Pro-
notes Rim gs and Does No Good.
4 Larger Climb to Build Up the
Party Will be Formed.
Republican Committee Discuss Defer
and Endorse Major Anderson

puDucduS, one lead by A. l. Brooke, the
other by Oscar Swayze, wrangled for
an hour Saturday afternoon at the Re
publican F1ambeau club rooms. The
d-ssension arose over the attempt to or
ganize county Republican league Mr.
Brookean his followers wanted mon
ster Republican club, similar 10 the
Lincoln club of Cincinnati, and insisted
lnat the meeting called for the organi-
cation of a county league should aban-
don It's original purpose and accept his
suggestion for a big club
Mr. Swayze maintained that the Re
pGDHcans present had assembled in r.
Spouse to a call TO organize a county
league and minated that the club sup
pOrterS We're out of order
The controversy finally developed in
TO a quarrel over the merits of the work
being done by the state league. How
ever. the Ieaguers triumphed and per
fected their organization The causes
IeadlnS up TO Saturdays melee date
back two weeks At that time an in
formal meeting was held and it was
decided to effect the organization of a
county Republican league
Committees were appointed on con-
StltutIOn and permanent Organiza ton.
and the trouble began when those COM
mIttees were called upon to report
Mr. Brooke. a member Of the commit
tee on constitution reported progress
ana said The committee is of the
opinion that a county league is not
what we want But, We do want a
mammoth Republican club which will
feed Republicanism and destroy Popu-
ism A club that will wear One like
the Lincoln club of Cincinnati We
have agreed thus far, but are in doubt
as to suitable name. As a tribute to
john Brown. We might make ours the
Osawatomie club of Topeka. or some
thing like that"
Capt. c. H. Titus said: II feel
stronger in Republica nism today than
Tor years Since the recent paralysis of
one side OF our political autonomy. the
prospects have not been all we would
ask but I am pleased TO observe that
today we have present q large body of
earnest Republicans who are not hang
ing around the state house looking for
crumbs which perchanCe might fall
oscar SWayze urged the organization
OF county league, as an adjunct to the
state league which brought Mr. Brooke
to his feet to say.
The time has come when the Repub-
Hcans must make step forward or we
VIII lose the county We must get to
work The league is not what We want
We want a club with HEADQUARTERS
where We can feed the whole county ON
pork ard beans as an organfzsricn on
the other side OF the street did the old
soldiers q week ago We want a big
broad Republican organization with
sufficient finances to do something If
we can get such an OrganiZa ton and
nave place glowing with big. open
hearT-d Republicanism then We can
build up strong RepubIicanisu
Dr. HuntO0n started the fireworks bv
saying: Il am in favor of doing what
ever is for the best interests of the
party, but / do not realize the necessity
for branching out and building 10 an
Organiza ton to soothe the soraheads Of
the party Let US have something
which Will get up more enthusiasm An
organization devoted to the interests of
the party rather tran TO building up
rings for political tricksters. What do
L care, exclaimed the speaker, about
tearing down Populisnc- Let Us build
up RepubIieanisn- the Republican,
party * always organized; why attempt
10 divert its purposes -
This attack on the state league caused
Nj SWayze TO say; The Republican
party cannot afford TO ignore the league
which has a membership of sc. 600 in
Kansas It in6OrseS no candidates prior
to their nomination and has nothing to
do with building up rings"
Is that the biggest organization in
the state2" asked DR.. Huntoon with
sarcasm.
1T certainly is" replied Mr.. Swayze
Is it bigger than the Republican
party2' persisted Mr.. Huntoou.
Not by any means replied Mr..
( SWayze, but we need both My origi-
nal purpose in calling the meeting was
two-fold; first. to organize the county
/ league, second, TO organize the club if
( it was thought desirable. But now.
/ after these men have assem- bled to or
game the league, you are attempting
to gobbIe up our delegates and organ
ize a big club"
No said Mr. Brooke. 1--WE do not
want to do this, but the matter had
not been explained to our committee,
while not properly watched the colts
| have got away
! J. NJ Alexander of the Second ward
was the first man 10 suggest an idea
1 looking towards the solution Of the
I controversy. He sad: There is a big
+ organization of the opposition up the
I street which serves upon Us the fnjunc
ton TO go and do likewise Yet do
I not see why We cannot have both or
! ganiza tons
/ 4 B WOolvertOn suggested that two
/ organizations be formed
I Secretary SwayZe explained that there
/ had always been a disposition on the
part Of Republicans to throw cold
: water on the league. but it had never
+ thaless proven valuable organization
{ in aiding campaign work
| Like BanquO's ghost, Mr.. Brooke
{ would not be dOWned- He sailed into
the league and its purposes by saying
I have looked for several years 10
see God bless this league but he has
failed to do So arn~at heart IN SYM
patty wiGh the league movement, but /
am compelled to cand1dIy question It's
( efficiency for the purposes for which we
I are now striving. As a delegate to one
{ Of the national conventions OF this
league, about all ! saw was a struggle
{ between a New York millfouaire and
{ a silver man from Colorado for the
presidency of the organization And
I I firmly believe that many honorable
{ men in Kansas share with me the opin-
ion that the struggle for the high posi-
/ ton mentioned was about all that was
/ done in that meeting Some OF the
mem erS there said the league must
/ get away from that kind of business
or it would be a failure In my 1Udg-
[ rnent the league interests and those OF
the regular state and county commit
tees can never be brought together
| aruicably- I have my doubts as 10 the
! success of a state or county league II
/ you can keep up the interest then It
I SrFrCzzd do this OT1ly-
| in spots, and they Will De few and far
! between
We have been told of the leagues
! great work but 1 am ~0nf1deut that in