The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-04-25
IN ANNUAL SESSION
Kansas SunAower League
Poorly Attended.
ALL OFFICERS REELECTED
Bryan Advises League Not to
Dictate Politics.

The Kansas Sunfower League held Its
first annual meeting in Garfield hall yes
terday. Although the secretary reported
over 200 league clubs organized in the
state, there was but handful Of dele
gates present when President Sapp of
GaIena called the convention to order at
10 O'Clock The morning session was de-
voted principally TO the appointment of
committees, as follows:
RevisiEl of the Constitution-F'rank
Thomas, F. P. Hettinger, Tully Scott,
VIM .Mathewson, DR.. Lawrence
By-Law-F. ]. Oyler, w. H. L. Pep
peril, Chas. Oswald, L. C. Slime, Harry
Thompson.
Accountability Scott. J. B. Moore, T.
Z. Sexton.
Headquarters-F. p Strickland, H. Park
Jones. Henderson Martin, L. n. Rich
Credentials-E. E. Murphy, Marion
Watson, ]. P Bachelor, John B. Beal,
Tom Slaymaker.
order Of Business-J. Mack Love- Claud
Kackiey, c. NJ. Sawyer, Jno. H. Shields,
{. T. Hackney.
Resolutions-J. G. Johnson, T. ]. Nc
Cue, Ed. L. Sapp, B. L. Strocker, Dr.
Bandenburg
The convention adjourned to go to the
train to see Bryan come IN.
The first business of the convention for
the afternoon session Of the league was
the reading of reports Of the various
committees. The secretary was ordered
to read the report of the committee on
credentials, but was interrupted by W.
H PepperiIl Of Hutchinson, who, seeing
that only a few Of the delegates were
present, moved that the reading Of the
names of the delegates be dispensed with
and that every man in the hall who was
a member Of the league be entitled to a
seat in the convention and allowed to
take active part in the deliberations. By
Mr. PepperlPs timely motion a quorum
was assured.
The report of the committee on revision
Of the constitution was read. The sec
ton providing for a per capita tax of
members, and the section providing for
the selection Of corresponding secretary
created a great deal Of discussion. The
new constitution provides for the organi-
requirements to become a member are
that the person shall sign pledge to
support the Desperate nominees and
pay per capita tax of 10 cents per
month during presidential years and 5
cents per month during other years. All
persons over the age of 16 years are eli
gible The section provides that in case
a member shall fail to pay his monthly
assessments he shall be suspended after
six months arrearages. This section was
bitterly attacked by D. z. Swain of Ell
Dorado. who was not a delegate but got
in under the Pepperill motion. He de-
clared that the per capita tax was not
Democratic principle, and that the as
sessment plan would make lots of Dem
ocrats mad, especially if they should be
suspended for non-payment Of dues. The
report was passed over his head. but was
afterwards reconsidered through n mo-
ton by Henderson Martin of Marion,
who had himself come TO think that the
tax would be a bad thing for Democrats.
He said if a member failed in paying his
10 cents per month some means ought to
be adopted whereby he could not be sus-
pended until after election. 1--WE can't
afford to throw away any Democratic
votes this fall" said Mr. Martin Ed. e.
Sapp in support of the report. said that
it took money to run a campaign and
that there was no use in getting alarmed
over the assessment plan. He said the
section provided that member could not
be suspended for six months, any way,
and the election would be over by that
NIT 70, v,1a
everybody, and the motion to revise was
lost
At this stage Of the proceedings Colonel
Bryan entered the hall uCon the arm of
Il w. Stewart. secretary of the local
Sunflower League. President Sapp waved
his hand to the speaker on the floor and
said: Behold. the great commoner
comes" Mr.. Bryan was escorted to the
stage and at once began his speech to
the league. He said:
Mr. Chairman: I am CAD the Demo
Gratis Of Kansas have commenced so early
10 organize FOR the coming campaign with
the enthusiasm ! see manifested in this
club. Jefferson was a great believer in
clubs The organization of clubs will be
a great aid to the organization Of the
t'NAAApNttiNt N-tANAA WIZ Az ISAAN1ANAA 4NA
this compaign. We are in better shape
now than we were two months after the
conventions of 1896. Then there were two
factions Of the party and we did not
get down To systematic work until about
two months prior to the election. There
was the national Democratic committee
which was in bad shape. Some We're on
that committee who were not in sympa-
thy with the principles Of Democracy as
laid out in our platform. They would
neither resign or take an interest in the
work before the committee. Il took
some time to weed them out and get
committee that was thoroughly in har-
mony and then 1t was too late. We are
extremely fortunate this year in securing
FOR chairman of the national committee
a strong Kansas man. Mr.. Stone told
me that Nj. Johnson Of kansas was a
very strong man in the committee in the
last campaign and we are extremely for
tunate this year in having so loyal a
man to guide the affairs Of our cam
paign. we want TO begin our campaign
this year on the Fourth Of July by read
Ing the Declaration Of Independence.
ana l wan. 70 suggest something here
which 1 believe has not been mentioned
before. The plan is for each Democratic
club in the union 10 meet on the after
noon OF the Fourth of July and read the
Declaration OF Independence While they
ar in session they viii doubtless receive
a telegram from The national Democratic
convention at Kansas City announcing
that it has read the Declaration OF indie
pendenee and has adopted it as part Of
its platform" (Applause0
Dir. Bryan having in mind the fusion
light in this and the Second district, said:
"While I an great believer IN clubs.