The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-11
ALL AT STAKE.
West Virginia Republicans Pre-
pare For Hard Fight.
Large Attendance.
ELKINS' WAY CLEAR.
Has No Opposition For Return
to the Senate.
Many Candidates For Minor
State Offices.

Charleston, W. Va, July 1.-THE Re-
publican state convention, which opened
here today, had the largest attendance in
the history of the party in this state In
addition to the nomination of state
ticket, the convention marks the opening
of the presidential campaign and the can
vass of Stephen B. Elkins for senator.
While the Republicans carried the state
four years ago. the plurality was close
and the margin in the legislature was SO
slight to be in dispute.
Everything is at stake between the con-
tending parties this year, incI 1iolL the
control of the legislature, which elects a
United States senator, but the chief con-
tention here this week Is over the state
offices While there is no opposition to
Elkins for senator or to A B. White for
governor, the contests for other places
on the state ticket are in marked contrast
to these two cases There are many can
didates for each place The contests for
minor places have become so bitter that
Senator Elkins. White and others are
having difficulty in their neutral attitude.
The delegates spent the forenoon in the
district meetings, selecting their vice
president and other officers of the con-
committees to be reported to the con-
vention in the afternoon. At the district
meetings, there was some lively scenes
growing out of the contests over the
minor offices.
Secretary of State Dawson, chairman
of the state committee, called the con-
vention to order at $780, Governor At
kinson was the first of the leaders to be
c4leered as he entered the hall. Other
ovations followed. Mr.. Dawson then an
nounced the temporary officers and in
troduced Senator Elkins as the temper
airy chairman. He spoke as follows:
EL.KINS' SPEECH.
Another national campaign is at
hand, the Republican party appeals to
the people for a continuance of conf
dence, not only on the record 1T has
made in the past, but on what it is do
in,er nd fn do in he
future.
The history of the Republican party
for the last 40 years is substantially the
history of the nations progress during
this period-the greatest in the history
of any country. The Republican party
has shown it's ability to wisely admins
ter the affairs of the republic, defend It's
flag on sea and land, maintain the ma
tional credit and promote the welfare
of the people. It points with pride to
it's doctrines and sound policies, its
great achievements in peace and war,
it's success in mighty undertaking and
the things it has done to advance the
honor and glory of the country, as rea-
sons why it should be further trusted
The Democratic party should not be
trusted on the policies it has advocated,
and the record it has made. During the
last forty years, from 1860 to 1900, it had
control of the government in all its
branches only once, the four years from
1892 to 1896. The effect of Democratic
legislation during these four years casts
the darkest shadow that rests upon the
prosperity and progress of the country.
1t was during this period that the ma
TONS progress was turned backward,
confidence was destroyed, business stood
still, public and private debts increased,
our home markets were given to for
eigners, value of property of all kinds
shrunk, opportunity for employment
diminished, wages were reduced and
want and distress stallzed abroad as
the closest companions of the people
This record is too full of business ruin
and distress, and the picture is too dark
to be soon forgotten, much less inspire
a renewal of confidence.
The Republican party promises to
protect American industries, maintain
the national credit, hold fast to the
good things it has done and go forward
boldly to solve the great problems that
confront the nation at the dawn of the
twentieth century.
The Democratic platform adopted at
the Kansas City convention endorses the
the supreme court. 1t is both reaction
airy and revolutionary. 1t should be
considered as part of the PopuHSt
party's platform at Sioux Falls. Bryan
is both Populist and Democrat. The
Democrats at Kansas City simply en-
dorse the POpuliSt candidate and added
to the Populist platform. This is the
tail wagging the dog, but for the. last
eight or ten years the PopulistS have
donated the Democratic party so far as
furnishing it with ideas and live issues.
Inc requests must ultimately dDSOAD
the Democratic party
The Democratic party declares vigor-
ously against trusts. This does not
prove that the Republican party favors
trusts any more than the Democratic
party does. Considering recent dis
graceful developments touching the ice
trust in New York City, this declaration
seems strange and out of place. There
can be no mistaking the meaning and
purpose of the Republican platform on
this subject. 1t declares expressly that
any trust that destroys competition,
limits production or increases prices
should be suppressed. The Republican
party makes no discriminate war on
private corporations. They are neces-
sary to the transaction OF the business
of the country and are authorized Dy
the law of every state in the union.
Democrats believe that protection
breeds trusts but they grew and -four
iShed under the Wilson law and Dem
ocratic administration and free trade
England is full of them If the Demo-
cratic party means by imperialism, mold
ing the islands we have acquired from
Spain, then there is a definite issue
raised.
If taking and holding territory ceded
to US by treaty, and governing the in
habitants thereof without their consent,
be Imperialism. then Jefferson was the
greatest imperialist of the age. Then, it
was Imperialism that acquired the vast
region covered by the Louisiana pur-
chase, and established territory gov
eminent for the inhabitants thereof
without their consent. Then, too, it was
imperialism that gave US Florida, that
fought the Mexican war and gave US the
territory acquired from Mexico
In taking Guam, Porto Rico, Hawaii
and the Philippines, we have done moth
ing more than to follow the precedents
of the Democratic party in its best days.
No word is needed in behalf our ma:
ton candidates Mckinley and Roose-
welt will sweep the country.
The Democrats at the Kansas City
convention dug the grave of the Demo-
cratic party and prepared its corpse for
interment by nominating a candidate
once defeated on q platform already re-
pudiated by the people