The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-30
FORTY YEARS OLD
Kansas Sons Celebrate Another
Parental Birthday.
Wit and Oratory Again Flow at
Banquet Board.
MR.. MASON'S SPEECH.
Gov. Stanley Recites Incidents
of His Entry to Kansas.
MIR. MASON'S SPEECH.
Was Captured by Indians and
Bound TO a Tree.
His Companion Breaks Bonds
and Releases the Governor.

As is always the case, the tenth annual
| banquet of the Kansas Day club was a
success-it could not be otherwise with
| the kind of men who run the club. Last
! night the club celebrated the fortieth
! anniversary of the admission of Kansas
| to the union. The speeches were all
good, and it is saying nothing against
the others to add that the best of the
evening was that delivered by T. E.
| Dewey. Morton Albaugh received an
ovation when he arose to make his
speech, and several bouquets after he
had finished his effort.
The regular business meeting of the
\ club was held in the lobby of the Cope
| land before the banquet, and the fol-
| lowing officers were elected for the en-
suing yeag: President, Charles Finch,
Lawrence; vice presidents. w. L. Hug
gins Emporia, J. NJ Kinkle. Hutchin-
| son, James H. Chisham, Atchison; Sec
retary, Dell valentine, Clay Center.
There We're no resolutions and no
| speech-making except the speech nomi-
mating Charles Finch for president, and
that was such good one that, contrary
to the established rule, the members
allowed it to be made without inter-
ruption.
banner which was offered by Col. T. w
Harrison for the greatest increase in
the Republican vote over 1895 The vote
S4-S per cent The banner a beautiful
one. costing $129 stood back of the pre-
siding officers chair at the head Of the
banquet room, and was admired by
every one. 1t will be presented to the
county making the largest gain in 1902
While the club was in the lobby at
tending to the election of officers, Col.
Wilder Metcalf proposed the name of
Netcalf said:
Colonel Rossington has been a life
long Democrat, but he is now clear over
fE the Republican party and wants to
belong to this club,
1T is not necessary to vote a man in
Any good Republican can belong said
Silas Porter, of Wyandotte. 1T makes
no difference about his race, color, or
previous political belief
I'VE will just vote Colonel Rossington
in anyway" said President Mason. ''and
I declare him elected a lifelong mem
ber."
1t was 10 o'clock when the doors of
the banquet room were opened and the
crowd pushed in and took the seats
about the tables. There were 100 plates
and fully SO members were unable to
get in because of lack of room. The
officers of the club had refused to sell
more tickets than there were plates, and
places was done away with.
Lieut.. Collin Ball and 4. J. Freeborne,
who were on the programme. were un-
able to be present and their places were
It was just 2:15 when the speeches
were completed, and the banquet room
deserted.
President Mason began the speech
making with his annual address, after
the menu had been discussed.
PRESIDENT MASON,S ADDRESS
President H. F. Mason said in OPEN
ing the banquet:
abraham Lincoln was fond. of relat-
ing and of referring to this old story:
An eastern potentate in ancient times
commissioned several of the wise men
! Of his court to devise for him a motto,
to be inscribed upon his palace walls,
which should be at all times and under
conditions then existing and incuIcate
some useful and. appropriate lesson. The
saGes accepted the commission, and
after mature deliberation reported this
legend which was duly transferred to
the walls Of the palace: And this. too,
shall pass away
we are here tonight. as it happens.
as Republicans and as Kansans, to
celebrate the most decisive political vic
tory OF recent years. We have regained
control Of every department of govern
nent, but we have before us the per-
haps more difficult task of retaining that
control.
Probably much that viii be said here
tonight will bear more or less directly
upon the question, What shall we do to
hold the ground we have won? And this
prophecy is safe-hoWever much these
speakers may differ in opinion on other
matters, they will agree in two things:
One is that the Illicit liason known as
fusion must cease. that the Democratic
and Populist parties must either get
married or live apart.or keep cut of good
society; or at least that the official bal
lot shall no longer be used to screen
their shame. The other is that a first
requisite to continued success is polit-
ical morality and honesty
THE Populist party was the result
of an honest desire to better conditions.
And the Populist party of today. could be
trusted absolutely to eradicate all evils
with which we are aff1icted-if it could
be done by passing resolutions in a po-
htical convention I have thought that
modern Populist was in parliament
something like two hundred years ago.
Observing that the nations Of the earth
We're perpetua1ly at war with each other
over religious disputes, and that each
country was distracted by internal dis
sensionS of the same sort. he set about
devising a remedy. And he found it in
legislation, for he introduced into par
lament an act the expressed purpose of
which was to abolish all differences of
opinion on religion The methods Of the
Populist party have often been as plaus-
ible and direct as this.
THE Republican party has quit try
ing to compete with the Populist party
on its own ground The Republican
party nas no cheap panacea for all po-
itical ills. It has no proposition for