The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-19

F lEckA -EltlEA
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO LEWIS?
1t looks very mUcl as though the
committee would bar Mr.. Lewis from
a place upon the ticket. On Wednes-
day afternoon Mr. I.eais had a con-
ference with Ehairmass q. r. Simon of
the coramittee and was advised that
on account of the frequent rumbings
Of opposition against the admission of
his name it might be well for him to
appear before the committee in person
or else send a letter. stating his own
case. In compliance with this sugges-
ton Mr. Lewis sent a lengthy COM
municauon to which he appended
sworn statement that its contents were
true.
Following is Mr.. Lewis letter in full:
To the Chairman and Members OF the
Republican City Central Committee.
Gentlemen.-I am in receipt of your
invitation, through your committee. TO
appear before you and explain my Re
nublicanisrn. and answer such questions
as the committee may see mt TO pro
pound to me touching my qualifications
to appear as a candidate for mayor on
the Republican ticket at the approach
ing primary election.
After my candidacy was announced II
was publicly proclaimed by a. local or
ganizatiOn that operates under a char
ter of general jurisdiction in religious,
moral and political matters, that It was
going to haul me up before this commit
fee for trial AS complete specifications
{
ena bled to prepare my answer IN writ
ing and I will be greatly indebted to
YOUR very courteous committee II they
will submit it to you First of all 1 VIII
say that your action is neither sanet-
ioned by precedent or authorized by the
primary election flaws of our state But
if I should avail myself of my right to
stand upon precedent and invoke the
protection of the law, my action might
] he nnisund derstood by my friends and de-
liberately misconsTued by those who
oppose me and for that reason 1 submit
a brief answer.
I have been a citizen and taxpayer of
this city, and lending my aid as best 1
could to build it up for thirty-fve years
very likely period OF time longer
than any member of this committee or
their parents have lived here. Since my
majority I have by constant and un-
ceasing labor supported myself ana
family and met my obligations, and my
services have been entirely satisfactory
to those with whom / have been asso-
eiated I have never been what IS de-
nominated politician
ITp to 1896 L generally voted the Dem
ocratic ticket At that time the Demo-
cratic party adopted pIallorln anu
I espoused principles that I believed to be
renugnant to the business interests OF
/ the country and dangerous to the wei
Z fare of the government. Immediately
/ repudiated the platform and refused to
vote for the nominee. You Will remen-
Der at that time we were in the midst
I of serious and alarming business de-
I Dression- and the voters of our state
/ were frenzied with discomfort. Thou
sands and thousands of Republicans
I were fascinated with Bryan and Bryan
! ism and began to desert their party ana
rally to the support of the new Demo-
! cratic leader. During that campaign
more than One-third of the entire Re
/ publican party deserted it. I believed
that the Republican party at that time
( represented the best business interests,
the inte atty and patriotism of this
country, as it has done ever since, so
accepted the Republican platform ana
cast my vote for Mckinley. When [
became a Republican the party had
I been wrecked by its own members ans9
the opposition was in power. / have not
yet forgotten the daily refrain upon the
streets during that campaign that met
the Dlaudits of the deserting Repub-
lieans, Goodbye, old Republican party,
+ goodbye" I have not forgotten the
4 taunts and ieers of my former assocl-
ates when I was denounced as traitor
for voting the Republican ticket
found my former political associates
here bitter against me. and my new
/ friends hopeless and disheartened. AT
that time the Republicans needed re
eruits as they never before or since
needed them. When I Joined the party
we were in the midst Of a fierce and
hopeless political battle in whcih the new
+ recruit could see nothing politically tc
gain, but all to lose The opposition to
+ legislature, the supreme bench, th=
state officers, and most of the county
officers throughout the entire state were
lost Then came the fight to regain
power. 1t was then you needed the aid
ana assistance of recruits like myself.
sta yed with yous I have voted your
state and national ticket ever since, and
from year to year I saw deserters com
ing back to the party. Finally, through
the assistance of the Republicans thai
had returned and Democrats who, like
myself had become Republicans. yOl
once more got into power-and now YOU
propose to question the politics Of man
who for principle, severed his former
political ties and came to you in tbs
hour of distress. who voted your tickel
when you needed votes to restore you
to s-ower.
If this opposition to me IS made by
Republicans who have always been
faithful to their party I say it is base
ingratitude; if the objection is made by
those who deserted their party in 1896,
or by those who have been in the habit
since that time of boiling the regular
nominee and openly fighting them,
say it is insolence.
Tt is but fair to the committee to say
that I do not believe this movement
emanates from the committee itself, but
IS lnstlgated by discordant element on
the outside that has never had the in
terests of the Republican party at heart
and has never contributed anything to
its success. It is no time now for inter-
nal strife and discord. At the approach
ing election the Republican party must
be united and harmonious and must
secure every available vote in order to
win. We should endeavor to secure ev-
cry vote possible for the purpose OF
electing our candidate, and giving him
a good. healthy moral support after he
is elected. Very respectfully,
f. A. LEWIS.
1t is a we'll known fact that a large
percent of the members of the commit
tee bolted Nichols and Lucas at last
falls election. These members deny that
there is anything wrong with their Re
pubhcanism and claim it is in bad taste
for Mr.. Lewis to refer to the matter.
His letter was characterized by W S.
Eastman, DIR. o. P Davis and other
( Hughes supporters as .impudent and