The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-23
Republican Committee Puts 0.
Il. on His Candidacy.
Has Right to Try for Party
Nomination for Mayor.
He MADE A SPEECH.
Gave the Members His Political
Record.
VOte to Not DispIace Him Was
Unanimous.

Frank A. Lewis has satisfied the Re
publican city central committee that
his name belongs on the ticket al the
coming primaries on March H. BY a
Unanimous vote Of the committee sat
urday night the report Of the investi-
eating committee recommending that
AIr. Lewis name be received without
prejudice on account OF his previous
political alliance and that he be ac-
corded place was adopted
The same committee recommended
that @. II. Kutz. the candidate Tor
school board in the Fifth ward. to
whom objections were made. be allowed
60 stay on the ticket.
No effort was made to subject either
man to an inquisition before the cen
trail committee but Mr.. Lewis was
present and on invitation made a
speech by which he removed any
doubts about his Republicanism. A
large crowd of negroes accompanied
W. w. Fisher the man who started
the effort to bar Kutz off the ticket,
and when the vote of the COMMITTEES to
retain him was taken they raised their
voices in protest. Nick Chilled led the
delegation and persisted in shouting
out his opinion of the committee in
positive disregard Of the dignity Of that
body. Fisher, himself, nearly went
into Mysteries. He declared it a job to
beat him. although he has no other OPP
ponent for the office. But for the fact
that the committee had finished its
work and adjourned the confusion
might have degenerated into a rough
house" with very little aegravation
Whiie MIR. Lewis was speaking the
crowd rooted" for him Justify so that
ne had to wave 1T into silence before ne
could proceed. He finally got into con-
trol and made a very good speech. He
sald lt was his maiden effort For
beginner Mr.. Lewis did remarkably
Wen ana his statement made a notice
ably good impression with the commit
tee, to the wishes of most of which his
candidacy is inimical. 1t had been un-
derstoOd that the investigating commit
tee was going to make a favorable re-
port upon admitting his name and Mr..
Lewis would have been admitted
without any difficulty even if he had
not made his speech. 1t is evident
however that the attitude toward him
has altered somewhat since his appear
ance and however hostile the commit
teemen may be to him as a candidate
it is not likely that anything more will
be heard about his being a Democrat.
In his speech Mr.. Lewis said:
When I commenced to vote [ was
very young man, as we all are when we
begin to vote AT that time the issues
We're not what they are today All
heard in national politics was tariff
high tariff. low tariff and free trade.
MY father had been Republican but
he changed when the tariff issue came
UP. All heard at home was free trade
w hen 1 Went to college I had a profess
sor who believed in free trade and he
taught it to me until I believed that
was the only side to take. I voted the
Democratic ticket from that time on
and was consistently q Democrat
the gentleman from Nebraska. of whom
you have all heard came forward with
new issue, the free coinage of silver.
The Democratic party took up that is
sue which I believed was dishonest 1T
was proposition to repudiate the in
debtedness Of the country and to adopt
n financial policy which no other coun-
try in the world followed 1t was in 1886
that I turned Republican. One day a
man came into my Office with a paper
on which ne was enrolling members of
the Mckinley club and 7 asked him 10
let me put my name on it, I asked him
also if he would not mention to my
friends that / had signed the paper and
then ] went out among the boys who
had grown up with me and did what I
could TO get them to join the Republ
can party
when I joined the Republican party
this state went sweepingly PopuHst The
Republican party lost every state office
ON the ticket. There was nothing in if
was simply taking my stand against a
political policy that I believed to be dis
honorable and dishonest. Ny friends
came to rae and tried to argue me out
Of my course but L stayed where I be-
ieved 7 was right I have been a Re
publican ever since and have voted the
ticket straight at every election. Two
years ago / was not for Hughes for the
Republican nomination for mayor
was for Jim Warner and I worked for
him among my friends, but when
Hughes was given the nomination /
stepped up TO the polls ON election day
and voted for him and for every other
man on the Republican ticket No mat
ter how this Republican primary cleo
tlon comes out j give you my promise
that y viii work for the man who re-
ceives the nomination for mayor"
When Mr.. Lewis case had been dis
posed of j. II. Guy moved that the com
mittee reconsider its vote to disDlace c.
*. Holidays name from the ticket as
candidate for the school board in the
Second ward. The proposition was voted
down. 10 to 10. About half the commit
Tee rose 10 explain its vote and the pro-
ceeding took considerable time.
Chairman Simon announced that can
didates whose names are to appear upon
the Republican ticket before the pri-
maries should appear in his Office at 6
o'clock Tuesday evening to be present
when the drawing of lots for positions
on the ticket is made.
ww