The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-06

a. M, and then the fireworks began.
T. c. Ballinger of Burlington said that
this was a very extraordinary date and
he thought somebody ought to explain
why it was to be held so early.
why wouldn't it be in order to hear
why not?" asked James F. Getty.
Then D. W. Wheeler, in Copeland
county parlance, took out a stack of
chips.
1T doesn't seem to me that we ought
TO De IN such hurry about holding
this convention" he said. 1.-The way
things are going don't see why it was
necessary to hold this meeting at all
Every body has seemed to know for
months that this convention is to be
held early, although so far as 1 know
nobody has had authority to say So
The way things are run l don't see why
it was necessary to put US to the ex-
pense of coming here to this meeting.
Why couldn't the chairman have sent
out a card to the members saying that
it had been decided to hold the state
convention at Wichita on March and
for US to sign the card. There are just
about four committeeman and % ze-
roeS on this committee. Four men run
it and the rest of us don't amount to
anything. We each represent seven or
eight thousand Republican votes but
we don't amount to anything at all.
Il am told that two or three men
called on President Roosevelt several
months ago and assured him that Kan
instruct for him." continued Mr. Wheel
er. What authority had they to do
that, I should like to know? The way
this committee is run the power is all
in the hands of a few individuals. They
collect money and spend it without the
rest OF us knowing anything about it
When the last campaign was run down
here [ used to come down and go into
the headquarters and I felt as though
1 was looked upon as a dog sneaking
around a butcher shop for a bone. One
faction had desks in the headquarters
and was furnished stationery and other
things belonging to tn committee and it
was used to beat the other faction. It
looks as though a division was made at
the Wichita convention of the sheep and
the goats. Those lined up for Bailey
were the sheep and other fellows were
the goats.
Then J. T. Moore of Pittsburg took
the floor. LAS one of the delegates at
Wichita who voted against Bailey, and
as one who also worked for Burton for
United States senator, l second the
motion for the holding of the conven-
ton on March g." he said. There
seems to be some friction here as to
which machine shall control. l have
seen a statement that the Leland ma
chine wanted a late convention in Or
der to keep the farmers out of it.
thought an early convention would suit
the other fellows, and l am for an ear
/ ly convention. Down in Crawford coun-
! IY we can always nave All the HSnllIlS
we want without going out of the Re
publican party. Last year we rolled up
| l LOO Republican majority and we want
to keep it instead of fighting among
ourselves and losing it."
1T comes with bad grace" said
James F. Getty, of Wyandotte. for a
/ member Of this committee to get up
and talk about ciphers- l believe every
meber OF this committee voted just as
he pleased. I voted for Wichita be-
cause 1 thought the convention ought
to go there. Topeka has the legisla-
ture-I don't know as that is always a
help to a town. however.
Now word as to this machine bust
ness. Who started this machine cry ?
! If any committeeman here, Leland, Al
/ baugh, Mulvane, or anybody else,
/ wanted to use his influence for any par
! ticular town, didn't he have a right to
/ do so? The members of this commit
tee can vote Just as they please and I
1 think they have done so. want to
say that there is a machine here in To
peka that is sending down into my
/ county right now and trying to make
! a legislative ticket for us-and it isn't
Leland that is doing it, either 1t is a
! lot of politicians who meet here and
/ try to rawhide Republicans into nomi-
mating men for office whom they can
handle
Suppose some one did call on the
president and say that Kansas was for
him don't know that anyone did
but suppose that is true, wasn't it
right. I'll leave it to every man in this
room if it isn't the truth. applause
They can talk about Hanna and about
beating Roosevelt, but Kansas is for
Roosevelt just the same. Then why not
hold an early convention and lead off
by declaring for him?
Mr. Getty then lapsed into a funny
VEIN II live down among the hills in
Wyandotte county," he said. where
we are unsophisticated. We are not
much used to ways of the world. I
couldn't think of bringing forty I'M
sophisticated Wyandotte men up here
to Topeka, where, I am told, they act
ually play poker.
''I would like to KNOW" said Mr..
| Wheeler, how many members of this