The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-02
Opponents of President ROose-
Velt Showing Their Hands.
Begin Agitation for a Late
State Convention.
AWAIT DEVELOPMENTS
That Is the Excuse Made by
Burton's Friends.
Treasurer Kelly Sees Trouble
Ahead in Miami.

In the hope of being able to make
trouble for President Roosevelt in
Kansas in the matter of the delegation
to the Republican national convention,
the Burton organs are advising against
an early state convention so that the
state may be able Ito take advantage
of any development that may occur"
The development of course, would
be the avowed candidacy of Senator
Hanna, and a delay would give time
for Hanna machine to work through
the Burton machine to secure delegates
to the national convention who would
be. lukewarm in their support of Roose-
welt, even under positive Instructions.
There is no doubt but what an at
tempt will be made to secure a dele
cation of this character, to be controll-
ed by Senator Burton. At present Bur
ton has no standing at the White
House. If Senator Hanna should be-
come president or even If a Democrat
should be elected, Burton would be on
an equal footing with Senator Long,
but he will never have any standing
there as long as Roosevelt occupies the
White House. If Burton could help
Hanna, even secretly, it would still fur
Their improve his standing.
It is quite apparent therefore that
the anti-Roosevelt programme in Kan
sas will be one of trickery. Senator
Burton himself tries to create the i'm
BIcSSlOu lIldI ne Is 1OI INOOSCNSlls dl1N
those whom the Burton element will
support will declare the same thing.
They will try to get on the delegation
under the plea that the whole state is
for Roosevelt anyway and that 1t
makes no difference to the president
who is on the delegation. The longer
the state convention is delayed the
more time there will be for the use
of those influences which are support
ing Hanna in the east to work secret
" In he
ganization.
An evidence that the Burton people
are anxious to have the state conven-
ton delayed as late as possible for this
very purpose is evidenced by an edi-
torial in thu Lawrence Journal. a Sur
tor. organ 1t says:
1T is evident that the Ohio Repuo
lcars have decided upon a late con-
vention for purpose. They are plain
ly OF a mind that if President Roose-
welt has sure thing of the nominal
ton now, that there is reason to believe
that he will have sure thing later in
the season. If this is not the case then
the Ohio convention will be in a posi-
ton to take advantage of such adVa
fages as come to it by reason of a de-
lay in the date of the convention. Kan
sas is liable tie go off half cooked: 1t
is the Kansas way. Kansas did the
same thing in supporting Harrison for
the nomination; he was nominated.
then defeated. It would appear to be
the part OIL ROOQ judgment delay the
convention and make it possible to
take advantage of any development
that may occur in the meantime"
AS the time for holding the Republi-
can state convention approaches, it be-
comes evident that State Treasurer
Kelly will have trouble in his home
county, Miami Two years ago Mr..
Kelly was allowed to name his own dele
cation from Miami county before his
record became known to his neighbors
and the public generally. When that
record was discovered even some of
those whom Kelly had himself selected
as his delegates to the state conven-
ton, refused to go to the convention
and support him, and when the election
game he ran nearly thousand votes
behind Governor Bailey.
Mr.. Kelly is now putting in much of
his time in Miami county trying to
strengthen his fences so as to secure
the delegation from his home to the
Republican state convention, but re-
ports from down there indicate that he
will very likely fail. For several months
he has been using all the patronage at
his command-and he has secured con-
siderable, to build a machine for him
self in Miami county. The Miami Coun-
upon the subject:
state Treasurer Kelly is putting in
most of his time in Miami county in
hot canvass for a delegation. If there
is nothing the matter with Kelly's rec
ord, why is it necessary for him to
make a button-hole and house to house
canvass to carry his home county for
denomination for a state office? Let
Kelly's apologtsts and clacquers answer
this If they can. Kelly swaggers about
and pretends that he can be renom-
mated without a delegation from this
county, but he knows that the loss of
his home delegation will prove fatal to
him, and it is beginning to dawn upon
him that his neighbors, who know him,
are against him."
The Burton organs which are fighting
Governor Bailey and his administration