The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-13

In politics DR.. Lawrence was a Re
publican until 1896, when he left the
party because of the silver issue, going
into the Populist party. He was a del
egate to the Springfield national con-
vention and was elected one of the
Kansas members of the Populist ma
tional committee
r. w. Turner of Mankato will vote
independent of party this year. Turner
was a Republican until 1896 and was
consul to Cadiz. Spain, during the Har-
rison administration. In 1896 he did not
like the attitude of the Republican
party on silver and he became a silver
| Republican. Two years later he did
not like the fusion nominee for district
judge in mis- district and he bolted and
supported Judge Picker, the Republic
can nominee. resigning as secretary of
/ the railroad commission to do so. About
that time he wrote a pamphlet in which
was the following:
| Nothing is more evident than that a
man may vote for a candidate of his
own nomination if he so desires, and
that there might be as many candidates
as there are ballots cast but in exer-
cising the franchise such a course is
not followed, because it is not con-
venient and would result in confusion.
To avoid such confusion voters get to-
gether. and in a platform enumerate
and declare in favor of governmental
principles in which they have a COM
mon faith. The men who at a given
election thus act and vote constitute
party Nothing can be palmer than
that a party has no personal identity;
no body; no soul or conscience separate
from the voters who for the time being
see fit to agree to the joint plan of ex-
erctsing individual suffrage Any OF
these electors who change their opin-
ions or think that the principles of
good government are not represented
by the platform or the candidates has
both the right and the duty to bolt"
This year Mr.. Turner is more indie
pendent than ever before, and in de-
filming his position he said:
I believe in the principles / wrote in
1898 then and I believe in them now.
am also convinced that they are gaining
ground among voters of all parties.
This year there will be more indepen-
fore in the history of the state. al
though the wing of the Republican
party now in power has by it's partisan
legislation sought to prevent the indie
pendent voter from expressing himself
at the ballot box. The State Journal is
the best paper published in the state by
reason of it's freedom from partyism.
There was once a time in this state
wnen men took pride in saying, L
have never voted anything but a
straight Republican ticket or, I never
voted anything but a straight Demo-
cratic ticket That time is past for
ever and the time has come when a
man is generally ashamed to make such
a statement. independence in political
action dominates a majority of nom
office seeking voters of all parties in
this state and the results of the COM
ing election will, / am sure, prove it.
The majority of men who vote the Re
publican ticket straight this year. will
do it better through ignorance of what
it represents or because they are forced
to do so by the cohesive force of public
plumber. In the words of William Allen
White, which I take pleasure in COM
mending, Tt is better to be a bolter to
a party than a traitor to a state
Il shall vote an independent cnoice of
what is on the ballot
The Republican senatorial convention in
the Linn Anderson district meets tomor- |
row at Blue Mound. B. F. Walker of |
Pleasanton will be nominated. Linn coun-
ty is instructed for him, and as Linn has
10 delegates to Is in Anderson, Linn coun- |
~ will control the situation.
Seneca Tribune: THE anti-machine ed
Bailey's appointee for state accountant |
has found out some things that make |
the boss busters quake, and is still at /
work. Two of the Topeka papers print |
Hiawatha World echoes their plant. Gov. |
Bailey'S action in this accountant matter |
is Endorsed by the best men of Kansas |
and nothing the boss buster organs say |
Kansas financial matters under state con- /
troll. President Roosevelt did not hesitate |
to send MIR. BriStow after government /
grafters. and the investigation was called |
dragnet caught some of the high officials /
OF the administration. The same action |
will follow in Kansas Gov. Bailey will /
leave his office with not a suspicion on /
bear close inspection when he turns them
over to his successor"