The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-03
FOR A ZIGzAG TICKET.
Continued from First Page.)

cussing their plans and abusing the Re
publ1cans pretty lively, some one came
around and told them they were meet
ing in Republican headquarters
John Curran thought he had arrang-
ed for the caucus in the Commercial
club rooms. but when he got there he
found the good roads convention IN
possession. Then it was suggested that
they might get even with the Repuon-
cans for coming to the National by go
ing to the Copeland and this arrange
ment was carried out
The room at the Copeland which has
been used for such purposes by the Re-
publicans from time immemoriaI was
packed with PopuliSts last night ana its
walls heard speeches the like of which
they never heard before. 1t was hard to
squeeze into the room at all. More peo-
pie stood up than could sit down.
w. J. Babb, chairman of the Popu-
list state committee, presided. Iaylor
Riddle started in but said he Would
save his main speech until the conVen-
ton opened today. He is in favor OF
two electoral tickets but fusing on the
state ticket under the Democratic
Albert Griffin then took the floor. He
referred to the new financial theories
about which he has recently written a
book and said if a straight ticket is
nominated, standing on a platform en-
hodying these financial ideas 1t Would
arouse all the 4old- time Vigor OF the
Populists. Griffin talked for half an
ed to save up his real speech until to-
day.
Then old Governor" Elder of Ottawa
started in. Elder retains all of his old
time vigor in speech-rnaking and is as
picturesque in his expressions as in the
days when he referred to the motto OF
Kansas at state dinner given the
Grand Duke Alexis when the state was
young, telling the duke that them
words is Latin" Elder declared him
self for anything which will defeat the
present aggregation which has tarnlsn-
ed the good name of the state of Kan
sas." He thought the proposition to
nominate separate electoral tickets ana
fuse on state ticket under the Dem
ocratic heading was the only feasible
thing to do. He said that was what
they had done in Franklin county ana
only one man was against it in con-
Vention of 200.
That one man was A. c. Shinn, who
was present at the caucus. AS soon as
he got a chance he disputed Elder, al
though admitting that the Popu1sts IN
Franklin county were largely Tor the
convention which adopted the idea was
a joint convention in which the Demo-
Gratis largely predominated.
Governor Elder had platform pre-
pared which he read. 1t denounced the
Republicans for raising the salaries and
giving bounties to a swarm of clerks
and office-holders, for raising the as
sessed valuation of the state twenty
other sins. He then quoted from a
statement alleged to have been made
by State Auditor Wells. 1t is supposed
to have been the statement prepared by
Treasurer Kelly in defense of the ac-
ton of the state board of equalization
a year ago and given out over Auditor
Wells name when he was out of the
city. Elder quoted the state auditor as
saying that the last legislature had APP
s55, 1929 more than any
previous legislature; that it did little
towards improving the state institu-
lions; that it had increased the appro-
priations for the governors office for
the present two years to $4,000 as
against $25, 900 for the previous two
years. and for various other increases;
that it had squandered a large amount
of money on useless clerks. Elder said
that the stock yards law had been ig-
nored by the Republican attorney gen
eral, and that the state tax levy had
been greatly increased by the Repub-
licans. Then he pointed with pride to
the laws which had been enacted by
the Populists and Democrats-the text
book law, the stock yards law the anu
trust law, the insurance tax law, the
banking law, the Bush corporation law, |
and dozens others.
When Elder got through DR.. Bohrer |
of Rice county, who had not been given |
a chance to make a speech, wanted to
know eff this meeting was for the pur-
pose of consultation" He said he
hadn't had chance to consult any |
demanded to know where and when the |
would meet. Upon securing |
the information he marched out.
Then three or four of the lesser lights
made speeches against fusion on the |
Democratic ticket. Most of them |
couldn't stand the idea of voting in a |
column which contained Parkers name, |
even if it were given a chance to vote |
against Parker. Some wanted to fuse |
on an Independent ticket and some |
didn't want to fuse at all, but wanted |
a straight Populist ticket. Some want |
ed to fuse with the Populist nominees |
on the Populist ticket and the Demo-
cratic nominees on the Democratic |
ticket and let the voters zigzag back |
and forth.
Reuben Chenault, a Bourbon county |
statesman finally got the floor and |
made a speech for fusion on the Demo-
cratic ticket if necessary. He said that
the Populists had always had the aid
Of the Democrats in whatever they hao
done and it didn't seem just courteous
now for the Populists Ito spit in their
faces and call them Republicans" Mr..
Chenault insisted that if the Popullsts
and Democrats would march saoulder
to shoulder and face to face" they
could clean up the Republicans
One Populist whom nobody seemed
to know said he knew of lib delegates
in the convention today who VIII not
stand for fusion Ncket on the DEM
ocratic ballot.
Anti-EusfoniStS Meet.
The anti-Democratic Populists held q
caucus at the oxford early this morn
- nj