The Topeka state journal., 1906-05-03
Work Of the Republicans Pleases
Democratic Leader.
An Easier Ticket to Beat Could
Not Have Been Named.
PLATFORM is WEAK.
Especially in Its COmmendatiOn
Of Present Administration.
Central Committee to Meet With
Harris About May IA.

There is at least one man in the city
today who is jubilant to a degree over
the work of the Republican state con-
vention yesterday. and this man is Col
William F. Sapp, chairman of the
Democratic state central committee.
Mr.. Sapp arrived at Democratic head
parters at the Hotel Throop this
morning, to attend the Saturday Night
club banquet and he was just bub-
bling with enthusiasm over the results
Of yesterdays convention
''The ticket which was nominated
and the apology for a platform which
was adopted simply spells victory for
Senator Harris and the rest OF the
Democratic ticket this fall. Why, II
the Republicans had asked a commit
tee Of Democrats to name a ticket
which would have been acceptable to
US there would not be a single change
n It, with the possible exception that
we would have insisted on the nomi-
nation Of Wheatley. The work OF the
Republicans could not have suited US
better had we been permitted to die
tate it. It is the easiest ticket Tor US
to defeat that could have been put in
the field, and defeat it we surely will
"And the platform adopted by the
Republican convention is the worst
ever. They simply have declared
what they desired to declare at the
cIined to say a word about the reduc-
tion of passenger fares and the pro-
hibition of the issuance of free trans
Dortation by railroads, indicating that
they prefer to use passes and accept
them as payment and reward for po-
litical help. What they do say on the
railroad question is meaningless.
There is one declaration in the
platform which is remarka BILE: We
indorse the present state administra-
tiOn and commend its splendid achieve
r1ents to the favorable consideration
Of every patriotic citizen of the state
This Is what they say, and it means
that they commend the Kelly shortage
Of $1,000; they commend the death
OF Devlin to save the state another
$4,000 which was wrongfully de-
posted In a bank by Kelly, they COM
mend Hoch's nonenforcement of the
prOhibitory law, and they commendshis
oil refinery law which was declared
Unconstitutional by the courts
They declare that they were the
makers Of the first railroad law in the
state and this declaration is not ac-
cordfng to facts The first time there
was a fight on the railroad question in
this state was in 1882 when George W.
Click was elected governor on that is
s.At this instigation the legislature pass
ed the law creating the first railroad
commission in this state and Judge
by the Democrats last week for a po-
sition on the railroad commission, was
the first railroad commissioner in this
state.
Taken an in all it is the worst apollo
gy for a platform which has ever been
presented to the people Of the state It
makes no pointed declaration on any
issue confronting the people of this
state. It is a conglOmeratiOn Of gilt
tering generalities' and palsy plati-
tudes"
Col. Sapp stated that there would be
O. meeting of the Democratic central
committee for the purposes of organi-
cation during the week Of May IA SEN
ator Harris will be present at the meet
ing
Although Mr.. Sapp is not a candidate
for reelection to the craftsmanship of
the committee it is likely that he viii
be chosen for the place. It IS under
stood that Mr. Harris wants Col. Sapp
to take the craftsmanship and manage
the campaign and this is the sentiment
Of the Democratic leaders in the state.
It was really Col. SaDD who engineer
ed the nomination OF Mr.. Harris. and
everyone in the party feels that he
should be the one to manage the cam
paign.
Mr.. Sapp would not commit himself
this morning as to whether or not he
viii accept the Craftsmanship again
but it is safe to say that his friends in
the party will put It up to him in
way which viii preclude his resigning.