The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-19
- RETGN a - 80.


The Republicans OF Topeka who be-
lieve in the supremacy OF law are
urged by the law and order leaders to
turn out to primaries on March 10 and
overthrow the Schlitz combine and vote
to bring about a better condition in
civic affairs in Topeka and Shawnee
county.
But what's the use2
The loyal Republicans Of Shawnee
cOunty-and by loyal here is meant
those who are loyal to their country
and its laws-the loyal Republicans of
Shawnee county have turned out to the
primaries before, but what good has it
done? Does anyone suppose that the
Ring that is in control Of affairs in
Shawnee county viii give up merely
because a majority Of the Republicans
of the county are in favor of decency
and good government?
Not at all.
The Ring viii make it a point to see
that 1t has the most votes in the pri-
maries, no matter who may be the
choice of the majority of the Republi-
cans.
What else does the action of the Re
publican county committee on Saturday
afternoon mean?
It has been a notorious fact that the
primaries in some precincts in Topeka
for several years have been carried by
imported voters and repeaters when the
Ring has been in danger. In some pre-
cinets there are more votes polled in
Republican primaries than there are
Republicans in the precinct. The coun-
ty committee was called together Sat
urday for the express purpose of pro
viding safeguards to insure honest pri-
maries. H M. Philips, chairman of
the committee, refused to call the meet
ing, but it was called by five members
of the committee who are in favor of
obedience to the law.
But the committee is controlled by the
Ring. Did the Ring propose to keep it
self from using repeaters and imported
voters2 Not at all. The Ring knows
wherein its safety lies. 1t would not
even go through the formality Of con-
sidering a plan for honest primaries. OF
course such consideration would have
been a waste Of time. for no arguments
would have changed the Ring.
And so the primaries on March 10 will
be as open to repeating as ever. Is not
this a pretty fair indication that the
Ring will win?
The only way in which the law and
order element can secure honest pri-
maries is to organize the primaries at
the start. 1t can, of course, do this in
some precincts, but in others it will not,
and in these latter there will be dishon-
est votes cast.
There is a bare possibility that pub
lie sentiment may be so aroused by the
present degradation of law in Topeka
that the Schlitz combine may be fooled
and swept off its feet, but it is only a
possibility. However, the people can
remedy matters at the polls. even if
they are powerless in the primaries.
Vice and corruption have such a. hold
in Topeka that it Is high time the peo-
pie who believe in justice and law
were awaking to conditions. The mis-
carriages of Justice in the courts and
the shameless violation of law are due
to the reign Of the Ring. 1t is stated
that woman was Keeling along Kan
sas avenue, near the postofice. shame
lessIy intoxicated, late Saturday after
noon. It was one of the results of the
reign of the Ring. Indirectly the con
hnement of five high school girls in
Crittenton home can doubtless be
traced to the same source. It is the
result of unrebuked vice in Topeka.
It is a mistake to think that the
SchIitz combine is the whole of the
Ring. Mr.. aBuer and others Of his kind
Ring. Mr.. Bauer and others of his kind
but Mr.. Ndulvane, state and national
committeeman, is represented in the
Ring and works with it. Congressman
Curtis does the same AS a result the
schlitz combine is always found behind
Mr.. Mulvane and Mr.. Curtis. The Ring,
for instance has always been very
strong for Mr.. Ndulvane's friend, T. T.
Kelly. The aid and support Of Mr. Null
vane and Mr.. Curtis gives respectable
ty to the Ring-if It can be called re
/ spectabiIity.