The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-04
Communication to StateJOurnal
Concerning Primary.
HE rs AN OPPONENT.
Sarcastic References to the
Proposed Measure.
Intimates That Tt Would Shut
Out Poor Men.

The last public utterance of Webb Nc
Nall before he was rendered helpless by
! a stroke of paralysis was contained in a
communication to the State Journal I'M
der date of June 27. 1t is a discussion
of the primary question and was as fol-
| lows:
Gaylord, Kan, June 81, 1907.
Daily State Journal:
There are Ala voting precincts in the
| p counties in this congressional district.
We can not get along without two
judges and one clerk, the polls should be
kept open from 2 p. m. until 6 p. and
! the votes canvasSed after this time, and
then one of the judges deliver the re-
turns to the county central committee
at the county seat: this work will cost
81 for each judge and clerk, cit is differ
ent at circus; it is over in one-half
hour and every one goes home), and 81
is small enough compensation. This will
make as compensation for judges and
clerks in this congressional district 81, 4S4.
Then there is the printing of the ballots;
the printers are entitled to compensation
for this; do not know what this will
cost. One paper in this district says
there is no need of it's costing any such
sum- Well if the voters will give over
one-half day for nothing, then it can be
done. Another paper says to assess the
candidates is a hold up. Well, another
paper in the district settles the matter
by saying let the successful candidate
pay all of the expenses. / understand
that has been done in times past, and
this is what square dealers want to
avoid in the future" Another says let us
Cthe people, raise 81, 900 and run man
against Reeder; just agree upon one
candidate; in other words, let US peepul
raise the money for some patriot to-
make the race. 1t will take too long to
agree upon the man after the $1,000 is
raised-it will take ten years.
This primary was started down in the
Second district, and Charley Scott re-
ceived enough majority at home to de-
feat Henry Allen, and the square deal
ers remarked this works all right, (pre-
sumably because their man was nom
inated) then Charley Curtis declared
for the same in his district, and his COM
mittee fixed the entrance fee at $500 per
candidate. Charley put his money up,
and it was the easiest nomination
Charley ever received; the others forgot
to Run" Then D. r. Anthony had the
committee try it for him (and he put
up his entrance fee) and the other can
didates were in default Anthony is in
favor of the primary.
Now, then, am in favor of a primary
convention for this district in the sum-
mer of 1908 to nominate congressman
in this district and assessing the can |
didates the full amount that it will cost
to pay the expenses, and do not believe
that a poor man has any business in the
L
before the next legislature convenes so
the peepul will get their moneys worth, |
before the same is engrafted into law, |
and if this is done 1 do not believe 1t
will ever be engrafted into law If Mr..
Reeder, Mr.. Ham, Mr.. Young and Mr..
Meade are all candidates they can get
along with an assessment of $3.50 each.
With a primary election law, Smith |
Center, Kensington, Lebanon and Gay |
lord embracing 4 out of 25 townships in |
Smith county, will nominate county |
ticket and the votes from the other Fl |
townships will be scattering. The towns |
in Kansas will nominate the tickets.
go five and one-half miles to vote |
Take it during the last ten years and
an average attendance at a caucus is |
6, travelling II miles to attend cau- |
Gus or primary is a privilege that no |
person who resides in city has. He |
can vote and go to his work in one hour. |
With full f1edged primary, constructed |
by law and on the statute book, Wyan- !
dotte county can tell Smith how to vote |
on United States senator and the can |
didates, or nominees rather will not |
only name the delegates to the national |
but will also make the plat
form Heretofore the peepul have made |
the same and then asked the candidate
If he was willing to run on it, but
things will change. After the candidate
is now nominated he will tell his con-
stituents what kind of a platform he
will run on"
WEBB McNALL.