The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-21
HAD A HOT Time.
Republican Caucus Proves to Be
a Lively Affair.
Bitter Charges Are Hurled
Back and Forth.
TALK OF PRIMARY.
Plan Of Enemies, Shout Stone
and Stannard.
Comes to End Without Any
thing Being Done.

senate members which was called last
nsint Tor the purpose of tying some
10y ~ up 20 a caucus verdict on tbs
primary election law, failed in it's pur-
participated in the caucus was strongly
AGAINST being tied to anything
AS Tar as results are concerned. the
caucus was much like the experience
marched up the hill with 10000 men or
the less remote individual who walked
risnt IN and turned around and walked
right out again. 1t looked at the out
SET as though the caucus might result
IA pioodshed and riot, but it terminated
IA the passage of this innocuous reso-
luton introduced by Speaker ]. S. Sim
mons of the house:
Resolved, That it is the sense of the
caucus that direct primary bill should
be passed and that this caucus should
stand ready to iron out as far as posi-
bic all differences in relation thereto
second, That when this caucus adj
jour1l, 1t adjourn to meet at the call Of
the chairman
Senator Tom Noftzger of Harper was
chairman, and he says that he won't
call the caucus together again unless
requested to do so by a petition signed
by a majority Of the house and senate
members.
The caucus, it is understood will not
reassemple unless it appears that there
are differences between the house and
senate primary bills which are utterly
irreconcilable in conference committee.
When the Stubs crowd in the house
and senate found that a majority of
the members of each body-64 in the
house and q in the senate-had signed
the call for the caucus, they threatened
to refuse to participate in any caucus.
However, they changed then plan. and
nearly all of the Republican members
were present.
Tom Noftzger called the caucus to
order, and was promptly elected chair
man before the Stubs crowd had fully
decided whether they were in or out.
w. Y. Morgan was elected secretary,
but Morgan wanted a speaking part, SO
he had W. A. S. Bird elected assistant
secretary to do the work.
Then Fred Dumont Smith got the
floor and said that the time had not
come for caucus. He thought that the
house and senate ought to fight it out
a while longer, and he therefore moved
to adjourn the caucus, subject to the
call of the chairman.
Senator Fitzpatrick said:
From anything that has happened
it is by no means certain that we can
get together on a primary bill. The
majority party in this legislature
| should see to it that we have such a
law don't ask this caucus to take
action tonight, but I will be satisfied
if this caucus will agree that when
the necessity arises it will reconvene
and decide points of difference be-
tween the two houses and then go
into the respective houses and support
the decision of that caucus. We will
have done much if we agree to de-
eide such things among Republicans
| Then it will not be any action which
will get credit for passing a primary
| law, but the good old Republican
party.
| IF the gentleman from Edwards
will consent, will move that it is
| the sense of this caucus that we
should and that he will reassemble at
any differences, and then unitedly
| support the bill that is the outcome
| of that caucus. '@--'-
Senator Smith said that personally
he was willing to go into any Re-
| publican caucus and abide by the
result, but that he wouldn't vote to
bind anybody else to such an agree
ment st can't consent to the
| amendment suggested by the senator
| from Chautauqua. The majority of
! this caucus may put such rule
| through, but how are you going to
| enforce it? Every man is responsible
| to hts constituents and his conscience
/ and I don't believe that the time has
! come to put the gag on and say that
you must do this or be driven from
| your party.
| Robert Stone of Shawnee then made
a fiery speech. He protested against
Ecaucus deliberations in general. 81
| join with the gentleman from Ed
| wards" he said, Tin saying that no
| party caucus can shackle my arm or
| paddock my lips on a measure which
| my heart does not endorse. Was this
| petition for caucus circulated when
| the senate lodge was in control? No.
It was when defeat was staring the
machine crowd in the face, and rattle
/ than allow each house to settle its
| fight, they conceived the scheme of
| cracking the party whip, and compel
! ling the Republican members to put
/ through the provisions of a bill which
| that / will not be bound by a party
| caucus"
| W. Y. Morgan of Reno said: "All
i we want is to have the Republicans
/ of the legislature orga' lied So that
| there will not again be failure to en-
minority of the Republicans, together
with the solid Democrats, to beat a
| primary law" Mr.. Morgan thought
| that the Fitzpatrick plan of gag
| caucus" was too drastic He urged a
more liberal kind of a caucus
| C. A. Stannard of Lyon county then
warmed up to the work, and sailed into
tongs.
1T am opposed to caucus called by
| petition circulated by enemies of the
| primary, law" he said holly. IT object
to this same crowd coming in here and
| organizing with a man for chairman
| who has fought the primary law with
all his might for years. / object to this
/ snap Judgment"
Bang-bang-bang-b went
the gave1 of Chairman Noftzger.
you're out of order" shouted Noftz-
| ger amid much confusion.