The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-12
NOT BRYAN men.
Great COmmOner Bitterly De-
nOunced in POpulist Convention.
Col. James Felter Says He'd
Rather Support Republican.
BUT FEW ARE ON HAND
Chairman Hanna PresideS over
Mass" Meeting.
Question About Getting Presi-
dental Electors on Ballot.
BUT FEW ARE ON HAND


not appear to have even look in
at the mass convention of the Populist
party of Kansas. which commenced
this morning in the assembly hall OF
the Topeka Commercial club.
An endorsement of Tom Watson as
the Populist candidate for president OF
the United States is the programme OF
the convention. Bryan is being re-
viled, and the action of the Nebraska
Populists in endorsing their fellow citi-
zen as the Populist standard bearer is
mathematical.
The mass convention commenced
this morning with a total attendance
of Is, three of whom were newspaper
reporters. The meeting was presided
over by George w. Hanna of Clay
Center, chairman of the state central
committee, who, it was announced.
would follow the lead of the Clay
county Populists, and affiliate with one
of the old parties in the future. The
names of the Populists in attendance
this morning are as follows:
George w. Hanna, Clay; c. P. Judd,
Jackson; H. B. Hewitt, Shawnee; E. c.
Fowler. Shawnee; Albert Griffin,
Shawnee; ]. A. Jordan, Riley; P. D.
Montgomery, Riley: Nels Anderson,
w. Boutwell,, Shawnee; w. r. Eyster,
Shawnee, J. H. Lathrop, Shawnee. In
addition there was Colonel James Fell
ter of Illinois, one of the leading Popu-
lists of the national party organization.
Colonel Felter is a red hot anti
Bryan man. and he made talk" this
morning in which he blistered the Ne
braska statesman. He said in part:
IF anybody should introduce a
res olution for Bryan in a Populist con-
would back up to the curb for him
inside of five minutes. A Populist who
would support Bryan hasn't got a
thimbleful of political sense. 1 would
rather support the Republicans, be-
cause after the Republicans have had
their way and raised hell for 25 years,
everybody will be ready to turn Popu-
list without any further effort.
There is no reform In this nation
through the Democratic party. We
can get more reform out of the Re-
publican party, if we have to take
one of the two. The Republican party
goes ahead and does things; the Dem
ocratic party stays behind and finds
fault. The difference between the Re-
publicans and the Democrats is that
the Republicans go ahead and raise
hell, and the Democrats stay behind
and kick up hell. If Bryan should be
elected president his administration
would be Just like that of Cleveland"
Col. Felter then told the story
about the farmer who had two ponds
and raised geese The geese would
try first one pond and then the other
In an effort to get better picking, but
couldn't get what they wanted in eth
er one.
THE Populist party has been like
the geese" said Felter. 'They have
tried first the Republicans and then
the Democrats, and they don't have
sense enough to see that both parties
"The old parties are now borrowing
ideas and literatu
Populist party is just as sure to take
hold of the helm of the ship of state
as we sit and look each other in the
face today. There is something in the
ton in st. Louis April 2, will be
record maker for the nation. This is
our opportunity. Bryan will be de-
feated because the same elements are
opposing him now that opposed him
before Bryan's defeat means the
disorganization of the Democratic
party. The Populists are going to push
the money question and the land and
transportation questions right up on
the firing line. We will form a party
down there at st. Louis, and 1 don't
care what they call 1t. The Amerf-
can people are going to own the rail-
roads, the telegraphs and the tele-
phones. They are going to own their
money, and issue 1t without the aid of
national banks. They are going to
"A
Denver conference we shook hands
all around and agreed that there
should be no more fusion for the Pop
ulists on national affairs. Local con-
ditions may be adjusted to suit the
situation, but on national issues there
must be no more fusion.
Socialism has reached it's high tide.
The Prohibition party as a party has
reachest it's highest mark. Not prohi-
bition as principle, but as a third
party
Mr.. Felter's speech was received
with applause by the delegates
Proceedings of the Convention.
The convention was called to order
about 1:30 by Chairman Hanna. On
motion he appointed the following
committees:
Organization and order of business
w. w Wiley, Robert Hausernlan and
d. w. Boutwell,.
Resolutions-H. B. Hewitt, E. C..
Fowler, J. A Jordan
Committee to consult attorney gen.
eral-W. R. Eyster, James H. Lathrop
and the chairman.
While Col. Felter was delivering his
speech. the committee appointed to
consult the attorney general went To
the state house and performed its
The committee reported this after
noon. 1t is the opinion of the attor
ney general that If the term general
law means the last state election. 1t
will be impossible for the Populists to
get their presidential electors printed
on the primary ballot without a petf-
ton containing 5000 signatures, as the
total vote of the PopuHsts two years
ago was only 200 in Kansas. One per
cent of the total vote is $500.
On the other hand, if the term gem
eraI election means the last election at
which presidential electors We're chosen
1900 the Populists would be entitled