The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-09
HOCH TO FARMERS
Urges Them to Work for a
Primary Law.
Applause Indicates Their APP
prevail of Suggestion.
MIR. COBURN MISSED.
Members of State Board Speak
FeelingTy of Absent Secretary.
The Meetings Will Continue
Through Tomorrow.

to the delegates to the meeting OF the
State Board of Agriculture now in ses-
sion at Representative hall Governor
Hoch took the opportunity to urge the
members to work for a primary cleo
ton law. In introducing the subject he
said: az think that every man here is
interested in whether the politicians
nominate the public officials or wheth-
er the voters of the state have voice
in the matter"
The applause. which followed this in
troductory remark was an unmistaka-
BILE note of approval from the body del
egates within the sound of his voice
Continuing he said: I'VE should go to
the root of human government in this
as in every other matter of grave I'M
portance and we will all admit that the
convention system DISTINGUISHES the
American voter of his rights as a citt-
zen.
PERHAPS / have said enough about
this important matter but I hope that
when you go to your homes that you
Will get busy at once on this matter
and that the action of your senators
and. representatives will show the sue
cess Of your efforts when the legislature
meets next week. You know what
mean and I am sure that at least
majority of the delegates In this hall
agree with me-"
w nile STOVSTI1OT 11OCH was OSuNSiAll5
that portion of his address on the direct
primary he was repeatedly Interrupted
by applause from the audience. 1t may
be that there are some of the members
Of the legislature in attendance at the
meeting as delegates, at any rate the
talk had it's effect on those present and
It is more than likely that when the
delegates return to their homes that
they will make an effort to influence
their representatives to favor a primary
bill.
In his Introductory remarks of well
come Governor Hoch said: LAS I look
into the faces Of this gathering I am
impressed with the fact that you are
the representatives of the good govern
ment of the state in which We live
When question affecting the good
government of the country is under dis
cussion 1t is the duty of every good
citizen to have an opinion on the sub
ject.
"When a question has been discussed
and a ballot has been deposited and
when the proposition was crystaldzed
into law then and not until then the
question has passed out of the realm
of discussion and becomes a law sub
iect only to amendment or appeal. From
then on it is the duty of every good
citizen to lend his aid in enforcing the
law whether it meets with his approval
or not.
81 am proud to stand on this plat
form tonight with the mayor of Topeka
who has enforced all of the laws and
there has never been doubt in my
mind as to where the farmers stand on
the prohibitory question. You are
vitality interested in the special session
which is called to meet in this city on
the 18th of the present month. You are
deeply interested in the special purposes
for which It has been called the tax
law in particular.
you are also deeply interested in the
banking security proposition for 1t Is
one in which the depositors and the
bankers Of the state are equally in
terested and the benefits will be tremen-
dous and mutual The enactment of
this law will cure many Of the evils
which exist at this time. 1t will stop
boarding and the flow Of millions of
dollars from the state will be curtailed
and Kansas and its FARMERS VIII re-
ceive the benefits 70
For the first time in the fourteen
years during which he has been secre-
tary of the Board of Agriculture F. D.
Cobur1I was absent, not because he will
ed it so but because the doctors who
have charge of his case have warned
him not to leave his bed. For several
weeks Mr.. Coburn has been i'll with grip
and the troubles which usually compli-
cate such cases, though he has main
tanned from the first that he would be
able to attend the annual meeting of
the opinion that he is we'll enough to
be present but the doctors have .willed
otherwise.
From all sides words of regret were
heard last night that Mr.. Coburn's
condition will not permit his presence
at the meeting and while the affairs
of the board are running along
smoothly there is a feeling that some
thing is lacking.
In his address of welcome, Mayor
Green according to the long estab-
lished custom, proffered to the as
sembled farmers the keys of the city
with the promise that he will If neces-
sary use his pardoning power should
any of the delegates find an open
ditch and fall into it.
In his reply to the addresses of
welcome delivered by Governor Hoch
and Mayor Green. President A. L.