The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-25
NO INSTRUCTIONS GO,
Refuses to Be " Bossed by
State Committee.
Congressman Calderhead Op.
poses the Senatorial Plank.
Mr.. Stub, Presides and Bris.
tow Offers Suggestions.

that the newspaper reporters present
will use discretion in what they print"
Thus spoke W. K. Stubs at meet
ing in room 116 at the Copeland hotel
Monday afternoon. Room 116 is
across the hall from Stubs private
room and is fitted with a lot or chairs,
a table, and three cot beds Chairs,
tables and beds were all occupied at
the unusual meeting held Monday
afternoon The little room was jam
med with people. Stubs sat by the
table and acted as presiding officer.
Phil Campbell. congressman from the
Third district, was secretary.
Senator Charles Curtis and near
Senator J. l.. Bristow were present.
Senator Chester /. Long was in his
room across the hall, next to that or
w Il. Stubs. He didn't come into
the Informal powwow.
Mr.. Stubs explained. in opening the
meeting. that II was desired to talk
over some of the proposed planks for
the Republican platform.
Mr.. Bristow had ready a number or
panks concerning congressional and
national matters. Mr.. Stubs mad
number of state planks ready for con-
sideration.
Congressman Reede~ of the Sixth
district did not stay through the meet
Ing. Congressman Miller arrived late.
and Congressman Scott came in just
before the meeting closed. All the
other congressman. and many of the
state senator's candidates. members OF
the state committee and others were
present. The door of the room was
wide open and anybody was admitted.
Miller Called II Machine Politics.
Congressman Miller protested
against being put on record some
of the planks proposed by Mr. Bris-
tow.
II don't propose" he said. 'to take
any instructions from the state COM
W in
gress. l am opposed to the action of
this caucus in trying to instruct me
to vote for the election of United
States senator by direct vote. 1 am
responsible to my own constituents. I
am opposed to this meeting. anyway.
It is too much like machine politics to
suit me. Why don't we settle these
questions in the party council?'
This is merely an informal dis
cussion," said Mr.. Stubs. 1--WE didn't
seem to have much to do this after
noon. and we thought it would be a
good chance to talk these things over.
Anybody can come in that wants to. 1t
is wide open. II this is what you call
machine methods. Mr.. Miller-and
you doubt know what machine
methods are-I would suggest that
you go out and call in some of your
machine friends to see how it is be-
ing done. We want everybody to at
tend. If you have any objection to
any of these proposed planks, l hope
YOU will tell us what they are. We
are ignorant out here and want to
learn from you congressman how to
draw up this platform"
Congressman Miller said he wasn't
opposed to electing United States sena-
tors by direct vote. but that he didn't
think the informal meeting. the party
caucus or anybody else except his own
constituents had any right to 'in-
struct' him.
Congressman w. A. Calderhead OF
the Fifth district also opposed the plan
for electing United States senators by
direct vote.
THAT question was thoroughly con-
sidered when the United States consti-
tuition was adopted" said Mr.. Calder
head. 1T was arranged as ii was for
good reasons. and l can see no excuse
for making a change"
Nevertheless. the proposed plank was
adopted. Senator Charles Curtis voted
for il and spoke for it.
The members of congress who were
present engaged in some sharp tits
over some of the planks proposed by
Bristow. With the exception of Con-
gresham Calderhead. however, they all
seemed to be pretty we'll satisfied with
what Mr. Bristow had drawn up as
proposed planks. Mr.. Calderhead said
he had voted against electing United
States senators by direct vote and
would probably do so again. He did not
like the physical valuation of railways
clause or the plank relating to freight
rates.
It was about $50 when the meeting
adjourned after adopting with some
slight changes the planks proposed by
Mr.. Bristow. Another meeting was held
at y. m. for the purpose of consider
Ing the planks proposed by Mr.. Stubs.
MIR. Bristow's Planks.
Mr.. Bristow's proposed planks were
1--WE, first Republican party council
of Kansas declare our approval of the
direct primary law and pledge our
party to only such amendments as will
simplify its operation and broaden its
scope.
I'VE heartily endorse the nomina-
tion of William II. Taft for president
and of James S. Sherman for vice
president. agreeing with Governor
Hughes of New York. who has so aptlv
said. Taft is the best equipped candi,
date for the presidency ever nominal
ed The election of Mr.. Taft is an
assurance that the progressive policies
of the Roosevelt administration will be
carried forward and made effective in
the enactment. Interpretation and the
enforcement of law that will protect
every American citizen in the enjoy
ment of all that he earns honestly, no
more and no less.
I'VE endorse the national Republf-
can platform recently adopted at Chi
cago and We especially commend the
speech of acceptance of Mr.. Taft and
the supplementary declaration of prin-
ciples which he embodied therein.
I'VE favor providing the Interstate
commerce commission with ample
means to ascertain the physical valua-
ton of the American railroads.
I'VE favor giving the Interstate
commerce commission the power to fix
rates on its own initiative, as recon-
mended by President Roosevelt in his
recent message.
1--WE believe that the schedule of
rates charged by public service cor
porations should be based upon the