The Topeka state journal., 1908-06-20
Senior Kansas Senator Returns
From Chicago.
Delighted With the Ticket and
y the Platform.
TAFT MEN ARE HAPPY.
Won Every Important Point
COntended For.
Changes Made i'm the Platform
Not Material

Senator Chester I. Long returned at
noon today from the national Repub-
Hcan convention at Chicago and did
not hesitate to express himself as
greatly pleased with the results of the
five days gathering of the Republican
hosts from all over the United States
and its possessions.
THE convention was a grand gath
ering," said Senator Long, "and more
than fulfilled the most sanguine hopes
of the leaders and the rank ana ME OF
the party. I was in committee rooms
working on the platform from Satur-
day evening to Wednesday morning at
daylight. We concluded our labors
just as the suns first rays lighted on
Lake Michigan. The committeeman
were a haggered and wornout set Of
men when they at last arose from
their labors and looked out of the
hotel windows toward the lake. We
snatched about three hours, steep be-
fore the convention begun its session
on Thursday that held continuously
until the war secretary was nominated
for the presidency by the tremendous
majority of over 700 votes out of the
$50 delegates in the convention
Are Mr.. Taft and his friends salts
the convention
Yes, sir, they are more than salts
fed, they are pleased. Why not? We
won every important point we con-
triumph for the west. OF course a few
extremists are still dissatisfied over
the anti-injunction plank, but regard
it as both effective ard in line with
the progressive policies of Roosevelt
and Mr.. Taft.
''Fhe long fight in committee over
the platform was on the anti-injunc-
ton, tariff and currency planks. Mr..
Tafts supporters in the committee
held out uncompromisingl for all
the vital points at issue, and in every
case forced the reactionaries to give in.
Many things were modified from thee
original draft of the platform, but
few of these were of importance.
The changes were a mere play on
words as to how a certain stand on
some issue was to be stated The
minority report was signed by just one
committeeman.
THE demonstration for President
Roosevelt was a whirlwind. but the
Taft men were not alarmed. We all
joined in the chorus.
LAS regards Congressman Sher-
mans nomination for the vice presi-
dency, 1 should say that it was a wise
move on the part of the convention,
and will undoubtedly strengthen the
ticket. For my part, 1 was in favor of
Senator Dolliver of Iowa for the place.
There can be no faction to speak of
In the coming campaign. Taft won
by too overwhelming q majority for
that. The talk of Indiana being out
of sorts over the reception the gall
Governor Han1y, when he placed
Fairbanks in nomination, does not
amount to anything. do not pretend
to excuse the disorder of the specta-
tors, but they had reason to be i'm
patient. for Governor Hanly made a
very long speech and his delivery was
slow and tiresome.
In spite of the fact that the con-
Vention was so one-sided in its Taft
sentiment, it was a notable gathering
In the history of the party. 1t took a
progressive and at the same time a
sane stand on all the great issues be-
lore the country. The country at large,
and especially the west, should look
upon it's work with pride. Roosevelt
was endorsed, and Taft nominated on
the polls next fall and what is more
important, insures the success of his
administration.
The convention carried out the
pledge made last year to the people
that the tariff would be revised. AT
its short session next winter congress
is sure to take up the matter of tariff
revision and pass a bill along the lines
desired by Taft, the first of tariff re-
visionists''
Senator Long looked pretty we'll
worn out by his trip and long hours
or work in the committee rooms He
was not only a member of the plat
form committee, but was one of the
four members of the final revision
committee, so practically had no rest
at all from this work from SATURDAY.
evening to Thursday morning. The
senior senator from Kansas PLAYED an
important part in the convention He
had the solid support of the entire
Kansas delegation in an uncomprom-
and he was in position through his
committee appointments to do very
effective work for the Ohio nomin ee
Regarding the talk of the senator for
the vice presidency, of which there
was considerable at one time, Senator
Long declared that it amounted to
nothing and tried to laugh it off as a |
Joke. He had nothing to say in par
ticular regarding the political situation
here in Kansas in relation to his fight
with Bristow and William Allen White
for reelection to the senate, but there
Is no doubt that Senator Long is
pleased with the situation as it now
stands.
He returned to Kansas from Wash
ington last week and made his famous
reply to White, and then took the first
train out of the state to the Chicago
convention His work at Emporia and
chicago has made a most favorable |
impression all over the state, and the |
senator cannot help but show that he |
is in good humor over the Kansas
situation as it affects the senatorship |
Mrs. Taft VIII Go North.