The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-24

His intentions have dimensions.
But they do not take the pot,
For the villain does a murder,
Burns will he doesn't need,
And he nearly proves it clearly
That the hero did the deed.
And the wrong is put to rout,
Just as certain as the curtain.
And the villain loses out,
And the hero takes the lady
BY the dainty little mitt,
And the audience in rapture
Rises up and throws a fit.
Nashville American.
Massachusetts, a Loser.
Massachusetts, has played with poor
success the game Of politics in national
nominating conventions.
In the long Republican era the old
Bay State has had her fair share of
triumph in urging Massachusetts, ideals
upon the nation. Her measures have
prevailed by sheer moral force. Her
men, on the other hand, have been
more or less unmatched in the strate-
gy of politics. They are not weather.
wise in reading the signs on the ma
tional horizon or gauging the currents
OF influence which sweep the prairies
and plains of the west and which form
the atmosphere of Republican presi-
Dental convention.
Although Massachusetts has not wav-
cred in the Republican electoral column
in so years, she never has ventured to
present a candidate Of her own for
president. There is one queer excep-
ton. Banks was the favorite son in
the first convention, that of 1856, but
he, being speaker of the house at the
time, discouraged his boom and chose
to defer it until 1860, when he thought
the party would be in better condition
to elect it's nominee. When 1860 came
Banks name was formally presented
by Massachusetts, but in the balloting
she did not give him even a compH-
mentary vote
The Republican delegates from this
state have not only refrained from urg-
ing q Massachusetts candidate for pres
identiaI honors, they have also con-
trived to be on the losing side in nearly
every convention contest since 1855.
Hardly one of the Republican presi-
dents has taken his seat under any OBJ
legation to this state for his nomina-
ton.
In the convention OF 1856, when the
national Republican party was born. it
is true that Massachusetts, voted for the
winning candidate, Fremont. He is the
only winner Massachusetts, has picked.
and he was a loser at the polls She
scored still another success in that con-
vention. Judge Hoar was chosen chair
man of the committee on resolutions,
and 1t was in his platform that the
memorable phrase occurred, forever
linking together in infamy those twin
slavery
There were no contests for the Re-
publican nomination for president be-
tween 1880 and 1875. In the latter year
Massachusetts went in for BristoW,
forlorn hope and the delegation was
marked for its backing and filing. Its
frequent Withdrawals from the floor for
the purpose of conference finally raised
a general laugh. It must be said, how
ever, that it did at last get in line for
Hayes, who was nominated
In the convention Of 1880 the Massa-
chusetts delegation went off on the Ed
munds sidetrack. It would not have
either of the principal candidates,
Grant and Blaine, and neglected the OPP
portunity to help the third man, John
Sherman. The state had the honor,
however, OF seeing it's distinguished
citizen, Senator Hoar in the chair, and
thus the two most famous OF Republi-
can conventions, those Of 1880 and 1861,
were presided over by Massachusetts
men.
sets was found still standing on the
Edmunds siding, when It's delegation
might have been the means of defeat
ing Blaines nomination had 1t not dis
dained the candidacy of Chester "A.
Arthur. Senator Hoar frankly CONFESS.
ed that the delegation permitted ftself
to be controlled in this matter by its
resentment of the appointment OF Rol-
and Worthington as collector of the
port of Boston, which President Ar
thur had made. This petty motive
sufficed to hold the vote of the state
from the only man who had any chance
to defeat Blaine and save the party in
Massachusetts from the resultant mug
wump revolt.-Boston Globe.
Woman Is Older Than the Nation.
At the great age Of 1872. Mrs. L. XII
crease, living at Pine Mill. near here,
celebrated her birthday the other
day. It is believed she Is the Oldest
white person in the world She was
born February 10, 1776, in Halifax
county, N. c., and lived there 100
years before she came with her fam
iIv to Texas. Her daughter, aged SO,
and her granddaughter, aged 63. live
with her.
Mrs Kilcrease shows records IN
family Bible corroborating her state
ment as to her age, and 1nvest1ga-
tons have proved them correct. Sne
still enjoys good health, and is able,
by the use OF a cane, to walk about
thu house.
She saw George Washington, her
recollection of incidents she wit
messed a century and a quarter ago IS
marvellous, and she likes to relate
stories Of those stirring times.-Fort
worth dispatch to Chicago Record
Herald.
puyIu EyfyTVnNS