The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-25
For First National Convention
Of the Independent Party.
HEARST TO PRESIDE.
w. A. De Ford, Formerly Of
Kansas, Temporary Secretary.
Delegates From Every State in
the Union Expected.

cation today by the Independence ma
tional committee OF plans for tenn
porary organization, formulated by the
subcommittee on arrangements, all
will be in readiness for the opening
of the convention Of that party Mon
day night. Selections Of temporary
officers were made as follows:
Temporary chairman. William r.
Hearst, New York.
Temporary secretary, w. A. DeFord
New York.
Sergeant-at-arms. Frank Brust.
Illinois
The full national committee met to-
day to pass on the arrangement It
was said that Mr.. Brust had declined
to accept the tentative appointment as
sergeant-at-arms and probably an
eastern man may be named in his
stead
About 900 delegates are expected to
be In their seats in Orchestra hall
when the gavel falls for the opening
session. Every state in the Union. it
is said, will be represented by dele
gates. There will be no delegates
from the territories and no aiternates.
Preliminary gossip of possibilities for
the presidential nomination deals with
several candidates or more strictly
speaking, six candidates. exclusive Of
Mr.. Hearst, who has announced that
he does not desire the nomination,
notwithstanding he already has the
endorsement Of several states and of
the District of Columbia.
After Mr.. Hearst the candidates Of
greatest strength are said to be Thos.
L. Hisgen of Massachusetts,, John
Temple Graves of Georgia and M. W.
Howard Of Alabama. Mr.. Hisgen 10
credited with being the choice Of Mr..
Hearst for head Of the ticket, and it
was considered likely that in the event
of another than Mr.. Graves being
named for president, the Georgia can
didate would be nominated for the vice
presidency.
| ceived at the party headquarters, was
due to arrive in New York from
Europe today and may be expected in
Chicago tomorrow on the Twentieth
Century limited. All the delegates will
caucus Monday and the various com.
| mittees will lbe announced at the open
| ing session after Mr.. Hearst has de-
| livered his keynote speech, outlining
| the policies Of the party.
Since there will be no contests for
seats for the credentials committee to
work over. it is believed now that the
| convention will proceed without delay
| to the adoption of a platform, which
| 1t is expected will be accomplished by
! be in order and a third session may
not be required.
| Headquarters of state delegations
have so far been established BY the
L
| Connecticut. Indiana, Kansas. Missis-
sippi. Massachusetts, Maine, New
Hampshire, New York, New Jersey,
Oklahoma. Rhode Island, Texas and
Vermont.
! Hearst Positively Declines.
) New York. July 25.-William Randolph
Hearst, who arrived from Europe today
was asked II he would accept the NOM
for pa sss should she Be
| shown that the sentiment of the party
was unanimously for his nomination.
Mr.. Hearst replied:
| IT can not I have given my word that
under no circumstances will I be a can
didate: I have given my word and I
| will abide by it,
| 'Is there any probability, in your
| opinion, Mr.. Hearst, that the indie
pendence League may endorse either
the Republican or the Democratic can
didate?" was asked.
THE sentiment before I left here"
was the answer, was for a third tick
| ct. If there is any sentiment now for
| an endorsement of either the Republi-
can or Democratic candidate. for one,
do not know Of it. have heard of no
| change in the sentiment"
do you consider that the Republi-
cans nominated the strongest man pos
| sible?"
Mr.. Hearst laughed and said:
The people will decide that"
IF the sentiment of the Independ-
ence League convention Of this year
| should be shown very clearly to be un-
| animously for your nomination as the
party candidate for the presidency,
would you accept the nomination."
| IT cannot" came the reply quickly
| and with a decisive emphasis. Il have
given my word that under no circum-
stances will be a candidate. I have
given my word and will abide by it,
! Does that pledge hold good for fu-
ture years. for 1912, for instance. as
1 we'll as for this YEAR,"
| Again Mr.. Hearst laughed, and he
answered:
You have been going Into my past
| and here now you proceed into my flu
ture. I think anything further from
/ me today must be included in the ar
| rangement / have already made"
| This referred to a promise to answer
| in writing later in the day any Ques-
| ton the newspaper men might submit
| to him in written form.
| Mr. Hearst will leave this afternoon
| for Chicago, where on Monday he will
preside at the opening Of the first ma
party He said that he and Mrs.
Hearst had a delightful time in Eur
ope. They spent most of their time in
| Germany, keeping or the main Travelled
roads, as he expressed It,
AS the party was about to leave the
steamer one Of the interrogators press
ed forward for just one more ques-
| ton:
1 rs there anything you may think
Of now. Mr.. Hearst. that will be OF
/ public interest, which you will tell us
anything about which we haven't
asked for?" he asked.
mo. there is not" came the smiling
| answer. II feel pretty sure that If
there were anything else you would
have asked it,"
| GET BACK AT HILL.