The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-30
Congressman Anthony Discuss
es the First District Fight.
Says His Opponents Have De-
clared Against President.
THE TARIFF BILL
Would Not Be Surprised II Re-
ductiOns Are Made.
FayOrs Changes i'm Cotton and
WOOlen Schedules.

''The fight for the nomination in
the First congressional district next
summer will be waged on the issue of
whether or not the Republicans of
this district are for or against Presi-
dent Taft said Congressman D. R.
Anthony, today who is in the city for
a short stay before leaving for Wash
ington to take part in the opening
ceremonies of the next session.
Il am standing for the Taft poll
cies and my opponent and his friends
have declared against the president
In selecting a nominee the people will
have decided for themselves one way
or the other on the national admins
Cration.''
When asked about the likelihood
of some of the schedules of the Payne
tariff bill being amended at the COM
ing regular session, Congressman An
thOny said II would not be surprised
of the woolen and cotton schedules are
considered and the present tariff
thereon reduced materially. I shall
vote for this reduction if the oppor-
tunity is presented. But do not be-
Heve that the entire Payne bill will
be considered at this session and the
tariff proposition thrown wide open
again."
The First district congressman did
not believe that Victor Murdock of the
Eighth district had ever considered the
question of circulating a petition ask
ing Speaker Cannon to resign. THAT
would have been foolish and prepoS-
ferrous thing to have done and the prime
mover in the affair would have only
succeeded in making himself ridiculous.
do not believe Mr.. Murdock was cor
rectly quoted by the Kansas City Star
in the matter. Still T was surprised
that Victor should come out openly and
deny the Stars interview. That is put
ting the Star in bad light. The
proposition was so silly that Victor
could have let it gone without it being
given serious consideration at Wash
ington."
Mr.. Anthony will leave here tomor-
row night for the national capital
w. 1. Biddle, chairman Of the First
district Republican congressional COM
to Topeka, when asked about the politi-
cal prospects over the district, said:
Bfddle Is Sure.
My first estimate of the majority
Anthony will have over McNeal in the
Republican primaries next August was
entirely too conservative. 1t was made
before McNea1 launched his Democrat
ic platform and started to work in
Bryan's old discarded political planks
on us. l have visited all the counties
in the First district and have not found
q Republican yet who believes in pull
ing the American flag down and sur
rendering the Philippines. McNeal ev-
identity encountered the same sentiment
as his late sidestepping on the Philip
pine issue would indicate.
II find very little dissatisfaction
among Republicans over the new tariff
bill; it is becoming more popular every
week. Republicans are practically solid
N their support of President Taft. An
thony was nominated and elected as
Republican and his course in standing
by the national administration and with
his party for majority rule in congress
meets the approval of those who voted
for him.
|. "The First district has never gone
Populistic or Democratic and al the
indications point to the reelection of
a Republican as its representative at
Washington. Side issues never took
root in this district; the Republicans
stood firm and loyal even when other
parts of the state wavered.
''No one questions the right CT Nc
| Neal or any one else to became a
candidate for congress in the First
district. but he should do so in a fair,
| open above board manner and not
| one else.
eff McNeal has advocated any
fundamental Republican principles
since he announced himself a candi-
Cate for congress I do not know of it..
He started out by proclaiming that he
wanted to abandon the Philippines,
which is directly contrary to the policy
advocated by the last three Republi-
can presidents-McKin1e Roosevelt
and Taft. Ever since the passage of
| The new tariff bill, Republican par
| ty measure, he has been using Demo-
cratic free trade arguments against it
and attacking President Taft's nation
| al administration.
| Every move McNeal made has
proven a blunder from the vulgar at
| tacks on his opponent starting his
| campaign to his offensive remarks
/ against Ewing Herbert, which he
| tried to withdraw and apologize for.
| His ridiculous shifting and wabb1ing
| about shows that he is a political
| chameleon without any fixed princi-
pies, but ready to advocate anything
and everything in his anxiety to keep
| in Office