The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-31
Regulars Overwhelmed in the
Party Council.
Senator Curtis Leader OF the
FOrlOrn Hope.
TRIUMPH OF STUBBS.
Governor and Other Insurgents
in Complete Control.
Senator BristOW Delivers the
Keynote Speech.

The Kansas standpatters sowed the
wind last January and reaped the
whirlwind in August. To the news
paper man who attended the business
meeting of the Kansas Day club jan
uary 20 and then was present at the
party council meeting of August 81
it did not seem possible that men
from the same state were represented
at the two gatherings. At the flrst
one Jackson and Dolley and John
White and the other insurgent leaders
were swept away by the torrent
brushed aside and jeered at Whlie
those present endorsed Taft and
walked on Stubs. The governor sat
in his Office that day and received
messengers from the hall upstairs
than its predecessor. Tuesday Stubs
was called to preside at the meet
ing without one dissenting vote and
only one voice in all the council was
raised against the insurgent program
The state platform was dictated by
Stubs and the national platform by
Bristow and White and Murdoch.
Kansas Republicans in council assem-
bled never once mentioned the name
of Taft in their resolutions except in
the following language: I'VE endorse
such efforts as President Taft has
made to fulfill the promises of the
Republican national platform and
pledge him our support for all efforts
for the enactment of progressive
laws
Murdoch and White Pleased.
Not since the days just before the
Civil war have Kansas Republicans,
assembled in state meeting in an off
year, been so cold in their reference
toward the head of their party. The
state and national platforms are
decidedly progressive" Murdoch
and White, talking after the meeting,
agreed that the planks were all that
they could desire and they could not
have built up a better platform in a
day dream about a castle in Spain.
OF the $50 delegates present and
entitled TO vote only a score or more
were opposed to the Stubs policies.
Senator Curtis mustered fifty votes
less than one-fifth of the council, in an
effort to get yea and nay vote on a
motion, and it is doubtful if he could
have found that many votes to oppose
single plank in the platform. The
resolution prepared by Curtis endors-
ing the national administration was
not introduced.
Those present likely hold widely
different views as, to the feature of the
party council of this good year 1910.
Some viii say Governor Stubbs' tri-
uH4pn was the feature. OtnerS that
Bristow's speech should have the place
at the top of the column, or Murdoch
reception, or the acceptance of the
insurgent platform. But to others the
figure of Senator Charles Curtis, stand
ing on the floor of the council fighting
against overwhelming odds, was the
Cambronne of this standpatters
Waterloo.
Curtis Losing Fight.
For over a dozen years the Indian
senator has been a dominant figure in
Kansas politics. winning more hard
battles than anyone. Through his tai
ents and perseverance he has won
the highest place in the gift of his
state and his craft and understanding
have passed into Kansas proverbs. But
he stood in the center aisle of the big
hall five feet below the stage and
fought losing fight against his op-
ponents on the platform. He had no
part in the deliberations of the conn
ell, was named on none of the commit
tees. wrote no word of the resolutions
or platform, was consulted about none
of the details or generalities D. r.
Anthony and Phil p. Campbell. the
standpat congressman, were with him.
but Curtis was the central figure. He
alone raised his voice in protest.
He smiled when Stubs overruled
him in the morning session. and he
smiled again when Stubs appointed
him on the committee to escort Bristow
to the chair and he walked with digni-
ty to perform his task, accepting with