The Topeka state journal., 1911-08-11
A WOEFUIIY WEAK DEFENSE.

u
| About the only newspaper that gives
unq ual ned endorsement to the action
of the Republican committee Of the
Second congressional district in de-
terminipg to nam@ the Republican can
didate for the special election to fill
the vacancy caused in the house of
repres sentatives by the death Of Alex
ander Mitchell is the Kansas City Star.
This is natural. A reportorial repre-
sentative of the Star cast the deciding
vote at the meeting of the Republican
Editorial association of the Second dis
trict which placed that organization on
record in favor Of the no-primary plan.
This was the beginning Of the move
ment to deny the Republican voters of
the Second district their right to name
the CO candidate in question. Other news
papers of Republican "insu-gent'' ten
dencies only offer a little half-hearted
criticism to the action of the Repub-
lican congressional committee. This
is also natural because the decision of
the committee, if it is adhered to,
makes it certain that the nomination
will be given to a Republican of the
ultra insurgent type.
But the Star thinks that the action
Of the committee is the only proper
one in the premises. Not only that
but the Star actually has the temerity
to urge that the situation which re-
suited in the committee taking the
action it did, is the result of dirty
politics on the rart Of the Republican
machine in Kansas. The Star in
sists that when the primary law was
passed the machine" crowd was strong
enough in the legislature to see to it
that the primary was not made to
apply to special congressional elections.
The Star ADMITS that the situation in
the Second district is unsatisfactory,
but it declares that this situation is
the tribute the district is paying to
tricky machine politics.
1t is to laugh. No more specious
arg Iment was ever presented on any
prop si-ion. The Star says the only
alternatives of the action taken by the
committee would be either an old
fashioned delegate convention or a
mob primary. Even a delegate con-
vention would be more representative
than the rump action which the com
mittee has taken and which it pro-
poses to follow in making the nomina-
ton. The Star looks on such a thing
as a mob primary with terribly
righteous alarm. Think of it, in such
primary the state would have no con-
troll over the ballot boxes. This is
only another insult 10 the honesty
and intelligence Of the Republican vot-
ers in the Second district.
AS a matter Of fact no good and
sufficient argument can be presented
to sustain the indefensihle action of
Second congressional district Repub-
Ican committee. The old Republican
machine in Kansas in its palmiest
days never pulled off more reprehen-
sibIe stunt.
Mr. Watson, the assistant state bank
commissioner, ard a member pof the
reactionary Second district Republican
committee, is also out with a defense
of the action taken by the committee |
It is merely a "me too of the posi- |
ton taken by the Star. except that Mr. /
Watson does not have the audacity to
blame the action of a committee made
1rp In the main of Republican insur-
gents on tricky machine politics" of
four wears ago. And in view of the |
stand taken by Mr.. Watson, it is at
least interesting te remember that |
few days ago his chief, Mr.. Dolley,
the state bank commissioner, and chair |
man of the Republican state commit
tee. stated in an interview that had
he been a. member of the Second dis |
trict committee he would have voted
for a primary.