The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-28

| ident Taft, or mention his candidacy
in any way, his meaning could not De
misconstrued when he pointed out that
each New York district would eleet
Republican delegates by the primary
system on March &c and delegates al
large at tn state convention on April
and predicted that the best judg-
meut of nearly one-half million of en-
rolled Republicans would be express
ed"
Among those who learned of Mr..
Barnes views and who claimed to lie
familiar with his probable purpose. it
was stated that he undoubtedly ha1
urged the president to insist upon a
strong platform, insofar as it reaf-
firmed Republican principles of the
past, and to hold out against recent
doctrines as expressed by the more
radical of the progressives.
The statement issued by MIR. Barnes
before going to the White House WAS
as follows:
I want it made clear that I gave
out this statement before 1 went to
the White House." Mr.. Barnes said.
The burden of the statement concerns
Colonel RoUsevelt's recent speech at
Columbus. It follows:
4 can only say this: 1t has seemed
to me that homogeneity Of opinion with
IN the Republican party has been
threatened for long time and that a
definition of fundamental principles
was, therefore, absolutely necessary in
order that the party might endure IS
the preservative force in the nations
life.
The speech of Mr.. Roosevelt's at
Columbus is a violation of Repubii-
canism- When casually read it would
seem to contain formulation of doc
trine, but coupled as it Immediately
was with a declaration of the auth
ors candidacy for the nomination to
the presidency, it acquired virility but
lost that dispassionate devotion to prin-
clple which would have given it what
ever quality it might have possessed.
In other words, this exposition at Col
umbus was to preface a candidacy
rather than to maintain a principle,
and candidacy which had been by
its progenitor distinctly repudiated.
This seems so clear to me. although
1t is impossible for me to subscribe to
the doctrine of the Columbus speech,
would feel if I were one who could
subscribe to that doctrine, my feet
were on slippery ground.
Regarding the situation in the state
of New York. delegates from each |
congressional district will be elect I'd |
at primary election on March 26, by |
the direct vote of nearly one-half mil |
lion enrolled Republicans in the whole |
state, to the national convention to |
be held at Chicago, and at the state |
convention to be held at Rochester OH |
April 8, four delegates at large will 3e |
chosen by the vote of a majority Of |
the delegates elected to the state con-
ventiOn at the same primary.
There is no doubt whatever that the |
best judgment of the Republican cleo |
tors of New York will be expressed at |
that primary and the convention. |
which will assemble at Rochester rs
a result of that primary, will reaffirn
these principles of the Republican |
party which have made it in the past |
the medium through which the |
and patriotic people of the |
have rested in security that |
their government will be representa- /
tive, far sighted and tenacious of the |
rights of every individual, whether |
his opinions coincide with the majority |
or whether they do not.
The Republicans of the state of New |
York can not more be swerved from I
their obvious duty now than they We're |
in 1896 when that state with others !
united to hold the party firm in e. !
sistance to the crazed ideas of that I
hour"