The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-02
HOW INSURGENTS DEAL SQUARE.

HOW INSURGENTS DEAL SQUARE.
Republican insurgents in Kansas and
elsewhere get black in the face in the
condemnation of machine methods in
the conduct of party conventions. 1t
is well known fact, though, that many
of these insurgents in Kansas have
been free to indulge in the very kind
of politics that they so decry whenever
the opportunities are presented to them
and they have things their own way.
Another bit of evidence that this is so
is to be found in the conduct of the
in the management of the convention
Pottawatomie county Delegates to
this convention were chosen at
party primary. The insurgents elected
a majority of the delegates. Then they
used the same kind of a steam roller
in the management fthe convention
that they and their friends make such
faces at when it happens to be in
hands of their political opponents. The
Wamego Reporter gives an account of
this convention which is all the proof
needed of these assertions and of the
insincerity of the cry Of the Repub1i-
can insurgents that they are DESTROYS
of reforming political methods. 1t fol-
lows:
c. A. Grutchmacher, of Onaga, and
few friends held a convention at West
moreland, Tuesday for the purpose OF
selecting delegates to attend the Re-
publican state and congressional con-
ventions. 1t was hardly necessary to
hold the convention Tuesday as all de-
tails had been arranged Monday night
by parties willing to relieve delegates
of any say in the matter. More talks
were heard on harmony than in any
previous convention and it is doubtful
if a more harmonious lot of square
Dealers ever were in command of
swifter-acting steam roller.
The so square Dealers got harmony
in big bundles. but the Al Taft dele
gates never got even a look at the thing
every square dealer" was talking
about. 1t wasn't fair. The Taft men
spent their money to attend the
Grutchmacher convention and if Char
lie had all the harmony they were
talking about it was mean not to al
low the men who have become gray
headed in the ranks of what used to
be their party a peep at it.
Every act os the convention was
known before the temporary chairman
was named. The resolutions were neat
ly typewriter the afternoon before.
At the Monday night gathering the Off
GERS were named. men selected for the
committees and most of the delegates
chosen.
Long before the convention met it
had been decided that an example was
to be made of the 16 Wamego dele
gates who didn't know any better than
to defeat the square Dealers at the
primary Saturday. They were to have
no delegate to either convention, and
just to show the victorious Taft dele
gates the enormity of their crime it
was decided to give the defeated Roose-
welt delegation a member on each OF
the state and congressional delegations.
Later it was thought this would not
bring about as much harmony as the
square dealers were working for and
the defeated Wamego crowd were given
ton. This fixed the vfctors at Sasur-
days primary, and other Taft men in
the convention and every one of them
went home to await an opportunity to
show Charlie what excellent results his
harmony convention will bring forth.
The Reporter was unable to get a
list of delegates to the two conven-
tions or a copy of the resolutions. Dele
gates to both conventions were in
structed for Roosevelt. The resolutions
commended Roosevelt, Stubs and Jack
son, and recommended economy in
county affairs.