Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-08-30
HENDERSON MARTIN IS RE.
ELECTED.

Henderson Martin, OF Marion, had
the chairmanship election an tied up
in a sack with the shippers tag at
tached and the freight bill prepaid,
when the Democratic state central
committee met at the auditorium
Tuesday. The candidacy of H. L.
Pepperill. Of Concordia. expired that
morning when National Committee
man Sapp gave up the fight and de-
clared Martin the winner. The frients
Of Sam Graybill. of Hutchinson, at
tempted snare by presenting a reso
luton slapping Martin directly in the
face, but it was voted down and Mar
tin was elected chairman with colors
flying. e.
The resolution that started the on
ly excitement Of the Democratic CEN
trail committee meeting was present.
ed by Congressman Neeley. Neeley
asked the committee to support a
rule which would not allow the chair.
man Of the. central committee to be
an employee Of a corporation.
Henderson Martin is local attorney
for the Santa Fe at Marion. The
resolution was directed at him, and
the committeeman sat forward in
their chairs anticipating skirmish
between the Martin supporters and
his enemies. The resolution was ta-
bled, By an overwhelming vote, only
a tsxigno's, sounding in the hall,
and the Martin forces carried the
Hay.&sGi 3sysS ~
After this$fote was forced down
e;thrOats d the iGraybil Democrats
is was apparent that the battle was
lost After his nomination Graybill
stood before the committee and de.
clined saying that the death Of the
anti-crporation resolution sealed his
tate.
Then James Murphy Of Russell,
one Of the leaders Of the party count
cil and an ardent supporter Of Mar
tin. took. chArgeSof the meeting and
accepted an election Of Martin by &C.
clamation.
In his speech Of acceptance, Hen
'deHOn Martin made the real hit of
the meeting by answering directly the
corporation charges Of his enemies. .
He stated that the Santa Fe at
times paid him only s25 a year for
his services at Marion. He challenged
his opponents to say that he had not
been a true Democrat, a real believ-
er in Progressiyeness and a hard
worker for the interests of the party.
Then he completed his talk with
this statement:
within a week ! will surrender my
contract with the. Santa Fe..4 q;
His decision to abandon mis- oorpo-,
alton work drew the Democrats to
their feet. For three minutes they
yelled and cheered and clappsd their
hands for the reelected chairman.
With good feeling on all sides the
state committee decided It couldn't
exist without H. u. Pepperill and he
was reelected secretary. Pepperill
has been secretary for so many years
that the party IN, this state can't get
along without him. After this term
he will have served the state central
committee IS secretary for % years.
He was secretary before a number of
the members present at this meet
Ing were born. An unusually large
number Of young Democrats were
there to insert young blood into the
party.
Bill Sapp, national committeeman,
followed the election with q plea for
harmony and victory, with an ener-
,getic speech, and he didn't take of
his long washington, D. C. coet, in
spite Of pleas from the committee
members from slt actions Of the au-
ditorim. y N
After the sApp talk the committee
closed around the hearth and toasted
their feet together. 1t was q love
feast after that. The meeting ended
with. .plans tor collecting campaign
money, and oonSining efforts IN the
coming campaign and with arreat
big promise that Kansas would 30
Democratic this year.
Never has TOPEKA seen such a
hopeful gaGhsttng Of Democrats TIE
auditorium held seyerai hundred con-
fidsnt and happy leaders Tuesday. ::
. =. ~
The fight is on! The campaign is
aa.,,R 1871 - ~. khn