The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-30
Kansas Day Club Banquet Is
an EventfuI One.
Hardly a Jarring Note Heard
at Tables.
STRONG FOR PRESIDENT
Demonstration for Taft Nearly
Lifted the Ceiling.
Charles F. Scott RecOunts
Three Years. Achievements.

In deep, loud tones and almost wild
enthusiasm, more than 600 Republicans
of the old school last night cheered the
every mention OF the name OF william
Howard Taft at the twenty-first annual
banqu-1 Of the Kansas Day club. The
Old Veterans C'-e club, of Lawrence.
started the demonstration. which grew
and expanded until it ended in thunder
Gus ovation for Charles f. Scott, the
last speaker on the evenings program.
The noisy jubilee at the Masonic tenn
pie, was the last echo of the day re-
joicing. Among the more than 500 ban
uueters, the Taft sentiment predomina-
ted in large glaring chunks-it was
nearly unanimous. It became apparent
with every mention Of the work OF the
national administration and was never
sidetracked. Once-and only once the
reform following paid homage TO ttoo4o-
welt. The applause was scattered ana
uncertain and came as a mild slap at
the fortified regulars. minute later
the Roosevelt demonstration was
swamped and buried in thunderoua
outburst that welcomed the mention
of Tafts name
New Faces There.
Several new faces were at the speak
ers' table this year. They were all
young men in the ranks OF tne Kan Kan
sas Republicans and some Of them
were making their first speech to a
party organization. Only one of the
regular speakers was absent. That was
F. b. Dawes. of Clay Center, who was
unable to respond to the toast, Re
publicanism," because of the illness OF
his father Charles F. Scott filed the
vacancy on the program.
Early in the evening, the Old Veter-
ans club. of Lawrence. made a place
in the hearts of the banqueters with
clever tuneful illusions 70 party re-
cords. These songs brought forth the
first outbursts of enthusiasm and pre-
pared the visitors for the Taft senu-
ment that was shed without stint by
the speakers on the evenings program.
Ralph II. Faxon, president OF the
club, heaped the first real bonfire In
his address. He paved the way for the
men to follow and saw party success IN
the coming election. Faxon was glad
that the war horses Of the days before
insurgency were gathered for the love
feast. He was sure that their presence
meant something and he recalled with
pride the noisy demonstrations at the
afternoons election. Then Faxon set
tied down to the business Of starting
the speakers on their way rejoicing.
Probably no one present had ever
heard y. c. Hopkins make a speech. He
was to respond to the toast OF honor.
Kansas" and the newspaper mans
friends in the audience were sorely
worried lest the supper did not appeal
to Hopkins because Of his troubles that
a speech that brought good cheer and
rejoicing. He handed out line OF
genuine home spun oratory that is sell
dom exhibited by first night speakers
and he was solid with the men who
paid 81 for their tickets before he had
fairly started. Hopkins contended that
there is nothing new under the sun.
that the insurgency and reform move
ments were borrowed from ancient his
tory and convinced his hearers that
the regulars were merely holding with
bull dog tenacity to the faith that was
always good and sound and sensible.
Things were moving lovely. Each
minute the old line Republicans from
hundred Kansas counties were tax
ing new grip on life and rejoicing
with their neighbors. Even the music
will.
Plea for Harmony.
Once r. NJ. Anderson in his toast.
"Our Duty" mentioned some proud
act OF the Roosevelt administration.
There was a moment Of noise and
handclapping from the scattered
ranks of the reform visitors IL had
scarce died away when Ande erson bore
down with both feet on the record
and achievements of Taft. The mild
slap at the Taft crowd of a moment
before, was lost sight of and forgotten
in one tremendous handicap that well
coined this sentiment. 1t was the only
clash of the evening. From that min
ute until the close Of the meeting the
administration cheer leaders were In
full and undisputed control Of the
noise department and no one question:
ed their authority
Then came the state administration.
It's leaders and henchmen were fiay-
ed and toasted before the gaze OF the
gladdened visitors. Again there was
noise No one seemed able to stop Il.
And no one tried. L. G. Turner OF
Pratt made a sound impression in his
plea for harmony. He was applauded.
But in the applause the regular forces
seemed to grit their teeth with a dire
determination to dictate the peace
pact. Turner said that the rank and
file of party voters were mystified at
the charges and cross charges within
the party ranks and pleaded for the
leaders 10 get together. The regulars
were willing. But their faces showed
that the getting together would be
done largely on regular ground.
Eustace Smith of Hutchinson. clev-
erly told of the work and responsible
ity of the Young Republicans" He
is a son of Former State Senator Fred
Dumont Smith and the young man put
his clean cut, persuasive argument
over the banquet table in a way that
carried weight with the diners. Smith
hung on the burden and responsibility
that rested on the shoulders OF the
young Republicans OF Kansas and de-
clared that they were ready and anx-
ious to carry on the battle.
When @. T. Dunn. Of Onaga, portray
ed ''The Kickers" from a revised YER
sion Of William Allen Whites Certain
Rich Man" the 500 Republicans-or the
unquestioned majority that led the ev-
eninR'S noise feSt-DOuuded the tables
and clapped their hands for Joy. It was
Dunn who cleverly pulled White.
Stubbs, Bristow, Allen and Leahy out
of the pages Of the Emporian's new
book and laid their political manlpula-