The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-08
Hard Fight to Be Made Against
Roosevelt Machine.
Plan Little Like Re-
form Being Preached.
CONTROL is ABSOLUTE
Progressive" Force in Com
pIete Charge of Primary.
Signers Easily Found When
RemOnstrance Is Circulated.

Emporia, Kan, April S.-As the date
for the presidential and congressional
primary approaches, the Republicans
of Lyon county are becoming more ac-
tive and scarcely a day passes without
one or more caucuses being held. Since
the New York and Indiana endorse
ments, which were unanimously for
Taft the supporters of the president IN
this county have discovered that the
. action of the Republicans in these
, states is only an example of what may
be accomplished in Kansas and al
though Lyon county, which is the nome
of William Allen White, is more or less
i "progressive,' the Taft forces are being
strengthened greatly and are making
a hard fight for the delegation Many
/ of the former Roosevelt supporters are
! switching back to LaFollette and others
are joining the Taft ranks. The former
president still has a large following but
they have apparently lost their enthu-
siasm and are luke warm"
The present Republican county CEN
trail committee which was selected two
years ago is almost unanimously
Rooseveltian in its tendencies and 1T
has provided ballots and methods OF
e1ectfng delegates at the primary which
seem unjust in the extreme. At re-
cent meeting of the committee the fol-
lowing regulations for the conduct of
the primary were provided:
That the names of William H. Taft
and Theodore Roosevelt, only shall be
printed on the primary ballot as Re
publican presidential candidates; that
the supporters of these candidates be
requested to choose the names Of 26
men for each candidate, as nominees
for delegates to the conventions, said
names to be filed with the secretary of
the committee within ten days, accom-
panied by petition signed by 500. or
m ore, Republican voters; that the cleo
ton in each precinct shall be in charge
of the committeeman from said pre-
cinct, and such judges and clerks as he
may select; and that the chairman and
secretary Of the county central commit
tee to b. appointed by the chairman,
shall constitute & canvassing board TO
receive and certify the returns of the
election"
Protest Against Insurgent Machine.
petition signed by more than 200
county central committee next week,
protesting aginst the action of the
committee on the grounds that it's ac-
ton in refusing to allow printed on
the ballot the names of LaFollette and
Cummings, or the filing of lists of
proposed delegates favorable to their
candidates., and authorizing only the
names of Taft and Roosevelt, and lists
favorable to them, denies to every fol-
lower of the two candidates elimi-
mated, any chance whatever to express
his presidential preferment; makes it
impossible to accurately register Re-
publican sentiment; and renders the
whole proceeding a farce of the first
water. The protest further states that
the requirement that each list of pro-
posed delegates shall be nominated by
petition signed by 500, or more, Re-
publican voters, not more than 90 per
cent of these names to be secured
from any one precinct, violates every
principle of square deal, and is
wholly at variance with any reason
able conception of fairness. A candi-
date for congressional or district Of
flee in Kansas is only required to have
2 per cent of the total party vote on
the nomination petition and only 8 per
cent or rs names for a county office.
1t seems very inconsistent to the Taft
contingent that the committee should
require the signatures of 500 Repub-
ican voters for the nomination petit
ton of a delegate which is 20 per cent
of the entire Republican vote in the
county when their activity is only
limited to a few hours service. The
protest further states that the placing
of the entire election machinery, from
the election board to the canvassing
board, in the hands of one faction of
the party in nine-tenths of the pre-
cincts of the county, violates the spirit
and letter of all election laws, which
uniformly provides for bipartisan
election boards, and has subjected the
committee to the severest criticism.
The signers of the protest state thai
they welcome a primary conducted
fairly and squarely which will accur-
ately permit the Republicans voters
to express their political preferment.
Voters Sign Protest Quickly.
E. w. Smelser, one of the leading Re
publicans of Emporia, circulated the
protest in one part of town today and
in less than four hours secured more
than 100 signers.
THE Republicans are DESERVING Roose
welt fast" said Mr.. Smelser. Scores
of the men who have been enthusiast
tic Roosevelt men are beginning to sliI
and since the Wisconsin primary they
are slipping faster than ever. Outside OF
the Taft Republicans two out of every
three / talked with today were for La
Toilette
Many of the Republicans of the
county feel that they are being treated
very unfairly by not having the name
of La Toilette and Cummings printed
on the ballot, especially since the Wis
consin primary. They argue that l.;
Toilette has more instructed delegatef
to date than Roosevelt and yet the Re-
publican central committee refuses to
print the name of the one of the lead
ing candidates on the ballot.
There is a steadily growing Taft
sentiment here and many of the mos
prominent men IN town have signified
their intention of joining the club which
is being organized. Cards are being
circulated throughout the county so
Hciting membership and many of the