The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-06-03
Delegates to Harmony Meeting
Assemble in Topeka.
Early Arrivals Indicate Be a
Heavy Attendance.
THE REGULARS PREDOMINANT
But There Are a Few Progress
siVes Present.
Many Delegates Talk Earnestly
and Sincerely for Harmony.

Kansas Republicans-both Regular
and Progressive-have come to rope
ka today to help frame a harmony
program on which the voters can unite
in an effort to defeat that common
enemy, the Democrats, in the 1914
election. In the convention are feW
of the men whose previous paruclpa-
ton in politics has occasioned faction
al trouble and the new program Will
be outlined by men whose factlonal
affiliations have not occasloned the
big family rows in the Republican
party in former years.
Among the men in Topeka To-Day,
none are openly, at least, carrying
clubs or sand bags for someone within
the party. There is a most apparent
and open spirit of humbled pride.
There are none of the hotel lopoy
talks that characterized the Kansas
Day banquets of former years or even
the Progressive love feast of recent
date. Men who said hasty words last
fall, who fought and bled for facuona!
differences and factional leaders ana
factional principles, are today meek
and lowly. They vow with loud voice
that within the Republican household
there is room for manserVant ana
maidservant, that the past is forgot
ten. that the brass band is out wait
ing for the prodigal and that the olive
branch is extended to the weary Pill
grim with both hands. That is the
new basis for the get together move
ment.
Men who a year ago vowed that
they would gladly die fighting Bristow
whether he ran as Republican, a
Progressive. a Democrat or Social
ist, are openly admitting that they
would go out in the rural routes and
make speeches for the Salina senator
Even Walter Roscoe Stubbs and Will
liam Allen White, who a few months
ago obscured the political horizon with
their unwelcOme presence to some OF
the men in Topeka today, might walk
into this afternoons meeting and re-
ceive a God -blesS-you mOurner's bench
handshake from the men who are
honestly trying to build new plat
form to accommodate both the men
and the new women vote of the party
While it is probable that the Regu-
lars greatly outnumber the Progress
siveS at today'S meeting, 1T is by no
means a one-sided session. From over
the state there are enough Progress
sives to indicate quite strongly that
the TrOutman plan of gathering the
partly into the fold, has not been
forlorn and lost hope. There is T. r.
Smith of Brown county, who went to
the Roosevelt convention in Chicago,
who also came to Topeka last night N
the sake of harmony There is E. +.
MuIlaney of Hill City. Senator Walter
T. Wilson of Washington, Represen-
tatives Laing of Russell and j. M.
Gilman of LeaVenwOrth, s. 7. Danner
of Newton, Senator Lacey NJ. Simpson
of Mcpherson, Robert Stone of Shaw
nee, and many other-aH truly Pro-
gressives, but Republicans-who want
a party that will hang together and
fight for Republican success Even in
counties noted for Stand-pat tenden-
cies, there was a just disposition to
give the Progressives an even break
and to display a sincerity that came
from the heart.
Last night Arthur Capper stood IN
front of the National hotel and talked
to friends attending the convention.
Yes. I think I will probably go
over and look on at least" replied Mr..
Capper when asked whether he in
tended to attend today's convention.
And two weeks ago Arthur Capper'S
absence at the conference of the Pro-
gressive leaders was a most notable
event of that meeting.
Among the delegates and visitors
there is a dogged determine ton to
dodge any discussion which may cause
trouble in the plan to reunite the party
Neither are probable candidates dis
cussed The big thing just now is to
get together. If the getting together
proves profitable, there will be a good
less of rainfall, grasshoppers, drouth
or chinch bugs.
Down in the hearts of many of the
men here today are scars from the last
campaign But they are not being
shown. Men differed last fall as to
Taft or Roosevelt, as to Stubbs as to
Capper and the Bull Moose econgression-
al candidates. Sometimes it was to
question the right of Tafts claim to