The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-10
And Progressives and Demo
Gratis Look ON 1t With Favor.
Gossip Of Congressional Nomi'
nations I'm the 8 Districts.

lees u0o u Q18C6 IL LIZ 4~A] -
pledges of the several political orgaM-
xations Of the state
Whether tho convention system
means a drAwinG away from the pm
mary system. II . question OF conAo-
cradle doubt In tho minds OF many OF
the political leaders. Now there IL
demand among the leaders Of all par
OF the primary law In Kansas succeed
ed In stopping the cries Of packed con-
ventions and gag rule nominations
But 1t brought to the dominant par
ties more fractional grief and sorrow
than they had known under the old
rule.
Under the convention system. there
was organization. more opportunities
to talk things over and prepare for
the general election fight. And while
there was always trouble in the state
conventions. the sore spots OF the con-
vention bruises were healed long be-
fore election day. Now 1t il different.
There is no convention to map out
plans. the voters depend largely on In
dividual leaders and the lack Of party
organization and system has caused
the campaign leaders to lose sleep.
Make Tentative Platform.
1T was Charles F. Scott Of lola. who
vention in Kansas. He asserted that
under the primary system men were
nominated for office, went into tho
party councils following the primaries
and helped :. write things in the party
platforms that were not In harmony
with the thoughts of many OF the
voters who supported the candidate
in the primary. And Scott suggested
as a remedy that tentative party plat
forms be written before the primaries.
He also suggested that candidates for
governor, United States senator. con-
gress and the state legislature declare
their views on public matters before
! the primaries and that II new reforms
are to be urged at the party council
that these suggestions be made public
| before the voters go into the pr,-
maries. For 4 time Scott's idea waS1a
political football amepg tho Progrts-
sives and the Democrats looked on the
Then william Allen White sat down
and wrote ar editorial In which ne
said SCOTS idea plan was chock fuli
OF sane ideas and common senee.
| Only, White suggested. the legislature
should amend the primary laws OF the
state to MAKO the action of the pro-
+. primary convention legal and bind
! ing. White concluded his statement
with a defy to the Republicans to hold
pre-primarv convention and inti-
mated that tho Progressives would
also be glad to announce their pro-
gram in advance. -
This week Representative Tayicr
Riddle Of Marion came to Topeka
Riddle is Democrat Of the old school
| but he saw much good sense and wis
dom in the Scott plan and has urged
| that the Kansas Democrats come TO
| Topeka February 20 and write a ten
in the primaries will stand until the
new platform 10 written late next
! August.
/ All Of which indicates that the po-
T. ~ iii .
pre-primary conventions next year.
These conventions will serve double
+ purposes. They will afford grand OPP
portunities for ironing out faction diff
ferences in the parties and will enable
the leaders to issue q declaration OF
principles in the form of tentative
platforms which will probably be OF
fective in holding the party voters in
line on primary day. And II the 1915
legislature gives the needed relief
Kansas win in measure return to the
old convention system, although nomi-
nations will still be in the hands 81
the individual voters Of the state.
Fight for Congressional P1ums.
} For the first time in many years
Kansas Republicans may not go to wal
next year over congressional nominal
lions. While there is yet ample time
, able that there win not be a contes,
, for q congressional nomination In AM
Of the eight districts OF the state. TIL
Republicans want to win. That is thu
reason. Just now five of the eight con.
, gressional honors from Kansas are held
by Democrats. The Republicans want
to win back these offices. The best
way, they believe, is through har-
Fl mony movement and the settlement Of
nomination issues without contests II
the primaries
should D. R. Anthony decide to stas
out of the senatorial race, he woult
probably be nominated without opp0si-
! ton. With Anthony q senatorial can
didate. Robert Stone Of Shawnee coun.
ty would probably be nominated.
. In the Second district, John H. Grid
er Of Fort Scott now appears to sbt
slated for the Republican nomination
!. without opposition.
Congressman Phil p. Campbell vii
. be candidate for denomination in thu
, Third district. There will be no oppo
! sition to CampbelPs nomination. -
) Dennis Madden Of Emporia will like
s ly be the Republican congressiona
nominee in the Fourth.
Senator Walter q. Wilson OF Wash
t ington county win probably BE- nomi
mated without Opposition BY Fifth dis
; trict Republicans.
! In the sixth district J. b. Dykes vii
probably have no opposition In seekinl
the Republican congressional nomina
ton
. Conditions in the Seventh district ar
: shaping themselves slowly. But 1t
: hardly probable that more than on
0 candidate will 60 under the wire mex
d August In the race for. the Republics
3 congressional nomination In that dis
: trict State Auditor w. e. Davis ha
: often been mentioned for c0ugress 1
< the Seventh. But Davis has said moth
ing Of his plans
Eighth district Republicans ma
nominate Senator Lacey n. Simpson Q
. Mcpherson county.
Pens OF KAnsng Pub11s11eER
Kansas newsDapeE publfsheFs -