The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-16
HARMONY. MAYBE.

Prospects of harmony between the
Republicans and Progressives of Kan
/ sas for the next state and congression-
| al campaign are not particularly bright
| just now. No doubt, as George Clark,
| secretary of the Republican league
J that was such an important factor in
! the results of the last election in this
state, says, there is a feeling among
| the rank and file of the voters in these
parties here that there should be har-
mony. Certainly that is the only ave-
nue. by which their common enemy,
the Democrats, can be dislodged from
power. But even in these days of let
ting the people rule, the voters, while
having the last say, do not have the
first one And there is plenty of evil
dence among the leaders of the war
ring factions that they propose to con-
tinue to fight each other.
William Allen White, the Kansas
right bower and press agent of the
Progressive party, recently gave voice
to the sentiment that he and his Pro-
gressive friends proposed to battle Tor
their party in a clean cut fight at the
next state election, regardless OF what
might be the outcome of the present
contest in Massachusetts. Mr.. White
said that the Kansas Progresslves
would fight to the last ditch, even IL
they did not elect a single canoloate
to office. And the ProgressiVes are
making a semblance already OF organ
izing in the several congressional dis
tricts of the state. But just how lar
Mr.. White and the other Progressive
zealots will be followed by other erst-
while Progressives in the state, ana
particularly some Of those who are
deeply obsessed with the lust for ofhce'
remains to be seen.
IT is the attitude of several of these
prospective candidates that rather
confuses the present SITUATION for
instance Senator Bristow, who is sure
to be a candidate again for Onteo
States senatorial honors, refuses 10
state with just what party he is now
affiliated OF course, Senator Brlstow
was sent to the senate by the Repup-
Ucan party of Kansas. But until after
the last election, he was one OF the
wheel horses in the Progressive party
movement. If he should announce his
return to the Republican party the
United States senatorial situation
be clarified considerably, and it would |
be I'D to the Republican voters to oe-
clare lust how welcome such a return |
might be to them. If he mas no IN
tention of returning to the Republican |
party it is his duty to the voters OIL
Kansas that he make known his posi- |
ton in the premises.
Take also the case of Mr.. Brady Oh
Lawrence. He obtained the Repup-
lican nomination for congress In the
Second district. But he had no sooner
been put in the field by the RepuD-
licans than he announced his aile-
glance to the Bull Moose cause, as did
MANY other and divers Republican
in Kansas last fall. AT
of the members OF the FRO
eressive party in the Second Congress
sional district the other day, MI.
Brady was chosen to run as the candl-
date for congress of that party at the
next election. And in the course OF
one of his recent editorials in the Law
renee Journal-World, Mr.. Brady eX-
messed the rather original opinion, but
in most emphatic language, that Colo
mol Roosevelt was the Republican
candidate at the last cleo
zion. A man who holds to such an
idea might reasonably be expected to
seek a Republican nomination, al
though he is an avowed follower of the
party.
1t is this saraddling, this indecisfve-
ness, of prominent Progressives, es-
pecially among those who are inclined
to run for offices, that perplexes the
situation. They make it all the harder
to work out a harmony program If
there is to be harmony it should be ON
A fair and square basis. And if such
,ne cannot be reached, there should be
A clean cut fight between the Repub-
leans and the Progressives, with none
Of the latter attempting to sail under
false colors at the primaries for any
advantage to themselves that they
could obtain thereby.