The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-23
Kansas Republican State Com
mittee Will Wait on National.
A Lot of Reorganization and
New Chairman Needed.
IT LOOKS LIKE SESSIONS
No Meeting Likely to Be Called
Until Kansas Day.
More Candidates Are Coming
Out of the Brush.

Not until after the meeting of the
Republican national committee in De-
cember will an effort be made to reor-
ganize the state committee, according
to the plans of ]. c. Gafford, acting
secretary, who has been in charge of
the state organization since State
/ Chairman ]. n. Dolley resigned to fol-
! low the trail of the Bull Moose party.
With the reorganization postponed until
after the meeting of the national COM
mittee, it is hardly probable that the
Kansas Republicans will make an ef-
fort to reorganiZe before their annual
love feast on Kansas Day, January 29.
AT present the state committee is in
a bad shape. It's membership is a mat
ter of grave doubt and uncertainty. A
number of the members-about half of
them, according to Dolley and William
Allen White-have withdrawn to go
over to the Progressive party. With
these county chairmen has gone State
Chairman j. n. Dolley, who formed a
decided distaste for the old party after
serving as a Republican state senator.
speaker of the house, bank commits
sioner and chairman of the state or
ganization.
Now there remains but one thing to
do. The state committee cannot go
ing organization and without direct
ing head. The county committees
and many of them are said to be in
condition similar to that of the state
committee-must meet and reorganize,
name new chairmen, fill vacancies and
arrange for their county campaigns.
Then from among the new county
cha1rmen and such members of the old
committee as are still strong in the
faith, the committee must select a
chairman. And the selection of a. chair
man to direct the fight in Kansas next
year is a really grave matter.
Sessions Probable Chairman
Up to this time, there has been little
real discussion -af afthe.ehairmanship, al
though 1t is a matter of most vital i'm
portance to the state organization.
The only candidate mentioned has
! been Secretary of State Charles Ses-
SiOns. He is in as close touch with
the situation in Kansas as any man in
the state, has had years of practical
experience in the most bitter cam
paigns and possesses a personal ac-
quaintanceship that extends into ev-
cry township and hamlet in Kansas
These are important essential details
in the selection of a chairman
Then, too, Sessions, while regular.
has not been too closely allied either
with the regular Republicans or the
Progressive wing of the party. He has
standing and respect with both fac
tionS and would perhaps more nearly
reunite the two crowds than any man
in the state. So, Sessions may lie
named without opposition. although
the date of the meeting is three
months away.
Hope in National Committee.
By postponing their reorganization
until January, Kansas Republicans
hang their hopes on the action of the
national cor mittee. If the national
organization votes to change the pres
ent plans for the election of national
committeeman, reduces the represent
alton from southern states to an equal
ity with the party strength there and
accedes to the more vital demands of
the Progressive wing of the party,
there will be a sigh of reliez and songs
of rejoicing among Kansas RepubIi-
cans. Such action would be the first
real step toward a practical harmony
program in this state next year.
All that would remain would be
general understanding among the
leaders of the factions as to a showing
of good faith in supporting the pri-
mary nominees in the ensuing cleo
ton. And with these troubles adjust
ed, it is believed that many of the
members who have already sent in
their designations would reconsider
their action and decide to remain IN
the party.
'Don't Hurry" Says Gafford.
Acting Secretary J. c. Gafford does
not think there is need for haste in
the reorganization of the state COM
nnittee.
81 am ready to call the committee
together at any time" said Gafford
but have talked the situation over
with some of the leaders and they
prefer to wait until after the meeting
of the national committee in Decem-
Der. Personally, think that is a wise
plan. There is really no need to hur-
ry. There is nothing to be done at
this particular time and when we
know the policy to be pursued by the
national organization, we can act more
intelligently. I think, perhaps, that
the committee will be called together
some time in January-perhaps Kan
sas Day"
The opinion of Gafford seems to be
the opinion of many of the Republican
leaders. Even David w. Mulvane, for
mer national committeeman, is in
clined to await the action of the ma
tional committee in December before
filing the vacancies on the state COM
mittee.
There is no need of a meeting be-
fore Kansas Day." said Mulvane. Be
fore that time we will know what the
national committee intends to do and
by meeting in Topeka Kansas Day. an
extra trip for many of the members
will! be saved. 1 have heard no dis
cussion as to the probable new chair
man."
William Allen White, national COM
rnitteeman for the Progressive party,
is lending his aid and assistance in the
selection of harmony candidates on
the Republican ticket next year. His
EDu Txxrr.n