The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-25
Thompson-Neeley Roller One
of Best in History.
DROP monkey WRENCH IN It
Candidate for Senator Says
Trouble Is Brewing.
POstOffice Crowd All Pledged,
Says Mr.. Murdoch.

In a stirring interview today in
which he dealt none too gently with
the alleged Thompson-Neeley Demo-
crat machine in Kansas, Victor Muir
dock of wichita. candidate for United
states senator on the Progressive tick
ct. said:
"A man doesn't have to take Sec
ond look at the politics OF Kansas to
tell the principal business afoot. 1t Is
the building of the Thompson-N eeley
machine In every county in the state
there is a crowd digging UP the ground
and mixing mortar In order to lay the
foundation of the new proposition broad
and deep. The local boss rs IN every
case a man who has just dictated the
appointment Of a postmaster, or VINO
"It is a daring sort Of a job. too.
when you come to think of it. Two
wears ago Senator Thompson was
moving up and down the state with a
patent program SO adjusted that he
could hold the progressive Demo-
Gratis and yet gather to his bosom the
Curtis standpat Republican vote.
Today, of course. these auxiliartes
have gone from him, but during the
association he caught the organization
microbe.
the young Kansas senator began TO
establish military lines Of defense
around the local postoffice. He has, l
think without exception. made sure in
every instance that the postmaster was
a Thompson man, whenever he had the
power, and inspired the appointee with
the necessity of organization
so in every county in the state to-
day, the postmasters at the county
seats are building up a postoffice Grove d,
which il preparing an elaborate sched-
ule for the conduct and guidance OF 10
cal Democrats. These Democrats, VINO
expect anything in the future in the
way Of subsistence. are being notifieo
to cut out the Farrelly or Hodges busl-
ness and come on in.
LAS part of the plan the young sena-
tor took in Congressman Medley by
making him a sort of field marshal
and the plan proceeds with neatness
and dispatch.
IT say that It is a daring sort of a
Job, and it is when you give 1t a little
thought. The people Of Kansas were
the first to rise and smite the ma
chine. They drove it out through the
votes Of the insurgent Republican, and
the independent Democrats. Then
Senator Thompson, by the use of the
machine Republicans, reached the
senate and now he expects, through
the candidacy Of Medley for the SEN
the Democratic party as the guardian
of the rights OF the people Of the state.
TT Is daring. and like a good many
daring things, 1t won't work. One of
the oldest politicians Kansas ever had
once said to me: There is only one
way to work politics in Kansas: get
n machine early and keep it out OF
sight He tried 1t himself and was
busted. He got the machine early, but
he couldn't keep it out of sight. 1t
can't be kept out Of sight in Kansas
The Thompson-Nee1ey machine is ir
full view with all wheels whirling. ]
don't charge that either Thompson or
Medley are trying to conceal it. On the
contrary. think they are rather proud
of 1t.
Bat. without claiming any powers o.
prophecy, 1 want to say that the way
the independent Kansas Democrat, the
Kansas Democrat who doesn't ask thu
local postmaster how to vote, will droI
monkey wrenches into this new Kan
eas mechanism in Novemb will be
eight to make the angels weep"