The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-03
Big Crowd 1T Auditorium Saw
Pr0gressives in Action.
Largest Political Meeting Since
Wilson Was Here.
RECEPTION FOR HENRY ALLEN
Voters Took to His Wit and
Singing Sarcasm.
Praise for President Wilson's
Policy of Peace.

Before a crowd that packed the first
floor of the Auditorium, stood in the
aisles and overlooked into the galleries,
Victor Murdoch. Henry J. Allen and
Sheffield Ingalls, Friday night delivered
the Progressive party's message OF nope
to Topeka voters. 1t was the largest
political meeting held in the Auditorium
since President Wilson spoke in To-
peka two years ago.
The news which the Progressive SEN
atorial, gubernatorial and congressional
nominees brought to Topeka was to
stay far away from the old parties.
They are loaded down with rusty, shop
worn, Anticipated traditions. the speak
ers said. while the Progressive party
is an misunderstanding. 1914 model ma
chine with emergency clutch and brakes
to control the radicals These refer
ences were to the old parties as parties
Both Murdoch and Allen praised Pres
ident Wilson. Favorable mention OF the
president brought applause. But MUIR
dock and Allen made clear that Wilson
and Bryan are but two men within the
Democratic party and that the Muir
phys and Sullivans and Taggarts must
be eliminated before the party can be-
come progressive. AS for the Republi-
can party, the speakers declared the
nominees proved that the party was
again in the hands of the reactionaries.
AIcIl, tAAC AdCt SPOahCA OAA sAAS PAO
gram. was given by far the greatest
reception of the evening. With keen
wit and bitter sarcasm, he attacked the
idea that the Republican party was
progressive or that progressive legisla-
ton could come from the Democratic
party.
There were more than 1000 men and
women in the hall during the meeting.
The meeting in the Auditorium followed
a number of day meetings in Shawnee
county. All had drawn good crowds.
Ingalls, as Chairman.
Sheffield Ingalls, presided at the
meeting. In a short speech, the lieu
tenant governor declared that he was
seeking election to congress in the
First district that the district might
have chance to vote for a real live
Progressive.
Il am making my fight on Dan An
thony because of his failure to make
a record Tor himself or for you in his
seven years in congress-" said Ingalls,
II have no personal fight to make on
Anthony. Neither have 1 a personal
fight to make on Joe Chapman. He
is a hard working, conscientious man
and his wife has the finest flower gar
den in Atchison. But told him the
other day that if he is as patriotic as
he claims, he should get out of the
way and let me beat Anthony. He
has tried it three times and failed"
Ingalls, speech indicated that the
speakers intended to talk the plain,
unvarnished Kansas language and the
crowd showed its appreciation by fire.
Quent applause. He declared that II
the Republican party was 80 per cent
progressive. as claimed by Mr.. Capper.
that 80 per cent should be given a
chance to vote for Progressives. The
Republican primaries, Ingalls, urged,
did not indicate that all of the 90 per
cent progressive vote went to the
polls.
Murdoch Played Privileges.
Victor Murdoch, who followed In
gals, was given a noisy reception. He
spoke 40 minutes and flayed special
privileges. paid his respects to George
A. Neeley, praised President Wilson
for his peace policy and urged Kan
sans to stand unyielding in their fight
for progressive principles.
special privilege is slowly, sue
cessfully closing the door against op-
portunity to you and to me, to your
child and to mine," said Murdock 81
belong to that crowd in politics. or
that crowd with q party or no poll
tics, which has for its purpose pryine
open the door of opportunity to all
America.
II believe that during the strife in
Europe it is the duty of every man
and woman in America to see that we
stay out Of that war. That should be