The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-31
POLITICAL GOSSIP.
CONTINUED from Page one.)

by Kansas Republicans in q convention
to be called by the state committee.
The real fight over platform principles
will affect the Incorporation of the I.
and r.. and recall in the Republican de-
claration of principles. There is pos
stbility. even strong probability. that
these measures will not find a place in
the platform this year. In fact the
Republican party may take Arm
stand and declare against them. al
platforms Of 1910 and 1912
Charles F. Scott of lola, who is lead
ing the fight against the I. and r. and
recall. has strong following. He has
the support Of the regular faction. or
Curtis crowd, in the party and will ask
for the reputation of the measures SO
strongly urged by Stubbs. White. Muir
dock. Bristow and Capper in former
campaigns. In 1910, the party council
gave the Kansas Republicans a state
jectionable reform measures. The
platform planks in 1910 were not sub
tect to amendment or debate and the
l. and r. opponents Were'forced to ac-
cept the endorsement of the measure
whether they liked 1t or not. In 1912,
the measures found a place in the plat
form. Bristow participated in the
writing of both platforms. The meas
ures were endorsed and advocated by
Capper. The same provisions which
have aroused the wrath of Scott and
his followers were Incorporated in the
Democratic and Socialist state plat
forms and no opportunity was found
to register a vote against the meas
ures.
Not only did Bristow and Capper
endorse and defend the I. and r. and
recall, but Capper Incorporated them
in his personal platform, which in
not included in the Republican state
platform. The probable senatorial
and gubernatorial candidates for this
year, went even further. In their en-
dorsement of Roosevelt and the Pro-
gressive national platform of 1912.
they approved the recall of the judi
ciary and recall of judicial decisions.
Now the Republican party in Kan
sas threatens to break away from
these so-called reform measures.
Party leaders propose to write a plat
form that adheres to Republican
principles of former years and to
make the issues in Kansas clear cut
Only One Progressive Party.
There cannot be two Progressive
parties." declared Charles F. Scott in
Topeka this week when he proposed
to leave the endorsement Of the re-
form policies to the Bull MOosers and
Democrats. And ScOtt's theory met
with much approval among Kansas
Day club members who came to To-
peka for the annual Republican din
whether Bristow and Capper. who
have for months wavered near the
door Of the Progressive party. will
seek nominations on Republican
ticket which repudiates their pet the
cries, is a matter of speculation.
These men have declared that the
party is progressive and stands for
all progressive measures. But should
the party reject some of the plat
n1a nf former thew
may view the matter differently. They
may find embarrassment in defend
ing the 1914 platform and harmonic
ing it's provisions with their own dec
larations and utterances in former
years. Capper has carefully kept his
announcement in cold storage pend
ing the action of the state committee
and the state convention. And In the
minds of many political leaders the
action of the convention may have
decided effect on the Topeka publish
,er's political plans for the future.
And the case of Arthur Capper will
be no stronger than that of Joseph L.
Bristow, senior senator from Kansas.
who fiirted with the Bull Moose parry
and endorsed it's teachings until the
doors of the Republican party were
closing against his return.
After Helvering's Scalp.
Fifth district Republicans are or
ganizing for a real fight to regain con-
Helvering, a Democrat, was two years
ago elected to congress. Helvering ap-
pears lamentably weak in his district
He has lost the confidence and sup
port of many leaders of his own party
and dissatisfaction over the distribu-
ton of postoffice patronage has pre-
icipitated many factional rows that
threaten to rise up and smite the
Marysville man in his candidacy for
reelection.
Senator Walter f. Wilson of WASH
,ington county is the most probable
candidate against Helvering at this
time. Wilson is a Republican with
progressive record behind him and a
personal following that will doubtless
make him strong in the election.
While Senator Wilson has not definite
ly announced his plans, it is consider
ed quite probable that ne will be
candidate. Should he make~an early
announcement. he will probably have
a clear field in the Republican pri-
maries.
Charles M. Harger, editor of the Abb
lene Reflector is another probable cam
didate for congress in the Fifth dis
trict. w. A. Calderhead. who was for
a number Of years the Fifth districts
representative in Washington. has been
mentioned in connection with the con-
gressional fight. but his friends do not
believe he will run. So it is probable
that either Harger or Senator Wilson
will be given the nomination and an ef-
fort made to crowd third party tick
ct out of the field and make a straight
fight for Helvering's defeat.
In a statement mace today, w. s.
Kretsinger of Emporia announced
that he would be candidate for the
Republican congressional nomination
N the Fourth district primaries. He