The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-23
WHITE TELLS ALL
Progressive Leader Brings Out
Capper's Ghost.
Topekan's Big Part in Inde-
pendence Organization.
CALLED THEM CROOKS IN 1912
Now He Is Training With
Them, Says Emporian.
<sSaid His Little Say and Lined
Up With Third Party"

In a message from Rochester. Mimi.
William Allen White, Progressive ma
t1onal committeeman, declares that Ar
thur Capper went completely over to
the third party Progre ssives in his
speech at Independence in December.
1872 Mr.. Capper was Invited to the
meeting by the Progressive national
committeeman. it was made clear the
purpose Of the gathering. Capper ac-
cepted the invitation, made speech
and declared that there could be no har-
mony with tn old line Republicans.
While Capper may have changed his
mind about being q Progressive. says
White. there was not the least doubt
about his stand when he talked to the
Montgomery county Mooeers. In a
signed statement concerning the indie
pendence meeting, White says:
Il have just read with establishment
Arthur Capper's explanation that the
Independence, Kan. banquet was a
gathering o; Republicans.
Il attended that meeting as national
committeeman Of the Progressive party.
The meeting was called under a call
from the national committeeman Of the
Progressive party in Kansas to organize
the Progressive party county central
committee in Montgomery county. The
committee was, in fact, organized as a
party committee before Mr.. Capper
spoke.
Talked OF Organizing State.
Il sat beside Mr.. Capper and we
talked of organizing the whole state as
We had been organizing Montgomery
county. We did organize many coun-
ties in exactly that way and Mr.. Cap
per's Topeka Capital spoke enthusiast
tically Of our good work. But as I
spoke before Mr.. Capper I spoke em-
phatically Of the purpose of the gather
ing. spoke Of the need of organizing the
Progressives as a party, and when. fol-
lowing me, Mr.. Capper wished the Pro-
gressives godspeed and said he never
would desert them. he was cheered by
the gathering with great gusto.
Mr.: Capper, in his paper. encour-
aged the series of banquets that fol-
lowed. The Independence meeting was
held not to debate the question of or
ganizing the party; that was settled.
AS national committeeman I had an
nounced that if there were only ten
Progressives in Kansas the party would
organize. The time to protest against
the organization was then and there at
that Independence meeting. But Mr..
Capper never cheeped. Instead he
avowed his undying love for us.
Is It Self Defense?
'It is likely that he has changed his
MIND. That is not to his discredit.
Wise people OFTEN cnange their minus,
and it is probable that Mr. Capper has
forgotten the circumstances surround
ing the Independence meeting and the
glowing account of it in the Capital.
However that may be. there are two
possible good defenses for his course
at Independence. One is self defense.
He could not help 1t; the tide was run
ming that way. The other defense is
temporary emotional insanity. But
Mr.. Capper's alibi is q bad defense. 1t
will not stick. The Progressive BAN
Quet at Independence was a third par
ty banquet, held under a call from the
third party national committeeman to
all third party Progressives to organ
ize. And after due elaboration Mr..
Capper accepted the invitation, said
his little say and lined up with the
third party.
Right in One Thing Anyway.
when the tide in the Michigan cleo
ton turned, Mr.. Capper turned. But in
one thing he is dead right. He says the
object Of the Progressive party is or