The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-16
Appropriations ea,asO,O0O Be-
low Recommendation.
WY CAPPER WOULD WIN
Insinuates Topekan Will Spend
100000 This Year.
Belleville Meeting Drew q Big
Crowd.

Belleville. Ken. March 16.-Before q
crowd that packed the Republic county
court house, Governor Hodges defend
ed the work of the Democratic stare
administration and met the charges OF
extravagances by challenging opposing
candidates to announce the spec1nc
items in the appropriation bills which
should have been eliminated. More tnan
zoo men and women crowded into the
court room to hear the governor
speech and several hundred people were
unable to secure admission TO the
building. Fully half Of the crowo "as
composed Of farmers.
Bristow. Murdoch and Capper Weie
the chief targets Of Governor HoGees
attack. He charged Bristow ana Mur-
dock with Inconsistency in opposing
the Payne-Aldrich tariff bill and later
onnosinr the Democratic tartn meas
ure. thus voting to keep the opJection-
able Payne-Aldrich bill on the statute
books. Capper was referred 10 as tno
Dr. Jekyll and MT. Hyoe OF .'s,t,,
Republicanism, and was charged with
the repudiation Of two national po-
litical partfes in less than two years
and with playing pussy foot poiiNcs
in his desire to win the good graces
of both Republicans and Progreselves
in the present campaign. Unlair pohti-
cal tactics, questionable personal ous
ness tactics and the expenditure %
$4,000 to win the gubernatorial etec.
ton in 1912 were other charges laid at
Capper's door.
Charges OF Extravagance.
"Our enemies charge us with extrav-
agance." said Hodges. yet the recon-
mendations of Auditor Davis. a Repub-
lican. was fer eleven and a half million
dollars in appropriations. We cut tnat
amount two and a quarter millions. we
said we would reduce the expenses OF
the executive council 70 per cent. we
have done more than that
Governor Hodges stated that every
Democratic state department was being
operated at less expense than unoer
the Stubbs administration, while every
Republican state department with the
exception of the office of superintendent
of public instruction. is maintained at
an increased expense. Hodges also
referred to the fact that in one year
the Democrats had set aside $165, 900 TOR
the payment Of bonds due in July, while
ten years OF Republican rule had re-
suited IN an accumulation OF but <1S.-
900 for the retirement of these bonds.
y e. Capper-Esolitical Acrobat.
.'some years ago Arthur Capper was
a Republican" said the governor in
IGlcITluS " u1S ICRNVAAS0AA VPkSCAACAAS'
Two years ago he became a. Progress
sive. Now he Is neither. He IS play
ing the role Of DIR. Jekyll and Mr..
Hyde in Kansas politics. He is telling
Kansas Republicans that he will see
to the writing Of the state platform and
that he will tell the voters what he
stands for when lie is ready to make
the announcement.
Last year Mr.. Capper was so pro-
gressive that he was most bitter in his
criticism of my appointments He
citicised me for the appointment of
'standpat, Republican members of
boards that called for Republican
Hoch, Harger, Kinkel, Walker, Hop
kins and others-Mr. Capper said in
an editorial, there are some men in
the party with whom we don't want
to be associated
'It is reported that Capper spent
friends say he will spend 100000 this
year. Why? Because the supreme
court has said that the governor can
direct the affairs of the office of at
torney general? Well, dare say Mr.
Capper would be glad to control that
tions carry into your home adver-
Using matter which is not fit for your
wife or my wife or our children to
read. I am told that he gets $3.50
line for this stun. Is there reason
why he wants to be your governor?
Think it over. Is there a reason why
he plays the game of pussy foot. soft
pedal, double cross politics and has
failed to take a stand on the issues
before the Republican party in this
state?"
Don't Need Third Party.
Governor Hodges declared there
was no place for q third party in
Kansas.
las long as the Democratic party
remains the progressive party 1t has
proven to be. just SO long will the
Progressives find q solution of their
problems through Democratic legisla-
ton. Our record of a year in the
state and nation Is open to inspection
and upon that record we will win or
lose without apologizing for one line
OF 1t. For a year the Republican