The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-11
BULL MOOSE
COMING BACK?
Signs of a Return to Old Feed
ing Ground.
Fred w. Knapp, of Beloit, Is
sues an Appeal.
URGES THE HERD To LINEUP
Get Behind G.. o. p. in the Next
Election.
Anderson for Congress and
Capper for Governor.
URGES THE HERD TO LINEUP

Fred w. Knapp. of Beloit, dropped
a bomb in the political affairs of the
Sixth district today by urging Pro-
gressives not to place a congressional
candidate in the field in 1916, but to
lineup behind the candidacy of r. M
Anderson, of Beloit. Knapp was sec
rotary of the Progressive state com
mittee in 1914 and his statement TO
day virtually outlines the pollcy OF the
Progressives not to place a state or
district ticket in the field next year
but to support progressively inchneo
Republicans.
Knapp's open support of Anderson is
of vital Importance in the redhot An
derson- Benton fight in the sixth as
trict. But Knapp's statement goes
even farther than the borders OF tnae
big northwest.
The former Beloit editor declares
that Kansas Progressives are not IN
accord with Roosevelt's position on
foreign affairs, but that they will select
and support Republicans of the pro-
pressive type for district, state and
national office next year Knapp IN,
dicates that the ProgressIVes snouio
stand with Capper and Bristow and
support a Hughes or Cummins delega-
ton from Kansas. The statement IS
the first official utterance from Bull
Moose authorities as to the derlnlle
plans of the Progressives in 1915.
Max Anderson, whose support by
the Progressives is urged by Knapp
is widely known Beloit lawyer, is
chairman of the Republican commit
tee in Mitchell county and has been
active in the political affairs OF the
Sixth district for a number of years
Knapp's Statement.
Knapp's statement as to the posi-
ton of Kansas Progressives and his
unqualified endorsement of Andersons
candidacy is as follows:
Governor Capper's stand for clean
and efficient conduct of the states
business affairs, his demand for re-
duced appropriations and eXpend1-
lures, his appointment of the more
progressive Republicans to most OF
the important positions and his refusal
to be dictated to by any coterie of
professional politicians, commend
themselves most highly to all pro- |
gressive thinking citizens of Kansas |
In view of the fact that his follow |
ing this course has brought forth the |
criticism and opposition of the lead |
ers of the old Republican leageu'
who joined with the Democrats and
effected his defeat four years ago, it
seems to me that Progressives will |
sacrifice none of their principles but
will be acting in a fitting manner by
endorsing his actions and admins
tration by participating in the Repub-
hcan primaries and giving Mr.. Capper
their hearty support.
In the Sixth congressional district
we have a similar condition. We
found two years ago when there was
a standpat Republican nominee that
the Progressive party vote merely re-
suited in the reelection of Mr. Con-
nelly. In my judgment the result
would be no different in the coming
campaign under like conditions. For
this reason it would seem to me to
be the part of wisdom for Progressives
instead of naming a third-party can
didate, to line up behind r. NJ An
derson. of Beloit, in the Republican
primaries.
He Is a Bristow Man.
Mr.. Anderson was an avowed Bris-
tow supporter in the primary contest
two years ago and his leading oppon-
emit, if nominated, would be anything
but satisfactory to the progressive Re-
publicans of the district. Mr. Ander-
son is not only a lawyer of recognized
ability but he has the other qualities
which would make him one of the
ablest representatives the Sixth dis
trict ever had in congress He has
done more effective advertising for
northwest Kansas through his promo
ton of good roads and automobile
trails and highways than any other
person in it and his aggressive inclina-
lions along these lines would soon find
recognition in the halls of congress
No one ever has to guess where he
stands upon any public question, and
in my judgment, his stand upon all
these questions would be taken where
1t would best serve the people of the
district who honored him with his
election.
aside from all these local condi-
tons, I do not believe that Kansas
Progressives agree with Mr.. Roose-
velt's utteranceS with reference to our
relationship to the European y ar nor
that they are especially interested in
the maintenance of separate party
organization provided the Republican
party leaders and nominees are of a
clean and progressive type of men.
To this end 1 believe more will be
gained by joining hands with Cover
nor Capper, Senator Bristow and 9TH
ers of that type who are striving to
send a delegation from Kansas to the ,
national Republican convention in
structed for Hughes or Cummins or
some other live progressive Republican
instead of permitting a few politicians
to carry back an uninstructed delega- .
ton in their vest pockets"