The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-10
Republicans in House Have
Progressive Support.
Third Party Joined Regulars In
Stone Bill Vote.
THEY REFUSED 4 CAUCUS
But Brought Joy to G. o. T. in
Latest Ballot Cast.
Moose Sit Quietly by and Vote
without Comment.

In the fight to fulfill Republican
platform pledges, it is probable ina.
the administration will be supported
by majority of the Progresslves III
the house. The fight Tuesday arter-
noon over the passage of the stone pl,i
to consolidate the penal board VIII
the board of control, indicated that the
third party members would cast .nei.
lot with the administrator
than with the Democratic minority.
In straight party fight, Win ,ns
elimination of the Progressives anu
the lone Socialist. the RepuphcaIi,
can muster 65 votes. the roIi ca,'
shows sc Republican votes. but Ferry
man of Harvey county is SICK anu ut ~
able to attend the session. Adding 10
their list the nine Progressive votes
in the lower branch of the legislature
the administration is quite strongly en-
trenched and there is every inolca.ion
that the Republicans will thus oe aoIe
to put through all of their PLATFORM
pledges.
OF course passage of a bill through
the house is one thing. Passage OF
the same measure through the senate
which is controlled by the Democrats
is quite something else. Even WIN
the aid and assistance of Progressive
upper house members the Democrats
dominate the senate. So the admin
istration VII probably go into the
campaign next year with a house Jour-
nal in their hands and harsh words
on their lips to tell the voters OF the
platform pledges that might have been
redeemed had the senate been OF OPP
posite political complexion.
Refused to Caucus.
But just now the joy in the hearts
Of the Republican leaders is over the
apparent return to their cause OF the
Progressives. OF course the Progress
L. 1a<I oil Inv
tions to go into the Republican eau
cuses. The fact that they have voted
with the Republicans on a party issue,
however. is quite sufficient. In the
minds Of the leaders, the situation in
the house means an amalgamatiOn of
the Progressive and Republican par
ties in 1916.
Leaders in the house have used gen.
erous applications of soft words and
kind treatment to endear the old party
to the Bull Moose members who came
TO Topeka as a result of the uprising
in the Republican party. If the adj
ministration can continue to hold the
Progressives in line during the session
and enlist their votes for the fulfill
ment of Republican pledges. it may
mean much in the campaign next
year. On the, face of conditions, at
least. it will mean that the Progress
sives and Republicans have worked in
harmony in the legislature and will
sound reasonable as argument that
they should forget the past in the ma
tional campaign.
None of the nine house Progress
sives. however, have said anything
that indicated compromise of their
positions. They voted with the Re-
publicans on the test over the pas
sage of the Stone bill and Wayman of
Lyon. Bull Moose floor leader. spoke
for the passage of the bill. But
to stay out of the Republican caucus
Most of the Progressive votes in the
house were cast with Wayman's in
favor of the Stone amalgamation bill.
And today there is hope in the breasts
OF house Republicans that the third
party members will stay with the adj
ministration on other party issues in
the present session.