The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-21
DEMOCRATIC BANQUET
tcontinued from PAGE one,

matter OF interest TO democrats VINO
come to Topeka to celebrate Wash |
ington's birthday The interest will |
center in the activities in hotel lob |
bies and in the action of the state CEN |
trail committee.
Into the fight for places on the big
Four from Kansas will be injected
the spirit of the Thompson-Neeley
Hodges feud which split the party in
1914 and returned the state to the
Republicans. Should Senator Thomp-
at-large to the national convention,
George H. Hodges is expected to en-
ter the race and the Democrats will
start their troubles all over again.
Sapp-Orr Fight.
Troubles of former days are not the
only affairs which alarm the Demo-
Gratis who are in Topeka to take an
active hand in the hotel milling and
dope making. The Sapp-Orr fight for
national committeeman is bringing to
the surface a new brand of trouble
and sorrow and offers little hope or
cheer. Col. w. F. Sapp, of Galena,
for years national committeeman and
active in every campaign in Kansas
for twenty years. must fight for re-
election. James w. Orr of AtchiSon
has taken the field against Sapp and
the contest may develop much activity
and some new sore spots. The Hodges
following, backed by Senator Bale p
Waggener of Atchison, will probably
| swing in behind Sapp, while Orr will
have the friendly help and counsel
from the camps of Senator Thompson.
After Next Convention.
Democrats here tomorrow for their
annual love feast are facing a 4-cor-
nered row over the meeting place of
the big Democratic convention. Dele
| cations from four cities, Topeka, Sa-
lima, Wichita and Hutchinson, began
coming into Topeka at an early hour
this morning and started wire pulling
necessary for landing the big conven-
ton. Excepting Topeka, Hutchinson
| had the biggest delegation here at the
| earliest hour Among those from that
city in Topeka before 10 o'clock were
| Charles Oswald, Sam Graybill, post
master and B. McCune, county chair
| man. ]. Will Kelley, secretary of the
| Topeka Commercial club. was on the
| job bright and early while W. c. Lans-
don of Salina represented the delega-
ton from that city which had not ar
| rived at noon.
Many at Throop.
Although the National hotel be-
comes official Democratic headquar-
tiers this year, the habits of a lifetime
could not be overcome and the old
Throop's big chairs seated the early
Democratic arrivals. J. T. Botkin of
Baldwin, former warden of the state
prison at Lansing, was one of the first.
Botkin is chuckling these days.
| While he was warden Codding's broth
| er-in-law ran a newspaper at Lansing
which made life miserable for the
| preacher-pOliticfan Now some of the
''old guard" have started another pa
per at Lansing and are giving Codding
| just as many, if not more joltS than
the Democratic warden received.
| While at Lansing Botkin's wife suf-
| fered a severe injury in a runaway on
| the Stillings convict built road and
surgeons thought she would not live
| However, the warden reports that she
| is now in fairly good health, although
| one arm will remain crooked the re-
mainder of her life.
Remodel Throop.
Right here it might be well to men
ton that rumors are current that the
Throop hotel is to be re-modeled.
! George Morrow, owner, and A. J.
Hanna, manager, We're out of the city
today. The clerk on duty admitted he
had heard rumors but was unable to
| give out any authentic information.
Last week during the big conven-
tions, the National hotel turned away
from 100 to $50 prospective guests
every day. 1t has just 12O guest
rooms, which is only ten more than
are found in the Throop hotel
Some say, the hotel is to be sold
back to old owners while others de-
clare the present owner will repair
the famous old hosiery.
r our years ago the state cOnVen-
ton was held in Hutchinson. For that
reason and the added fact that the
Republicans will come to Topeka this
year, argument is advanced for bring
ing the convention to the capital city
Committee in Afternoon.
The state committee will meet at 2
| clock Tuesday afternoon in National
hotel assembly room.
| Tuesday morning Democratic pub
fishers will hold their annual meeting.
Plans for the launching of a number
of party publications will be consid-
cred. Establishment of a number of
new Democratic papers in Kansas
counties has been urged by prominent
party leaders. At the meeting in To-
peka Tuesday, plans for financing the
project will be considered
Announcement of candidates for
state offices will be scarce at the BAN
quet this year. Returns from the gen.
eral election of 1914 are yet fresh in
might ordinarily display patriotism
and offer to accept public jobs. In
the main the party will probably draft
candidates for state offices.
For Governor.
Ben s Gaitskin of Girard will prob
ably enter the governorship race if as
sured of the elimination of opposition
in the primaries w. S Lansdon of
Salina is also considered as a probable
lgovernorShip candidate and the mill
ing IN the notei loopies may result III d
settlement of the gubernatorial dispute
without a primary contest
The banquet at the auditorium will
be concluded in time to permit out of
town visitors to return to their homes
on late night trains The dinner will
| be served promptly at $50 o'clock.
Speeches of resident Kansans will, in
the main, be short. Governor More
head of Nebraska, guest of honor at
the banquet this year, will probably
talk 80 minutes. He will discuss ma
tional issues, Other speakers at the
| banquet this year are: Ben S. Cats
kill Girard: Miss Laura French, En-
poria: Judge w S. Langmade Ober-
lin; John f. Wagner, Larned; and w
w. Holloway. Kansas City.