The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-05
WILL THEY LIKE
TO Be COUNTED?
Bull Moose Confronted by an
Embarrassing Situation.
A Primary Election VIII Ex-
pose Their Weakness.
OLD FASHIONED CONVENTION
OLD FASHIONED CONVENTION
Would Upset All Their Theories
of Political PrOpriety.
Old Time Republicans Are In
terested in the Outcome.

viii Kansas Progressives hold pri
maries for the selection OF delegates
TO the state convention in Topeka
That is a question of much concern
to a number of Republican leaders
who see in the possible acuoh OF tne
third party an evidence OF lnconslst-
ency in the stand for primary action
In order to remain consistent with
arguments as affecting the Repubh-
can convention, a number OF the Bull
Moose leaders must seemingly use
their efforts to secure county prl-
maries for the selection of delegates
Kansas PrOgressives will hold their
state convention in Topeka May 20
They will select delegates to attend
the national Bull Moose convention in
Chicago. They will name presidential
electoral candidates. They will dis
cuss bird party candidates for con-
gress in all of the eight districts Of the
state. Business will be transacted in
a manner that may keep the third
party on the. track and make it a go
ing concern. Delegates from nearly
every county in the state are expected
to attend the state convention, third
party leaders declare.
Republicans Are Interested.
Just the manner in which these del
egates will be elected is now a matter
Of much interest and concern-espec-
tally TO old line Republicans. When
heavily on W. Y. Morgan's plan for
county primaries for the selection of
delegates TO the state convention, Pro-
gressive papers pointed to the fact
that the Republican party was pro-
crossing backwards When several
county committees met and selected
delegates to the state and district con-
ventions, the Bull Moose leaders told
of the old days when machine poll
tics dominated the state.
Now the Progressives are to hold a
state convention of their own The
manner IN which they select delegates
is a matter of real interest at this
time. IL is not only a question of
being consistent regarding primary
policies. but the question of votes must
also be considered.
Right there the Progressives balk.
They realize a big slump in their vot-
ms strength over two years ago. Many
of their leaders and workers are now
safely back in the Republican party.
The rank and file has seemingly lost
interest and enthusiasm has not been
apparent for some months Should the
results of the Republican national con-
vention not be satisfactory to the Bull
Moosers, they might desire to direct a
fight in this state. A light vote in
the primaries or a slim showing in a
state convention would be real
handicap to future enthusiasm.
shy at Test of Strength.
Reports from some of the strong
Progressive counties of two years ago
indicate that the Bull Moose following
this year is almost negligible. OF
course a test of the strength of the
party in primary would prove or dis
prove the assertion. But William AL
len White, U. S. Sartin and the Pro-
gressives of 1914 are not hasty in
their action of calling a primary.
They are quite content to hold CON
vention composed of delegates Sc
lected in almost any manner They
are willing to forget the things that
were said when the Republicans voted
down a primary plan in January.
Really, the thought of pri-
mary is just at this time
quite disheartening to the Progressives
who made the fight in 1912 and 1914
II is embarrassing because of the fear
concerning the showing which may be
made in many of the counties and the
lack of interest which usually sur
rounds an uncontested primary
There is another thing, too. Should
tho Bull Moosers call primaries, it is
quite certain that opposition parties
viii publish the total vote of the pri-
maries in the various counties. And
that is not a happy thought to the
men who would prepare for third
party in Kansas if a fight in the No
vember election were really considered
expedient.