The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-14
REAL|CNMENT
or DEMOCRATS
Hutchinson Convention Left
Some Leaders High and Dry.
No Ripple Left to Show Where
Medley Went Down.
WAS DOMINATED BY HODGES
Federal Office Holders Routed
Horse, Foot and Dragon.
Old Time Combinations Proved
To Be Utterly Worthless.

Kansas Democrats must learn their
factional alienments all over again.
The recent state convention in Hutch
inson changed the map and boundary
lines for a number of rows within the
Democratic party in this state ana
brought to the surfaces some new
trouble zones for the future One OF
the features Of the fight in Hutchln-
son was the short route which George
A. NeeIev found to political obscurity
and the manner in which he invited
the opposition of both the Hodges ana
Thompson factions.
There were more than the average
number of new fights in the Hutchin-
son convention. Just on the eve OF
a national campaign. politician
would naturally assume that possibly
the Bourbons would go to Hutchinson
I'm search of recruits rather than VIC
Tins But "A few more sore spots on
the donkey didn't seem to worry KAN
sas Democrats in the least. Everyone
apparently wanted to start new row
and carve his name on it. As result
a good many people went home with
a determination to register their sentl-
ments in the November election or at
any other opportune occasion.
The federal crowd. as an example,
went home with tight purse strings.
They had been whipped all over the
floor of the convention hall and they
withdrew all hopes for big campaign
pledges at once.
''Thcy wanted to whip US and have
done it," said one Kansas federal job
holder Now where viii they get
their money to run the campaign? If
we are not to he consulted or con-
sidered in the fight, then we are rot to
help pay the bills
But that was not all.
When Medley Threw Thompson.
Senator Thompson. to whom George
A. Neeley owed more than to any other
man in Kansas, was thrown by the
Hutchinson man in the contest for del
esate at large. Medley delivered his
entire Reno county vote against
Thompson 1t is asserted that he was
bound by an agreement with Thomp-
sons friends to deliver the delegation
to the senator. When the Reno coun-
tn vote was announced, Thompson .
friends Immediately placed Neeley III
the discard and delivered all votes
available against him.
That was the last of the Neeley
stand in Kansas politics. Possibly it
was his farewell political appearance.
His break with Thompson at the cru
Cial stage of the fight lost him most
Of he following he has held in recent
years.
Then there was the new Thompson
Hodges agreement. Just to what ex-
tent the agreement or peace pact eX-
tended. is not generally known
Hodges. however, came to the conver-
tion strong advocate of Thompson.
It was his personal efforts that put
Thompson on the delegation to the ma
tioual convention.
That move might have wiped out
in decree. the lines that divided the
Hodges and Thompson forces in this
state Still. Hodges walked on ]. w
orr with both feet. Orr was the
Thompson candidate for national COM
miitccman.
In fighting Orr. however. Hodges
walked hand in hand with ]. B. Bill
lard Of Topeka, Independent candidate
against Hodges in the governorship
fight Of two years ago So after ALL
the lines that formerly held the fac
tions in the Democratic party in Kan
sas hav0 been greatly shifted and it is
q wise Democrat who will this year be
q BILE to determine the alignment of the
leader whom he has followed in for
mer campaigns.
In the Same Boat.