The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-12
MURDOCH WEEPS
| CLAIMS PERKINS
DOUBLE CROSSED
Kansan Gives Progressive Meet
Dramatic Closing.
IL. RS Answer Came Like Dirge
for New Party.
DELAYING NOMINATION FATAL
81 Am for Keeping Up the
Fight" Shouted Murdoch.
After Speech Delegates Pledged
s1O5, 900 for Campaign.
Kansan Gives Progressive Meet
Dramatic Closing.
T. RS Answer Came Like Dirge
for New Party.
DELAYING NOMINATION FATAL
81 Am for Keeping Up the
Fight" Shouted Murdoch.
After Speech Delegates Pledged
s1O5, 700 for Campaign.

Chicago. June 1.-THE refusal of
Colonel Roosevelt to accept the FRO
cressive nomination certainly created
a damper on the convention late Sat
urday afternoon.
The final answer from him, it is be-
ueved. will not be forthcoming for
several days, possibly not until Mr.
Hughes has been formally notified of
his nomination by the Republicans
and has made a speech on that occa-
sion simplifying the views he holds, as
outlined in Saturdays statement.
That, however, is not based upon any
presumption that Colonel Roosevelt
may change his present intentions, but
rather on the belief that 1t VIII give
the Progressive party leaders time to
get their bearings and decide upon
future course of action, either as a
party or as individuals
When T. RS Answer Came.
As dramatic almost as when the
Progressive party was born, was the
scene at the closing session OF the con-
vention when the co1onePs answer. re-
garded by many as the last WORD OF
the Progressive party as a party, was
read in auditorium hall. There was
tensity in the atmosphere of the con-
vention. 1t showed itself in serious
faces of the thousand-odd delegates
It crept into every speech and decid-
ration-a new seriousness that had not
been there before III the trying week
of convention.
It was not fear of coming conflict
which might be a losing one. But
rather a protest of spirit and heart
against the passing of a party, as
many feel it to be, for which such ear
nest hopes had been cherished. 1t
was the go down with flying colors"
spirit that found voice. Into it crept
the note of bitterness. not against
Colonel Roosevelt, but against some of
the Progressive leaders. who, they be-
Iieved, had not handled the situation
properly
Vic Murdoch Weeps.
But it was Vic" Murdoch of Kan
sas, his fighting blood aroused, who
voiced the most bitter protest against
the turn events had taken, and who
made the most vehement appeal for
ried on Climbing on the stage, at the
call of hundreds of delegates, Muir
docks speech and appearance was
tragedy itself
Tears streaming down his face; cry
ing so hard at times that he could
hardly continue his speech. the Kan
san practically read George W. Per
kins out of the party, denouncing the
negotiations that had been conducted
with the Republicans, Murdoch said
the mistake had been made when they
did not nominate Colonel Roosevelt
Thursday and put it up to the Repub-
icans to take him or fight.
But we needed the most dangerous
advice in politics, we needed Mr.. Per-
kins and delayed, and we have this
situation Murdoch said
| Again he mentioned Mr.. Perkins
name as a participant in star cham
| Der" conferences, saying that they had