The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-09
FEET BRACED
TEETH CLENCHED
KANSAS STANDS
Delegates Enter the COnven-
ton on Nomination Day
Watching for Chance to
Mount the Band Wagon.
LAND ON BIG jim FLYNN
Bull Moose Leaders From the
SunhOWer State
ROut the Pennsylvania Foot,
Horse and Dragons.
Watching for Chance to
Mount the Band Wagon.
LAND ON BIG jim FLYNN
Bull Moose Leaders From the
SunfIOwer State

(By Staff Correspondent
Chicago, June 9.-With their feet
braced, but watching attentively for
chance for a band wagon parade, Kan
sas delegates to the Republican con-
vention today went into the big show
to listen to q lengthy oratorical con-
test in the nomination of presidential
candidates. At the opening of the ses-
sion, the Kansas delegates predicted
no material change in the lineup on
the first ballot. They admitted, how
ever, that any returns from the con-
ference committee of the Republican
and Progressive conventions might en-
tirely change the situation.
The forensic talent of the conven-
ton was to be given a free hand TO-
day and there was nothing for the
average delegate to do but listen KAN
sans have been much in evidence
during the opening sessions OF the
convention, so a day of ease was glad
ly welcomed. The SunfloWer dele
gates were especially ready to sit
back and wait in view of the fact that
the situation appeared more tangled
with each hour of progress. Only a
solution of the situation by the con-
ference committee will clear the at
mosphere and determine the final
swing of the twenty votes, 1t was as
serted
While the Republican delegates
were preparing for a day of almost en-
tire rest during the nomination OF
presidential possibilities, Kansas lead
ers in the Progressive convention are
mighty busy pilgrims. In the fight
surrounding the conference committee
resolution, Henry J. Allen and Victor
Murdoch landed Knockout blows on
Big Jim Flynn of Pennsylvania and
helped to direct the progress of the
Bull Moosers
Flynn Forces Routed.
The encounter with Flynn came on
the floor of the Progressive conven-
ton. 1t followed the motion for con-
ferees and an amendment by Allen
not to give the committee unlimited
time and power. Flynn took the
stage for five minutes to urge the
giving of a free rein to the committee
members. AS he yielded the floor,
Victor Murdoch was recognized and
drove home the final argument that
routed Flynn and his forces.
With the activities of the Kansas
delegation, were also thrills for the
Kansas women who sat in the galleries
at the Republican national convention
during the reading of the platform.
Chairman Lodge had just read enough
of the platform to indicate an endorse
ment of suffrage. Immediately pam
demonium broke loose. Kansas dele
gates were right in the midst of the
cheering for the suffrage plank. More
than score of Kansas women sat in
the galleries.
From the Kansas women came
cheers and handclapping. Flags and
handkerchiefs were waved and the
new Kansas voters gave their en-
thusiasm a free rein.
Then there was an awful shock.
Chairman Lodge had stopped right
in the midst of his reading of the
plank. He concluded with the provi-
sion which left settlement of the issue
to the states. 1t was an uncertain
victory and the joy of a few earlier
minutes gave way to gloom as the
ants took up the cheering where the
suffrage advocates had subsidized.
With the third day of steady rain
fall, the Kansas delegates and visitors
took refuge in the hotel lobbies and
mixed with the champions of the IA
vorite sons and hopes. At the Con-
gress hotel there was the most heated
rivalry among the candidate boosters
and the display of enthusiasm ended
at midnight in fist tights and riot
call for the police.
Rush Roosevelt Quarters.
It is rumored that several Kansas
visitors-none of them delegates
were in a crowd which joined forces
with Illinois supporters of Sherman
and rushed" the Roosevelt head
quarters. Answering the echoing cries
of I'VE want Teddy" the anti-Roose-
welt supporters made a grand football
rush on the Coloners quarters.
Across the hall from the Roosevelt
headquarters are pretentious quarters
of the Fairbanks supporters. With
the rush of the Sherman forces the
Fairbanks band struck up Dixie"
The Roosevelt band came right back
with Hail, Hail, the Gangs All
Here" and for a time there was a
rush that was one of the real attrac-
tions of the hotel activities
During the night and morning pre-
ceding the nominating speeches
friends of all candidates turned loose
their enthusiasm and made a final bid
for support. There was a feeling that
the delegates would not seek to go to
bed tonight without balloting on the
presidential candidates. With that
feeling in the hearts of the champions
of various candidates and the uncer.
tainty of the result of the conference,
final demonstrationswere staged which
made sleep in the political headquar-
tiers an absolute impossibility.
Progressives were scarcely less active