The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-23
In BOURBON SPIRIT

Continued from page one)
something and how to keep it on the
track.
Didn't Need Encouragement.
But Kansas Democrats really didn't
need much ragement. Whenever
the crowd seemed to lapse into a seri-
Gus thought OF the high cost of living,
the bone dry law or strained diplo-
matte affairs, someone mentioned Will
son and the crowd was off on another
whirl of wild enthusiasm. It made no
difference what a speaker claimed for
the national leader nor what claims
was made for his service to his people.
The 700 Democrats were always GER
tain the speaker was too modest.
Mrs Woodford's speech was one of
many features of the program. Mrs.
Woodford told of the part the women
played thru their personal efforts and
with their first presidential vote.
We were just storting to put up
fresh curtains and tie a few comforts
said the Burlington woman, when we
began to notice as we picked up the
paper that Wilson seemed to need
somebody of push and daring to tell
tho truth So we made a batch of
bread. ard while it was rising 'phoned
everybody. We put the men on sand
wiches and canned goods and took our
little old Ford and rambed away over
the prairies and stirred up everybody
for miles around
Then Judge Reeves told of Democ-
racy's long, long trip to Tipperary-
the White House. Now that the party
has arrived and is safely esta bIished
for second four year term. the law
yer from Dodge City was willing to
foresee any possible accomplishment
at the hands of their leader.
FockeIe Was ''There"
Nor did Click Fockele of Leroy
president of the club. show a desire
to dampen the enthusiasm or ardor
of the men and women who paid
money to come to Topeka and gather
political gossip and inspiration. The
Coffey count newspaper man was
never happier. And each time a new
speaker was presented, FOckele lifted
little of the epidermis of the old
enemy, the Republicans, and sent
home some new tribute to the state
leaders in the trenches and the ma
tIonal patriots in the headlines.
Hodges Administration.
w. w. Gordon. Kansas City chief
of police and former member of the
legislature, was just as enthusiastic as
the most enthusiastic leader in the
Wyandotte clan. He responded to the
toast, Democracy in Kansas" In his
talk Gordon declared the Hodges adj
ninistration of 1913-15 had written
the states most progressive laws, had
redeemed the greater number of par
" pledges, had kept greater faith with
the people and been more responsive
to the demands of human welfare
than any administration in Kansas
history Nor did Gordon overlook his
opportunity to win a response by fail
IRE to mention that the work of the
Hodges administration in Kansas was
chara cteristic of the work of the VIII
son administration in the nation.
Judge Nortonfs Address.
Judge Nortoni said:
1T was easy and natural for me TO
support President Wilson, because by
his acts and leadership he put into
force, one after another the policies
of the Progressive party.
The Progressives believe in the
principle declared in the Declaration
of Independence to the effect that all
men are created free and equal, and
as such are possessed of certain in
alienable rights, among which are
those of life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness, and that it is the chief
A office of government to secure and
protect these.
I There arises every day and hour of
our existence a conflict between the
. rights of humanity on the one hand
and those of property on the other.
Mr. Lincoln, whose spirit dominated
n the Republican party at one time,
stood for the rights of humanity as
against those of property; and this,
TOO, was the doctrine of Thomas JEFF
ferson.
so it was the Progressive platform
n of 1912 employed the names of these
two great friends of the people con-
Junctlvely in declaring our doctrine.
Such alone was the great fundamental
of the Progressive movement, and the
matter of the opposition to bosses and
boss control was but a mere incident
IN the fight for human rights, and this
because the crooked special interests
which seek to control the govern
mental agencies in the interests of
property first and relegate human
rights to the second place usually at
tain their ends thru the activity OF
the bosses who acquire political power
Tor the purpose of financial reward
Mr.. Wilson and those who adhere
TO his views dominate the Democratic
party; that is to say the progressive
element of the Democratic party is
clearly in the ascendancy and directs
the course of the party as an instru-
ment OF government under the lead
ersh1p of Mr.. Wilson. AS evidence OF
this it is necessary to do no more
than cite the progressive Legislative
accomplishments of Democracy under
Mr.. wilson's leadership.
New Currency Laws:
lone of the leading features of the
4 Progressive platform in 1912 was oul
. plank demanding a revision of the
4 currency and banking laws so as tc
81 Introduce a degree of elasticity in the