The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-25
Lardner Stirs Hornets Nest by
Urging Thompson's Defeat.
County Chairmen Demand He
Quit State Leadership.
TAKE ROW into BACK YARD"
Conlon of Atchison Charges
Personal, Private Differences.
Fireworks Started With Chair
mans Letter to Subordinates.

Hubert Lerdner, Democrat state
chairman, seems to have poked par
ty hornet nest when he urged the de-
feat of Senator William H. Thompson
for denomination. The Bourbon SEN
ator's friends on the state committee
and there seems to be quite num-
Der of them-are now falling upon
Mr.. Lardner in the warm, earnest
spirit of a pack of wolves gnawing at
the vitals Of gladiator. With it all,
there is considerable of demand
that the state chairman change his
brand of loyalty or return to the
ranks of party privates.
Last week Lardner sent letter to
Democrat county chairmen urging
the slaughter of Senator Thompson
He intimated the calling of a meeting
to select a candidate to oppose the
senator for denomination. That letter
organized the Thompson opposition
on the state committee. 1t also or
Eanized the Thompson forces. Now
there is throuble brewing. No can
didate has announced to oppose
Thompson and some of the letters
whict. are going to Lardner indicate
prolonged early spring rains and
much unsettled weather.
Hints Lardner's Resignation.
One county chairman, R. L. Hinch,
of Wyandotte county. wrote Lardner
tender spirit of a brother Democrat.
He said Thompson had supported the
president on every issue and that
with the world at war Kansas Demo-
Gratis ought to support Thompson.
Then without changing the tone of
his love note in the least. Hinch init
mated that if Lardner didn't feel
much the same, he ought to resign as
state chairman.
Charles j. Con1on, chairman of the
Atchison county committee also wrote.
He said Lardner ought to take his pri-
vate rows into the backyard and hang
them on the line to air instead of pa
rading them on Main street, or words
to that effect. Con1on spoke rather
feelingly about the entire matter He
denied that some of Lardner'S state
ments were true in fact and declared
pose of his personal troubles thru the
organization of the state committee.
Charges n Personal Row.
Conlon speaks almost as freely and
feelingly of the Lardner attack on
Thompson as Lardner spoke of the
party necessity of retiring Thompson
to private life. Conlon said:
81 have received your circular letter,
addressed to me as chairman of the Atchi-
son county Democratic central committee,
of every other county committee of Kan
sas. also 1 have read your article in the
Kansas city Times OF this morning, and
am amazed that the chairman of the state
organization of the Democratic party
should line himself up and attempt to
take with him the forces of the party in an
assault upon any Democrat who may be
a candidate for nomination for any office.
Your letter surely indicates TO me that
there is some personal difference between
you and Senator Thompson and that you
are taking advantage of your position as
chairman for revenge.
while am not so welded to Senator
Thompson that l could not listen to the
claims of other candidates for the posi-
ton of United States senator, yet 1 happen
to know that the charge you make against
him in your published circular is without
foundation in fact, SO far as it states that
Senator Thompson influenced George
Medley to enter the race for senator four
years ago, but. of course, he did not sup
port him at the election, as he should.
But. whether he was or was not instru-
mental in inducing Mr.. Medley to enter the
race, you. as chairman of the Democratic
state central committee, very greatly ex-
cede your province and demonstrate your
unfairness for the position as chairman of
that committee when you attempt to use
that office to further a personal quarrel
which you evidently have with Senator
anr7's