The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-02
, KANSAS ALONE"
It's Only State 70 Have Cover
nOr's Loyalty Questioned.
That Is Assertion Made by
Fred Robertson Today.
"CAPPER GERMAN CANDIDATE"
Primary Returns Quoted To
Show They Supported Him.
Government Investigation Made
by a Taft AppOintee.

Quoting figures to show how Gov
ernor Cal per in the primary received
a big majority of the votes in 10 4,
ties where Germans predomlhate anu
where LOYALTY has been questioned.
Fred Robertson United States district
attorney laws down in an interview
given out today what appears to be MS
i final bombardEIent of Capper pe1ore
the voters begin their charge on the
polls next Tuesday.
Robertson gives primary returns
from a number of townships in WASH
fngton caunty declaring that Capper
got an overwhelming majority OF the
German votes of these townships, while
Bristow, who was expected to get the
vote of all those who opposed the ad-
ministration and its war policies, MADE
a very poor showing in comparison
Robertson also makes the assertion
that Kansas stands alone among the
states of the Union as the only one
whose governor has been investigated
by the department of justice in mat
tiers relating to loyalty. The statement
in full is as follows:
Robcrtson's Statement.
kansas stands alone among the
states of the Union as the only state
whose chief executive has had to be
investigated by the department of JUS
tice because of complaints by loyal
Americans challenging the governors
dealings with German elements. 1t is
likewise the only statement where, red
eral officials are unable to report the
governor fearless, straightforward
leader of it's citizens in the vigorous
prosecution of every American issue
growing out of the war. The coming
election. which has directed the at
tention of the country to the war rec
ords of public officials leaves Gov
ernor Arthur Capper alone in this po-
sition.
TT was with sincere regret that 1
had to make note of these conditions
when L was making a glowing report
of the loyalty of Kansas. When 1
view the splendid record of thousands
of our citizens and take into consider
alton the intense loyalty with which
they have sent their boys to the battle
front in France. it gives me no little
embarrassment to recall the acts of
our governor. The man to whom every
Kansan should be able to look for the
highest degree of patriotism stands
challenged on the grounds of sympa-
thizing with certain German elements
in direct contradiction with the views
of patriotic Americans whose cause
was the promotion of all American is
sues during the war.
Called Notorious Pacifist.
1T is true that Governor Capper,
who now asks his fellow citizens to
elect him to the United States senate,
has been called on the floor of that
body as man notorious for his pa
cifism. Any official who was a pacifist
before Americas actual entrance in
the war might have consistently I'M
derg a change of opinion when we
did enter without the slightest blight
on the record of the state. But when
the highest official of the state, either
by indiscretion or by deliberate act
causes his position of straightforward
Americanism to be questioned, he
brings stain on the loyalty of his
citizens that travels far beyond its
borders.
AS an added embarra ssment Gov
ernor Capper has made no answer to
the accusations of his fellow citizens
except to charge political mud sling
ing. Virtually all of the damaging evil
dence of the governors dealings with
German settlements where dissension
existed between German folk and
American patriotic organizations, was
given by the Germans who at the same
time proclaimed the governor as their
friend. 1t appears rather Inconsistent
that the governor would charge mud
Singing against those who declare
they are his friends. -
FIRST complaints concerning Gov
ernor Capper's movements which re-
suited in later investigations by the de-
partment of justice, were made in the
spring oHthis year before interest had
been shown in politics. Later when
1t was not known which of the four
Republicans would receive the nonlin-
alton for United States senator more
complaints followed.
In the primary race Governor Cap
per was opposed by former Congress
man Charles F. Scott, Ex-Governor
Roscoe Stubs and ex-senator ]. l..
Brfstow. Altho he now charges mud
Singing it is interesting to observe
that no complaints of questionable acts
were made against any of his oppon-
ents.
Governor Capper has made no eff
fort to explain his reported friendship
to those of German Lutheran COM
munity whose school was painted yell
low by aggressive Americans. He has
made little or no attempt to explain
his attitude toward Germans who
sought to escape the purchase of lib
erty bonds. when he. by innuendo. ad-
vised them to show their loyalty by
giving to the Red Cross only.
What Primary Showed
1.-The fruits of Governor Capper's
efforts among certain classes of Ger
man Lutherans is shown by the pri-
mary vote in Washington county.
in Sheridan township in a precinct
where there Is located a German
Lutheran church. and where testimony
tivities. he received 81 votes against
80 of his three opponents combined.
"A precinct in Sherman township
of the same county where another
German school is located gave him a
still better vote. He received 129
against sc for Stubs, for Scott and
5 for Bristow.
I'm another German Lutheran set
Element in Strawberry township of the
same county. Governor Capper re-
ceived rs votes against the combined
vote of 81 of his three opponents
Stubs was foremost among the can
didates who sought the American
vote. The records show that he and
the governors two other opponents
divided the American vote. while Gov
ernor Capper obtained the German
vote.
I'm Sheridan township. Bristow who
was frankly opposing the Wilson ad-
ministration. received no votes In
Sherman township he received only
five. and in Strawberry township he