The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-28
Political Party Councils Serene
and Courteous.
Stern Plans To Harvest Vote
Crop in November.
HEAVE BRICKS At DEMOCRATS
Republicans Just Couldn't Re-
frain From Doing 1t.
and BOurbOns Said Something
About State Matters.

For the first time since the adop-
ton of the statewide primary law,
three political parties came to Topeka,
selected campaign managers, wrote
platforms and refused to kick up a
row 1t was the most serene. inof-
fcnsive. gentlemanly and courteous
set of political gatherings Kansas has
known. Each party operated it's ma
ckinery without friction and a score
of bitter rows of yesterday were hid
den from public view while the or
ganizers laid plan to harvest a vote
crop in November.
Perhaps the dominant feature of
the days meetings was the total abb
sence of trouble. There was neither
trouble nor evidence of trouble. Bat
tie Scared warriors who in former
days would have cheerfully travelled
across the state for a chance at their
enemies on the floor of a party meet
ing. came to town with peace speeches
and olive branches in both hands.
Many new faces were in the Republic
can committee meeting and council.
tn Democrats. however, came with
the crowd which has been familiar in
Bourbon meetings since that glad day
IN November, 1912.
To be sure the Republicans object
ca to democrat methods of conduct
ing the war and threw bricks at the
slogan OF two years ago. Quite nat
uraIy the Democrats jumped on Gov
ernor Capper's administration with
Doth feet and lc7ther lunged orators
TAXED rerVently and earnestly of the
glories Of the Wilson rule in Washing
ton- But no one started a fight with
III the ranks. The standpatters didn't
make faces at the progressives in the
republic meeting and the Demo-
Gratis spent an entire day in Topeka
. IN
the Thompson re All of Witch
broke all former local and long dis.
lance political cords in Kansas
Republican War Stand.
IN their party council the Republi-
cans TOOK straight from the shoulder.
SUR ana earnest war stand. They de-
CARED Tor no truce without victory.
rudely abused the Democrats for prac-
uclng deception in theiC kept us out
OF war" slogan of 1912. War profiteer-
ing was branded as treason and prison
sentences were urged for profiteers.
Criticism was hurled at the national
administration for fixing the price of
wheat and ignoring cotton. National
prohibition and suffrage were en-
dorsed. mob violence condemned, pro
lection and reciprocity reaffairmed
and the state administration praised.
A short legislative session was
urged with the passage of wartime
and appropriation measures and early
adjournment. A plank favored by tho
League to Enforce Peace was in.
jected.
Harvey H. Motter of Mcpherson was
elected state chairman without oppo-
sition, while R. N. Montgomery of
OsWego was named as secretary. D.
w Hanna of Salina was elected treas
urer of the state committee. Motter
said he would spend eighteen hours
day on the job and headquarters
would OnAned a OnPa
Both the state committee and party
council ran according to advance dope.
Richard ]. Hopkins of Garden City
was chairman of the council, with
rotary, and Walter l.. Payne. state
treasurer. and Mrs. Minnie Grinstead
of Liberal. assistant secretary. Homer
Hoch of Marion was chairman of the
resolutions committee which drafted
the platform. Serving with Hoch on
the committee were: Gov. Arthur
Capper. Senator James A. Plumb, EN-
poria; Fred W. Sturges, jr., Concordia;
George T. Smith, Marysville; H. H.
Motter, Mcpherson; Richard J. Hop
kins. Garden City; Frank Merrill,
Paola; John o. Rogers, Mankato; j.
H. Stewart, Wichita; John c. Mack,
Newton: c. A. Mcneil, Columbus; w.
A Disch. Parsons: W. P. Lambertson,
Fairyiew: Mrs Minnie Grinstead, Lib
eral; H. H. Rogers, Larned.
Sing Praises OF Wilson.
Kansas Democrats never stopped in
singing the praises of the Wilson adj
ministration. At times it appeared that
might forget to lambast Governor
Capper and his four years adninistra-
ton. But the men who keep the
books in politics helped write the plat
form and the work at the state house
was duly and severely criticised and
condemned.
Aside from the glowing endorsement
which was given the president and the
war program, pledged assistance in
aiding returning soldiers and con-
demned the state administration for
not aiding in the work; urged federal
control of packing houses, took a swat
, at the profiteer, demanded continued
government control of transportation
following the war, urged universal
eight hour days. abolition of useless
state offices, opposition TO land mon
opoly and read1ustment of labor condi-
tons after the war. Then the Dem
oerats made trip to the cemetery and
returned with the 1. r. and R.-initia-
tive. referendum and reca1l-skeleton
of the legislative wars of eight years
ago.
E. E. Murphy was unanimously
elected chairman of the Democrat
state committee. The Leavenworth
man was placed at the head of the
state committee over his protest. But
he will serve and will open headquar-
tiers next week. Albert Jones, private
secretary to Senator Thompson, is sec
rotary of the committee.
CONGRESSMAN Jouett Shouse of the
Seventh district, was chairman OF the
council, with Frank Whitney of Tope-
ka secretary. The platform was writ
ten by the following committee: w. G
Isansdon, Salina: E. z. Murphy, Leay-
euworth Henderson S. Martin, Law
renee: Ben S. Gaitskill, Girard: W. H
Carpenter, Marion; Elmer Dye Mar,
ron: Jouett Shouse, Kinsley; E. T
Hackney, wellington; Sam B. Amidon
wichita; and c. E. Pyle. Parsons.
Socialists Plan Newspaper.
In an effort to spread their doctrine
and reach the voters. Kansas Socialist
MANNED establish. ent of a statewide
IN Snite of government or