The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-12
BY L. c. EARNEST.

BYL c. EARNEST.
s Louis Mo. Feb. 12.-When the
drift toward Wills H. HAYS for ma
1ional chairman of the Republican
party became more pronounced at
moon today. his hackers came out pub
1icly for the first time and claimed MS
Election without opposition.
Joseph Healing of Indianapolis. de-
pended upon to swing the southern
vote away from John t. Adams OF
Iowa. said: 1T is absolutely certain
Hays will be made chairman and prob
ably by reclamation.
a "Others have been mentioned " said
Kealing but the committeeman have
been shown no good reason why Hays
with his position in a strategic state
6Indiapa) and his proven ability
Should not be the choice. | believe
no other name will be presented TO the
committee this afternoon
Kansas Man Mentioned.
: Indications that some of Adams's
,etrength was dropping away were seen
in the outcropping of the numerous
possibilities for compromise canal
sdates Among those mentioned were
Senator Frank kellogg, of Minnesota;
cred STANLEY. of Kansas. and Fred
Sterling of IllinGis-
The executive committee TO-DAY
ruled that Jesse I4ittleton. OF Nash-
VILE. should be seated as commlttee-
cf Chattanooga This action Is not
final. but must be passed upon py the
national committee.
3 st. Louis. Mo-, Feb. l2.-Dawh U.
sincoln's birthday found the national
committee of Lincoln's party lace TO
face with a bitter struggle.
After two days of earnest epdeaVor
ID unite, on a candidate for chairman
accentable TO ALI elements of the
s,ar-ty II seemed almost certain TO-DAY
that the supporters of John T. ADAMS
of Iowa and the faction opposed 10
him must carry their pdttles " 'i
Committee floor
In the small hours Of the morning
h was announced at Adamss head
t,uarters that Adams positively Will pc
q andi late when the committee meets
4h,s afternoon. There were predlc-
lions, however. that he would with
draw at the last moment because Of an
attack upon his Americanism
Opposing Adams will be VIII II.
Hays of Indiana unless there Is SUD
den shift in the plans of the anti
Adams contingent.
Written After War Broke in Europe.
a letter written by Adams during
r tour of Germany three months after
the outbreak of the European war was
read before the party's executive com
mi tee ate yesterday by Senator Cal
l1dams members of the committee say,
mat Adams entertained at that time
= friendly sentiment toward Germany.
The letter threw the national COM
1nittee into confusion. The restraint
that had marked the deliberations of
the committeeman up to that time
-vas swept away in a moment. The
last hope of harmony was dispelled.
Adams and his hackers withdrew at
once to their headquarters and did
mot attend the joint conference of the
national and advisory committee that
Followed the executive committee
meeting. AS a result. the conference
developed a distinct Hays atmosphere.
j After being closeted with his ad-
Visers several hours, Adams voiced de-
Glance TO his opponents in a statement
defending his Americanism. II
charged George w. Perkins with re-
ssponsibility for bringing out the let
ter and declared Adams had personal
knowledge that the Circulation OF
the attack" had been planned three
weeks ago. d
Defends His Americanism.
las the descendant of nine genera
tions of New England stock, and with
out a drop of German blood in my
veins" the statement read, Il have
not and could not have the slightest
sympathy for any nation as against
the United States or any nation with
tWh1ch the interests or welfare OF the
United States are allied"
With these Developments it be
came known that repeated attempt:
had been made by various leaders tC
persuade Adams to withdraw. 1t wa:
not the intention of the anti-Adam.
element to use the letter except a,
. last resort. Convinced, they said
that Adams would be unable to unite
the party it was booted out
. Use of the letter, these men pointed
out, was justified by the fact that il
the events of Adamss election it NIGH
logically have become poten
weapon in the hands of the Demo
Gratis
Both sides Still Confident.
Adams's friends are exceedingl,
bitter over what they claim were un
warranted tactics. They reviewed
Adamss record as proof that he hat
: done more than the average Ameri
can in support of the war and pre-
t1icted that his friends in the part,