The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-30

political leader and former president
OF the club.
Democrats We're E1ayed.
With the lid off on all manner of
criticism of the common enemy-the
Democrat national administration
the seven speakers flayed the Bour-
bons for their sins and iniquities and
the crowd yelled until the dinner
plates ratified. Every phase of the
administration offenses-food substi-
tutes, aircraft troubles, the censor
ship. Thirty-fifth division casualties,
honora BILE discharges for conscientious
directors, the presidents junket
abroad-won a real response. No
matter how hard the speaker hit, the
crowd yelled for more.
If the spirit of an off year political
banquet means votes, Kansas Repub-
licans saved the nation. The crowd
fairly strained its eyes and ears, look
ing and listening for a chance to let
off steam and enthusiasm.
There was music-good music-and
plenty of it. There was food, a gen.
eral assortment, well cooked and of
apparently unlimited supply-even for
the second table stragglers who waited
in the halls and ante rooms for a
chance to eat.
There was oratory-a regular ocean
that surged ever the crowd and came
homeopathic doses. President Leather
wood talked bit longer than the
average club president: But Leather
wood has leather lungs and he saiG
things that caught the crowd and his
take was one of the features of the
program.
Indicted National Administration.
Then-last on the program-came
Senator Watson. It was the Gentle
Ixyb 9 fe6
to lift tho l.ide and fur off the Demo-
crat administration in Washington
And if anyone went home disappoint-
ed, they went to the banquet expect
ing nothing less than mayhem and
manslaughter.
Kansans thought they had heard
something of the sins of the Demo
Gratis. But Kansas Republicans had
seemingly heard only rumors and
mutterings. Senator Watson came
with the books and the records and
the closing argument on behalf of the
state. With an oratorical display that
has won him a place among the SEN
ate leaders in Washington and a
strong following as a presidential pos
sibility. Senator Watson gave to Kan
sas Republicans an indictment of the
national administration such as the
state had not heard.
Quoting from records of senate in
vestigations, quoting from contradic-
tory statements of the president and
bitterly criticising the president for
his trip abroad, Senator Watson's in
dictment was fresh meat to wild ami
mails. The applause which followed
each f1aying of the Democrats, left
no doubt as to the temper of the Kan
sas crowd. The crowd had gone to
the banquet to see the Democrats
eaten alive. And the senator from the
Hoosier state performed to the salts
faction of the 500 banqueters. 1t was
a straight from the shoulder, solemn,
serious and bitter faying, admins
tered with such force and earnestness
that the speech will probably stand
for many years as one of the most ef-
fective speeches before the official Re-
publican dinner club of the state.
Misty League of Nations.
at is impossible" Senator Watson
said, ito discuss any definite PROPOSE
ton for a league of nations-for it
has not been defined. The president
has not told US what it is or how it is
to be composed or with what power
it shall be clothed.
Like most of his fourteen points.