The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-08

ton have recently been called before
their home county conventions for
pledges as to universal training and
candidates supporting such policies
Out in Reno county, w. Y. Morgan,
head of the Wood organiZati ton in the
Seventh district, was called upon for
a testimonial following expressions of
hostility to military training. In Sa-
line county. W. w. Watson-head of
the first Wood-forP President club
was called before the convention for
an expression. He declared he would
go to the convention with an open
mind and without pledges and was OPP
posed to militarism.
This action was followed by express
sions in the Jackson and Jefferson
county conventions in the First dis
trict Cloud and Clay counties, in the
Fifth district, elected delegates OPP
posed to universal training. EXPIRES
sions of party leaders from Riley and
Geary counties forecast similar action
in their conventions The Fifth dis
trict sentiment is regarded as espe-
cially significant in view of General
Woods personal popularity and ac-
quaintances and the fact that Camp
Funston and Fort Riley are located in
the district.
First Test in This District.
The First district is now slated to
be the battle ground for the first gen.
eral test of strength in the fight which
has so suddenly developed in Kansas.
Personal elements and associations
may be eliminated in the Pomeroy-
Roberts-Brow fight for the two
places on the district delegation. Sem
ator Frank Pomeroy of Jackson coun-
" and Frank Roberts of jefferson
openly oppose universal training and
such sentiment is reflected in the ac-
ton of their home conventions. Ma
jor Charles H Browne is listed as
both for General Wood and universal
training
Thus the issue before the district
CONFERENCE.-The first held in the state
will not be concerned, with personal
friendships of the candidates, but
with military training policies. Five
of the eight counties in the district
Shawnee, Atchison, Leavenworth.
Jackson and Jefferson-have elected
delegates. These delegates control a
big ajority of the voting power OF
the convention With selection of the
Leavenworth delegation Saturday
said to favor Pomeroy and Roberts by
safe majority-the Pomeroy-Rob-
erts following claims the district. They
have solid home delegations with SONG
or safe majority support m the dom-
nant counties of Shawnee, Atchison
and Leavenworth.
See Trouble at State Meet.
New sidelights on the situation are
developing in view of the tendency
of various counties to adopt resolu-
tons praising the stand of Senators
Curtis and Capper and the eight
Kansas congressman on military
policies. The courteous compliment
TO members of the Kansas delegation
to congress is interpreted as soft
spoken rebuke of any form OF uni
versal training presented as an issue
in the presidential campaign.
Less than three months ago NUM-
Der of party leaders reluctantly waived
plans to seek Wood instructions after
consultations with Governor Allen and
other Republican chieftains. Ihe
question of a free delegation in Chi
cago is no longer an issue. Now some
of the wise, far-seeing leaders of the
party anticipate trouble in keeping the
state conventions mind off universal
training In any form.
That the party leadership is scent
ling trouble in the coming campaign,
lis indicated not only in action OF local
conventions, but in expressions of the
Republican chieftains. william Allen
white is among the first of the promi-
hent editors to point the way to the
hew trouble zone. White is practically
certain of a place on the Fourth dis
{rict delegation. He is for Allen for
president But leaders believed his
Second choice would be Wood or
johnson.
White Warns His Party.
In an editorial in his Emporia
Gazette under the caption, stop,
Lbok, Listen!" White warns the Re
publican party that victory in Novem-
b4r is an immortal cinch" if And
h9re White notifies the party that the
must be considered Following is the
warning which he has issued to the
pa rty:
The Republican party seems to have an
>imt mortal cinch on the next presidential
the west today holds the balance of power.
And the west has decided opinions upon
a few subjects. 1t is against military
it wants to be sure that the Republican
candidate is not in favor of military
policy. Let the Republican party defeat
the League of Nations: let 1t declare either
in congress the party platform for COM
pulsory military training. and then let 1t
name a military man for president, and
Gratis will come around with another pacl-
fist plea; they will say that they. offered
that their congressional majority. declared
against universal, compulsory military
that this is cream puff world where only
the naughy boys fight. The Republicans
can talk the Democrats down on any two
of these points. But gentlemen who favor
the nomination Of Leonard Wood must be
dead sure that the League of Nations is
adopted in some shape, or the situation IS
hopeless. For we can't talk them down In
all three points. We can take Wood and
either two, or we can take either two and
drop one. But three is crowd! And il
the Republican party should meet a Demo-
cratic declaration for light wines and
beers" with Republican straddle on pro-
hibition-the jig would be up.
Nothing on earth can beat the Republic
can party-but the Republican party. And
usually we have the stupidity OF the Demo
Gratis to help us. But this year we have our
position menacing rs.
These are dangerous hours,
BIRTHS REPORTED