The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-02
"First and Last and No Second
Choice''-W. A. White.
EmpOrian Wastes No Time in
His Announcement.
HE LET'S IT OUT OF BAG
Formal Blare of Trumpets Was
Scheduled Later.
Wood Organization Held Up
Awaiting the Decision.

Henry Allen for president - first
and last. And no second choice"
That was the opening announcement
of a Kansas boom for Gov. Henry ].
Allen for the presidency which was
pronounced in Topeka this afternoon
by William Allen White. of Emporia,
1t was strictly informal, matter of
fact push which the Emporia author
editor politician gave to Governor AL
lens candidacy as he boosted the Kan
sas executives hat into the ring But
1t is to stick. And around the BOOM
let which White launched a shouting
delegation of Kansans will be gathered
to give the boom national Importance
and strength.
presidential fight has been known in
Kansas, political circles for sometime.
1t has been plan which state ad-
mfnistration followers were carefully
framing. The boom was scheduled
to be launched in a somewhat formal
manner sometime later-possibly dur
ing or just following the special ses-
sion of the state legislature. But
White frankly and candidly put Alle..
into the list of presidential possibili-
ties as he stood in the crowded Harvey
house this Afternoon and munched a
slice of mince pie.
Gesture With Pic.
In something less than five minutes
today White ate a dime lunch and
started a boost for a presidential can
didate. Whites declaration was sim
pie, frank and earnest. 1t carried no
frills. There was no glittering state
ments of policies and no waving of
the flag-only a mild gesture with
the piece of mince pie.
Where do you propose to lineup
on the presidential program ?" White
was asked as he furtively looked
around the railway eating honse and
met no success in a search for a seat
Gimme a piece of the mince pie
yes. I'll stand right here and eat it,
and White took the slab and helped
himself to a generous bite.
THE presidential list continued
the interviewer.
Henry Allen first and last. And
no second choice" exclaimed White
as he articulated thru a face filled
with pie and made a slight gesture
which in the Republican convention
next June ought to mean something
son." and a lot of other things that
could fit nicely into nominating or a
caucus speech.
But it was the presidential boom let
out of the bag. And White with frank
e. candor and without ceremonies had
started the thing right off on a smooth
track.
Friends of Governor Allen have re
Gently held several meetings in which
the presidential situation was dis
cussed. No definite announcement OF
plans were made by the governor, II
is stated. But his friends had gone
over the situation, had counted noses
marked time and looked for just the
proper moment when a formal boom
would be launched for the governor
for the presidency-the first real, live
honest to goodness Kansas presidential
possibility who looked like a going
concern.
And then Old Bill White of Empory
spilled it all as he ate mere pie. His
short statement covered it all. White
was out for Allen without compro-
mise. And that means that the Allen
organization of a year ago is out on
the same track-with a big bunch ot
additional followers who probably
didn't avail themselves of the oppor-
tunity to take a seat in the band wag-
on in August, 1913.
Sidetrack Wood Boom
Some time ago the Wood for president
movement showed a sudden tendency
to apply the air. 1t wasn't because
the popular war chieftain wasn't JUS
as popular in Kansas as before. Il
was merely because the coal receiver
ship and developments generally hac
turned thousands of eyes toward Kan
sas and Henry J. Allen was looming
up in the newspaper and magazine
uope sneetS as one oA Ihe PAODe-NiS
dark horses before the next .nationa
convention.
In view of these things. party lead
ers hesitated to push a movement
which might cause future embarrass-
ment They didn't want to go or
record and perfect an organization
which might be required to go out OF
business because Kansas was behind
a favorite son. So the Wood move
ment spent a little time on the house
track while leaders planned for the
most auspicious launching of the Aller
boom.
Now William Allen White has
started the whole thing moving
under an ALLEN all the time and nc
second choice" slogan.
nuIIn EAAV CAVE Linn