The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-23
Bourbon State Convention
Writes a Mild Platform.
Every Delegate Tried to Get
Into Midst of Scrap.
SLAP At INDUSTRIAL COURT
Real Oratory Breaks Out in
Discussion of Candidates.
Many Strong Men and Women
Recommended for Office.

Kansas Democrats fought all day
Wednesday and sang harmony half of
the night The Bourbon state con-
vention neither went ahead nor ran
away. 1t recommended to the primary
voters everyone with aslight desire to
run for office Then it wrote ten
tative state platform that wasn't
nearly as rough as advance notices
indicated. 1t ferociously kicked the
industrial court, and mildly offered
something just as good in a board of
arbitration.
There wasn't a delegate in the audi
tUrium who didn't try tos get into the
midst of Wednesdays fighting. Then
in the spirit of mourners they snuggled
up close 10 the speakers table at the
annual banquet and absorbed the ora
IOrical inspiration for the campaign.
Col Leigh Hunt may incidentally
send a little card to Jonathan NJ. DAVIS
of Bronson, expressing his feeling for
loss of the gubernatorial endorsement.
1t was Davis who made the convention
hall look spooky and held out buga-
boos which resulted in the convention
submitting a long list of perfectly good
and honorable men who might fill Of
flee with grace and credit rather than
giVtSg direct endorsement of a candi
date as provided under the call Incl
dentally the play gave Davis himself
place on the favorite list for governor
with Col. Hunt and Henderson S.
Martin.
Saved From Defeat.
The Davis F'ight-backed by sup
porters of Martin-saved the Law
renee man from defeat in the conven-
tion. apparently. The Martin crowd
spent the day throwing new qualms
and fears in the camps of Col Hunts
followers. Sometimes there was
near panic when a speaker mentioned
that if the delegates really dared do
something it might not be safe to go
home after dark.
Fear didn't control the delegates
merely in the matter of seeking to re-
store lost organization and put
state ticket in the field. Teeth chat
tered as the delegates stepped gingerly
around the hall and sidestepped any
direct move at knockout of the in
dustrial court. The resolutions COM
mittee had voted eight to seven to
ignor court mention. But W. H. Car
penter of Marion brought in a minor
ity report. 1t was for repeal of the
present court. but substitution of
board of mediation and arbitration
elected by the pee-pul-to settle indus
trial disputes. After much hard fight
ing and much lodging and sidestep-
ping the convention voted two to one
Tor the Carpenter plan.
Some Real OratOry.
Real oratory broke out when the
convention considered actually recon-
mcnding a few candidates. A good
many delegates wanted to, rush right
out in the rain and catch the first
train back home. Sam Amidon OF
Wichita, w. NJ Price of Emporia,
Robert w. Blair of Topeka and Judge
A NJ. Jackson of Winfield told the
delegates to be calm and either pro-
ceed under their call or adjourn.
Ion
into a courageous fervor and voted to
recommend at least three persons for
each state office-with the stipulation
that such course wouldn't invade the
rights of anyone who might want to
get in later on their own motion.
Delegate accepted with good cheer
a proposal for a statewide rally at
hutchinson May ;. A proposal came
before the convention not to do any
thing until the Hutchinson meeting.
But the convention held tight and de-
cided there really wasn't much to do
ANYHOW and it might as well be done
now. So the delegates proceeded-in
spite of the fact the Republicans were
looking.
The main feature of the convention
proposals for office was the fact that
Davis of Bourbon found a place on
the list To be sure Davis said he
didn't think he would be candidate
having been the nominee two years
ago-but a convention endorsement is
a convenient thing and Davis accept
ed the o. X. in approval of his days
work. He had saved Henderson Mar
tin from probable defeat and the Mar
tin crowd wasn't lacking IN apprecia-
tion.
List of Candidates.
Many Strong men and women were
recommended for state office-but
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