The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-02-15
A BLEATING DEMAGO0UE

d BLEATING DEMAGOGUE.
There are about hall a dozen "smaEt
Alecs" aud roaring cayote statesmen who
went to the legislature this win
ter with the idea that they
carried the state on their shoul-
ders, and that there WAS to be gen.
eral upheaval Of things this session in
consequence Of their presence at Tope-
ka. When the session opened it was diff
hcult for them to explain how, in the
workings Of an inscrutible providence,
they had been brought % eondescend to
mingle. the fulminatioaso Of their pure and
giant minds with the impure and com
mon place Affairs Of the earthly beings
with whom they are called upon 10
mingle. Disappointment has met them.
Their schemes have melted away, and
they are soured. They found eleven
awful fools on the jury. One went there
to break up the Republican party. and
landed in back seat on an unimportant
committee. Another had spite against
some railroad official who had failed TO
appreciate his wonderful impor-
lance, and his mission was
to crush the railroads and
get sweet revenge on said magnate.
This Is his howl, as copied from the
Kansas City Journals special from To-
peka. "There have been several insln-
uating references in the house 10 'trans-
actions between railroads and newspa-
pers, aud railroads and members. The
last number of the Register, of Enter
prise, Kansas, contains letter signed
by Mr.. G. II. Hoffman, member from
Dickinson, in which occur the follow
ing statements:
"The railroads have bought every
daily paper in the state Of Kansas and
Kansas City, except the Leavenworth
| Standard. These papers make q show
of favoring good railroad legislation,
but in order to mislead and hoodwink
the people, indorse the Kelley bill
which they know is mere makeshift
But with a remarkable unanimity, they
| all oppose the house BILL"
Since the voice Of the people cannot
be heard through the press on this
| question, VIC must get the voice and SEN
timent direct from the people them
selves"
"Thc press is subsidized, and YOU
voice or cause cannot get fair hearing
through it,"
This language is the resort OF a small
demsgogue when he has run out o
argument to sustain himself and &C
count for his failure 10 his constituents
We advocated the Kelley bill, and hay
only 10 say that we have as yet to SCI
any reason to change our views
The statements of Mr.. Hoffman
are entirely false so far a
this paper Is concerned. We hav
not opposed the house bill, because W
do not know what its provisions are
We have known General Kelley 70
twenty years, and know him to be IN
purchasable by the railroads. We be
lIeVe he has more sense and honesiy i
his little finger than this fellow, Hof
man, has in his Uranium. We were RI
! liably informed that the bill was draw
on his farm, unInfluenced by anybody
We know it was copied alter the low
law which had been tried and had give
satisfaction in Iowa. We believed if
worked we'll there 1t would in Kansas
Further, we believed its passage VA
the sure way to at least inaugurate
system of railroad legislation whicI
might be perfected hereafter. We ma
say we have no confidence IN any system
that may be suggested by such fellow
as this Hoffman rep csents. The
would make law that would defeat il
self, Just as the first law did which Wa
made by the incapable and impractibl
members of the Iowa legislature. w
saw a statement the other day in an il
fluential paper that Hoffman was eI
deavoring to shape railroad legislatio
to benefit a mill he owns in Dickiuso
county. We have an idea that such a
attempt is just about the size of his il
tellect and craftsmanship. The charg
against him is at least as true as that b
makes against the newspapers.
This paper has been for five or 81
years advocating some measure thi
would put stop to railroad abuses.
, proposes to keep up the work till reli
is afforded. 1t will not be disturbed !
, such demagogues as Hoffman, or b
: kindred yelpers. II believes that wha
:. ever Is done should be done wisel!
There should be no legislation for mer
personal :politicali capital, or to gratii
personal spites. Hoffman may howl f
the ears of his constituents, but we b
4 lieve the Kelly hill to be the sount
q est one we have yet see
q and those who are really in favor of r,
4 stricling the railroads by fair and hoI
v orable legislation, should see that tn
a or some other good bill shall not be
o feated by the efforts of cranks who wou
rather see all legislation fail than be d
feated IN their miserable little one-id
d schemes. Ifthe senate bill Is lame,
q it may be in some particulars, amend
O and pass it. Do not, above all thing
If permit the session TO close without
N good sound railroad law.
a The following from the AtchisC
# Champion is TO the point:
e speaking generally upon this subjeC
however, the Champion thinks the lie
islature would do well not TO travel
strange and unknown paths. 1t would
10 far better, in our Judgment, to try las
u for the regulation of railways that hav
f. been tried, and proven measurab
Ia successful. in other states. Sever
of these laws have run the gauntlet
y practical experience and legal contr
II versy, and appear 10 have met the d
E. mands of the people and secured d
4 approval of the courts. What is want
Is law that will secure justice for q
people, do justice to the railroads, Al
stand the test OF legal controversy ]
ne following the precedents of other statl
l. and profiting by their experience. d
legislature will he much more likely
10 secure an efficient law than It will
10 venturiDg upon an unknown sea, who
IL depths are unsounded and whose storT
~ are unknown"
4 INGALLS, TO THE FRONT.