Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-01-28
THE GOVERNORSHIP.
Are You a Doodle Bug or Man?
Smoky Hill Criticises the Reporters
Editorial No 2.
s'smoky HIP in Ellsworth Democrat.

''smeky HIP in Ellsworth Democrat.
The ostrich is. a bird which has the
funny habit when in danger OF sticking
its head into the sand, .vainly imagining
that it is securely hidden, notwithstand-
ing the fact, that it's posterior is disrepr-
tably exposed.
In its first editorial attacking Hon. A.
w. Smith, the senior tumble bug OF the
Reforter stuck its head way down In the
dirt, and the mutual admiration society
OF doodle bugs which crawl on their bel
lies in the Reporter Office cried with one
voice, our senior is so deftly hidden that
the farmers of Ellsworth county will
never discover what be is up to, until it is
too late. But one old doodle bug, wiser
than the rest. observed, yes his head is in
the dirt, but the biggest end is exposed
in good shape.
Read carefully this second editorial. 1t
is plain that the Refoytey is angry because
of the bill 295, which bill reduced the
amount of aid which could be voted rail
roads from 81 600 to 81, 600 per mile. The
bill also requires railroad companies seek
ing aid to pay all the expenses of holding
the election. The Reporter charges that
the passage of this bill ives the result of a
foul conspiracy between the Santa Fe
railway company and Mr.. Smith, for the
purpose of injuring the other railroads of
the state. To the eye of tumble bug
with his head in the dirt everything looks
dirty, he can only reason from a dirt
standpoint. The half concealed creature
of a railroad company sees nothing but
rival railroads. It has never occurred to
our senior tumble bug, that there is such
a thing as old fashioned honesty, that
men who really represented the people
had anything to do with the passage of
bill 295. But they had all the same. An
ostrich with his head buried in the sand
cannot see that the Reporter proves too
much. But men can. The issue on bill
295 if truly stated by the Reporter was one
between the Santa Fe railway company
and all the other railroads in the state
both born and unborn. According to the
Reporter the people of Kansas were not
in the fight at ALL But they were, and
the real representatives of the people, aid
ed by the speaker of the house, won
victory for the people and
passed bill 295. The Reporters editorial
demonstrates as plain as 2 and max 4,
that the real opposition to Mr.. Smith is
opposition, and the first step OF
the effort which will be made in the inter-
est of Spectators and schemers and
against the interests of the people, wheth-
or they live in city or on farm, to re-
peal bill 295 and raise the limits of rail-
road aid to $4,000 per mile.
Reader, amt the other end of the
Iiofin 1u oil 1ac
Now, Smoky passed last winter in To-
peka. He reported the proceeding of the
House. He knows those proceedings full
ly; what may have taken place out of the
house in private he knows not. But he
does know the current talk of the day.
He never heard during the session of the
house anything which indicated that the
Santa Fe company was supporting bill
295. So far as the debates in the house,
or the talk on the streets indicated any
thing, the contest was straight fight by
the people, through their representatives,
against all the railway companies of the
state, and the people won, and the Report
ey is mad aboutit.
The question of railroad aid came up in
the House in this manner: Representa-
tive Matlock, of Harvey county, introduce
ed bill number 81; it had been prepared
by member of the board of railway COM
missioners. That board in its report had
the absolute repeal of laws
permitting railroad aid. Governor Mar
tin, in his message, made the same recon-
Bill 81, therefore, repealed all
the railroad aid laws. This had strong
support; the farmers in the house were in
oe T., fhoI HI
up for debate in the committee of the
whole house, it was thought that it might
tail to pass the committee; to meet this
it was moved and carried that
bill 295 be considered with bill "a. The
debate was an exciting one and occupied
two days. The Reporter says the issue
was one between the eastern and western
divisions of the state; that is not true. I
give below the names and counties of
every representative who participated in
the debate. For passage of bill 81: Mat
lock, of Harvey county; Sherman, of
Chambers, of Sheridan; Nc
Call, of Cloud: Leach, of Rocks; Bond, Of
Rice; Brown, of Coffey; Admire, of Usage
Against bill 81: Taylor, of Reno; McNeaL
Of Barbour; Haun, of Hodgeman; Hurd,
If Leavenworth; Currier, of Bourbon;
Price, of Clark; Tilton, of Trego; Bolmar,
If Shawnee; Eaton, of Cowley, and Skin
1er, of Smith. Smoky has the report of
hat debate before him.
During the progress of the debate the
railway companies became alarmed lest
he Matlock bill should pass, and their
allies in the house fastened to pledge
themselves that if the Matlock bill "a
we're killed, they would aid in passing bill
.95. This argument had its weight; Mat
ock's bill was killed in thecommittee by a
,ote of 80 to %. Bill 295 as compromise
,ill then passed the committee by vote
If 70 to 30, and subsequently became q
aw, for which Smoky as well as tax |
idden people are grateful. The past
summer has demonstrated to the people |
# this county that they can get all the
they want at 81, 600 per mile.
L d.