The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-10-18

WICHITA AND THE LEGISLATURE.

WlCdlSA AND THE LEGISLATURE.
The fusion party has again demonstrated
that Wichita cannot look to it for any
thing practical in the way of legislation.
1t commenced by resolving in the Peo-
pies party convention in favor of the abor-
tive maximum rate" bill of the last legis-
lature-a bill now conceded to have been
drafted 10 the interest of Kansas City. Mo-.
and which would have been fatal blow
TO the largest business interests of Wich-
ita. Yet this bill is the only thing prom
lsed US by the fusion outfit in the way OF
state legislation upon this question.
So far as congressional legislation is con-
cerned they have made certain that-if
they are successful-nothing will be done.
Their platform demands no congressional
action whatever; and. TO insure that moth
ing is done in this direction for the benefit
Of Wichita, they have nominated
Colonel w A. Harris from under the
very shadow of the Kansas City, Mo-, com
bine) who would naturally oppose any
change for our benefit, and no common
sense man expects any effort from him in
this direction.
And now comes the fusion committee in
Mr.. Douglass for state legislature, Colonel
r. T. Bean who, like Colonel Harris, is
also an ex-Confederate officer. But it
seems that Colonel Bean has never had
his political disabilities removed, aud is
therefore prohibited from holding office
by the following provisions Of the state
constitutions:
No person who has ever voluntarily
borne arms against the government OF the
United States, or in any manner volun-
tarily aided or abetted in the at
tempted overthrow of said govern
ment shall be qualified to vote
or hold Office in this state until
such disability shall be removed by a law
passed by vote of two-thirds of all the
members Of both branches of the legisla-
ture." Art. 5. sec. g
This provision would absolutely prevent
member of the house until after the
legislature had met. organized and, in the
course OF time, had passed by a two-thirds
vote of both houses special act to remove
his disabilities. II such an act should be
passed and be signed by the governor and
duly published, Colonel Bean would then
be entitled to take his seat; but not till
then.
This would leave Wichita in a pretty
fix! The thing of first and vital impor-
tance in legislation is the organization OF
the house aud its committees. With rep
rssentative elected who was disqualified
from taking his seat, Wichita would have
neither vote nor influence in the election
of speaker or in the organization OF
committees. The speaker would be chosen
and the committees all set up without any
reference whatever to her interests, while
the gallant colonel was cooling his heels
in the lobby! In course of time bill
might be prepared to allow him to take his
seat. Probably it would be done some
time during the session. But, meanwhile,
a large part of the battle in which Wichita
is so vitality interested would have been |
fought and decided, and Wichita would |
not be Gin it" at all.
This is very good illustration |
of how little reliance the people |
of Wichita can place in tho practical
Of the fusion managers. Having, |
by the nomination of w. A. Harris abso- |
lutely assured US that, in the event OF his |
election, nothing will be done for our re-
lief in congress; they now nominate
in the legislature for |
with no absolute assurance that
he could take his seat at all and with The
knowledge that he could certainly not
Jake il. until after a large part of our
battle had been fought and probably lost!
On the other hand, the Republicans
proposes to send to congress, from the
state at large, George T. Anthony specially
instructed to get the Interstate law
amended in the interest of fair play for
Kansas; and the Wichita Republicans
propose to send to the legislature George
L. Douglas who more than any other man
n that body-has brought to the front
and urged upon attention the demands of
Dur people
The EAGLE makes 30 unfriendly criticism
whatever of Colonel Bean as gentleman
md a citizen without reproach. But in
1iew of the facts stated. it is evident that
he fusionists are either trifiing with the
most serious business interests of Wichita,
Or that-having no expectation of defeating
are merely seeking to pre-
vent him from getting unanimous vote
SEPUBCBLICAN MEETING AT ANDALE |