The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1893-03-08
The Senate Delivers an Opinion.

Ine o6naGe U6IlV6fS an Up1nl0ns
Under the head of original rt solutions,
Senator Landis introduced the following
resolution on February 2S, which was
adopted:
Resolved, That whereas we believe that at
the election held on November 8, 1893, the
electors voting at said election fairly and
honestly elected majority of the repre-
sentatives Of the legislature who were cam
dates upon the Populist ticket, but by
fraudulent, corrupt and illegal methods Of
certain township election officers, board of
Canvsssers, and the stste Oanvassing board,
certificates of election were unlswfully
issued to certain republican candidates
clearly not entitled thereto; and
Whereas, This senate, believing that the
will of the people as expressed at the ballot
box should be upheld, and that a msjority
Of the representatives honestly and fairly
elected by the qualified electors should be
entitled TO organize the house Of represent
stives, and that they did 80 by electing J.
M. Dunsmore as speaker and Ben G. Rich
as chief clerk, we therefore recognized said
house of representatives as the proper and
constitutional body with which this senate
should transact business pertaining to legis-
lation; and
Whereas, The three coordinate branches
of our state government are the executive,
the legislative and the judicial; each ssps-
rate from, independent of and in no way
answersble to the other, but the supreme
court Of this state in partisan decision
rendered by the two republican judges
thereof, have presumed to consider the
executive and legislative branches subordi-
nate toit, and have attempted to sustain
another organization presided over by
George L. Douglass, not reOogniz cd by the
senate or executive, and have inferenttally
declared that laws enacted by the senate,
the constitutional house of representatives,
and approved by the executive, will be held
by them to be invalid, thereby preventing
any needed legislation for the relief of our
people and the appropriations necessary for
the maintenance Of our state government,
and the support Of our educational, ohsrit-
able and penal institutions. While we
recognize the right Of said court to pass
upon the validity of and interpret the laws
so passed, we most emphstically deny the
authority Of said court to pass upon any
question pertaining to the organization of
either branch Of the legislature. We recog-
nize fully that there is no peaceful appeal
from such unwarranted decisions except to
refer them to the power that makes courts,
the people; and knowing that our constitu-
ents are peaCeable and order loving citizens,
we have determined to temporarily submit
to the unjust and arbitrary exercise of iu-
dicisl authority and remand the case back
to the people for their approval or rejection
of the said republican judges. Now there
fore be it
Resolved, That the secretary of Che senate
be instructed to message the bills, joint and
concurrent resolutions already passed or
that may hereafter be passed by Us to the
house Of representatives presided over by
George L. Douglass as speaker; and be it
further
Resolved, That we will do all in our
power to redeem our pledges to our ConsSit-
uents, and give them the legislation they
demand and so badly need, and should such
legislation fail we will let the blame rest
upon the persons responsible therefor, and
and place them before the bar of public
opinion.