People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-01-27
GOV. LEWELLING SPEAKS.

PuDllCdllOu Vic lOllON4uS III lOSNiN w
the organization of the Kansas house:
The unfair and decidedly partisan reports
that have gone TO the public concerning the IN
fortunate occurrences Of the past few days seem
to demand statement reciting the substantial
facts relative 10 the organization Of the house
OF representatives and the reasons which have
determined its recognition by the senate and by
the executive Since these events have trans
pired the Associated Press dispatches and the
editorial columns of the daily papers have been
filled with infammatory reports wholly lgnor-
ing the facts and seemingly designed purposly TO
deceive the people and to create public senti-
ment based entirely upon prejudice Concerted
action has also been taken through the various
instrumentalilies at the command Of the rep
representatives Of corporate power for the
holding Of a series OF indignation meetings
throughout the state with the same object in
view as in the unfair and one-sided dispatches
above referred to and the partisan editorials Of
the daily press 1t is significant fact that the
meetings thus far held in pursuance Of this pre-
arranged plan have been addressed by corpora
ton attorneys and that they also have with
held the facts Of which they can not reason
ably be supposed 10 be ignorant. All Of these
things have been done in advance Of any oppor-
tunity for statement Of the other side of the
case which must necessarily wait for the issue
OF the weekly papers representing the interests
OF the peoples party That the tremendous in
fuences thus brought 10 bear has had so little
effect outside Of the most servile elements OF
the republican party, and in the absence OF
anything to counterfeit il, speaks well for the
Intelligence and cOol.headed conservatism Of
the people, and it further demonstrates that
the republican press, which has shown Itself so
devoted to corporate and plutocratic interests,
has, in great measure, lost its power.
The facts relating TO the dual organization OF
the members OF the house may be briefly stated.
The pOpulst members held that the certificates
Of election had been issued by the late canvass
ing board TO men who had not been elected, and
withheld from men who had received clear ma
iorities at the polls. They held that the board
violated the law and transcribed all rules o.
fairness and decency by the method pursued iD
determining the contest in the reputed tie in
Cofey county. They held that representatives
had been elected who we're cOnstitutiOnally in
eligible TO membership in the legislature.
LAbl uIAh llhl Ullt III llDtI Adu UCCu NlFNAtO
who Is not even a citizen Of the state. They
held that the right Of these members to seats
ought first to be determined before they should
be permitted to participate in the proceedings
OF the house. especially as their admission &c
seats would give to the republican party an ad
vantage in the organization and in the cOnstitu.
ton Of the committees that by right OF law did
not belong 10 ii.
In support Of their claims they cite the
precedents established by the republican party
itself They cite the case Of the Maine legis.
lature, in which the supreme court passed upon
the constitutionality and the right of the repub
lican organization, Notwithstanding the oppo
site party had majority Of the certified mem
bers They cite the precedent of the Indiana
state senate in 1871, where the holder Of a Ger.
tihcate was denied the right to be sworn in and
participate in the organization OF that body
They cite the case Of the contest in Alablma
where the republican party had a majority OF
the certified members in both the house and
the senate, and where dual legislature was
organized In this case each of the Cd.
posing legislatures elected United
States senator. The contest in the
United States senate resulted in favor Of the
republican candidate, because it was shown
that the republican legislature had majority
Of the legally elected members, notwithstand.
ing the other legislature had majority Of the
members holding certificates of election. They
cite the precedent established bv the United
States house Of representatives, Of the Twenty
sixth congress, where il was decided that con
testing members should stand aside until the
organization Of the house was completed before
their cases should be considered and where
the justice OF this action afterward appeared
from the fact that holders of certificates Of
election were not entitled to seats
With all Of these presidents before them
and in view Of the fact that several of the Ger.
tihcates were manifestly in the hands of mer
who we're not entitled to hold them, the popu
list representatives insisted that the republican
party should not be given the advantage tina
would accrue to 1t by the seating Of men who
were entitled to no such right
The republican contingent insisted that Ger
thcates Of the canvassing board were prim;
facie evidence Of the right OF the holders to par
ticipate in the organization OF the house: and
without either law or precedent TO sustain
them, they refused TO entertain any uronosi
ton or compromise.
This was the state OF affairs when the mem
bers assembled for the purpose Of organization
When the secretary of state entered the hal
with the roll OF members, the republican mem
bers objected to his occupancy Of the chair. in
accordance with the usual custom. until n tenn
porary organization could be effected He there
iore'retired from the hall directing the members
assembled to notify him when they had effected
temporary organization and we're read, for
the roll OF members. Representative Semplt
then went forward to the speakers stand 70,
the purpose OF placing in nomination candi.
date for temporary chairman Representativ,
Cubbison also went forward and nominated
Representative Douglass as temporary chair
man OF the republican side of the house The
republicans then proceeded 10 effect perma
nent organization.
The populist members finding themselye;
absolutely ignored, and seeing a comnleta mr.
ganization effected in which they had no mart
proceeded to effect the organization of anotbe,
house. This being done, the question 70 bs do
Clueu was Wnlch OF these houses should be rec
ognized as the rightful house of representa-
lives; and, being personally satisfied that IN,
popullst house had majority Of the legal,
elected representatives, Notwithstanding m,
possession OF the majority Of certificates nv N,
opposite party, deemed it my duty TO recog
nize itas the house Representatives The san
ate is presumetto have been governed bv lil,,
considerations
such Is brief statement Of the facts and tbs
reasons which have governed the nonn,iS,
members Of the house and of the senate as wei
as oil the executive Every step that has beer
taken is sustained by law aud precedenr as
well as by the decision Of the courts reclaim, -
such precedents. The republican contingen,
has proceeded IN defiance of law. oontrarv :,
every precedent against the decision NJ N.
courts and in defiance OF the lecallv cor
stituted authorities Of the state. II Il we-
Tor moment granted that their claims Az
valid, still the only authoritg competent rnde,
the law TO pass upon them has decided acains,
them As law-abiding citizens, therefore n 4
their DUTY to submit to the decision ana /;
they oelleve an injustice has been done them
appeal 10 the higher court-the people Of N,
STATE; ANY other course places them in one,
rebellion against the legally constituted author
tues OF the state and renders them liable To m,
pehaltles IN such cases provi ded
luis my desire that there NAV be M furthe,
c9npncauon growing out Of this unfortunat,
anar; AT Inc same time it is my duty 10 Sc,