The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1893-03-17
re hardly entitled to a high need Of

eIS niTCiy SHtitfcu w :" arg" AAAOS~ ~
praise.
After spending forty.Ave days, at
s. per day, in a proftle-s wrangle over
the question rs to which party should
organize the house and elect its officers,
it would seem that even minimum
degree II pubic spirit would have
prompted them to remain "a few days
without pay when tie opportunity
came to rende- substantial service To
the people who h;ld honored them.
The result of the session is bitter
disappointment to the people Of the
state, regardless of politics. The
only class who Can look upon the
work of the Legislature with equanim-
ity are the railroad companies. Affairs
could hardly have been shaped more
satisfactorily to them. The public feel
ing in the state had set in 80 power
fully III favor OF stringent railroad leg
islation that only the most egregious
b:unders could preyent the passage Of
such Legislation. II the house had
been peacefully and smicabiy organized
during the inst days Of the session, it
woald have been impossible for the
railroads L. prevent the passage OF Il
bill reducing freight rates. rhe votes
of three republican, se,,aLurs i'll favor OF
tile senate maximum rate bill, and the
votes and discussions in the house
during the last few day is OF The SESSION,
demons; rate that enough repub icaIl
votes would nave beeu Cast for tire
nie*Smre, which, with tHe cUp .,ned
pOpuIist vote, would have se:u, cd It's
passage. In fact there Was iIttie rOrin
to doubt that sufficient numotr OF
independent rep;.D:icau woes could
have been secured TO pass All Lie bats
the people demanded, While even if
there was il doubt ias to SUCH result.
the responsibility for IA failure OF legis-
iatlOn would have rested Oh the repub-
iIcaIis alone. Ihis Was the view taken
by IL large minority vi Tie popuiist
memLerS vi tic house, Aiiem they first
asseninied al Topeka-by number vi
auie aiid prDiniIienL men Ill the party
and by a majority of the members of
the reform press ass citation who met
at Topeka two weeks bafurs the meet
ing of the Legislature, AID the res"it
That would necessarily follow a Goa
t"ary course WAS f,.riy discussed and
earnestly pointed out.
Other cOuiisels however prevailed,
in the caucus, and over tine vigorous
protest of tried and true leaders, the
course taken was resolved upon. The
members of the party WHO had opposed
Tie proposed acLlOu subUrdinated their
judgment to tue dictdtiOn OF il few am
bilious leaders and the consequences
mat had been fOreseen Naturally fol-
lowed. The final result is lhit the
session of the legislature has expired
and but u fraction of the important
legislation deI.lai.ded by The people has
been accomplished.
If All extra session is not called the
people OF Kansas will be compelled to
remain two years mO;e without Ieglsla.
tiOn that is generally conceded by the
masses of the people in all tine politlca
parties is absolutely necessary to pro
| tect the interests OF the people. We
believe that such IL delay is unneces-
sary and dangerous. The prese n
| legislature should be given in Oppur-
tuDity to redeem itself aud to do the
work it was elected for, unLram.neiled
10y the desires Of party leaders, and
unhampered by the exigencies arising
from tbs election Of d United States
senator ant: State printer. Then if the
pOpulist members, voting suiidiy for
reasonable and necessary legislation,
cannot pass the bills eInbodying such
measures through the house by re:,sup
of republican opposition, they will at
least have redeemed their pledges, and
clearly and Enthusiastically thrown the
respOns iblllty for the defeat of neces-
sary legislation upon the republican
party land can then go before the pep
pie with an unainDiyuOuS record and
All iEpregnable position.