People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-02-24
Regard for Law.

EDIRoR VOICE: l have read with
pleasure and profit the articles in the
VOICE from the POpulist's representa-
tives at Topeka, and for one there is
a deep thankfulness comes up from
the heart that "Old Sumner" chose so
wisely and so well.
Because the g. o. p. finds its
schemes blocked on all sides. 1t at
once resorts to the time-hoary cry OF
the baffled-" anarchy" Briefly, let
us review the situation and see who
the real law breakers and anarchists
are. 1t has been the custom in
every state in the uriOn for the
secretary of state to preside at the
converting Of the different leglsla'
lures until a temporary chairman has
been chosen. When the Republicans
refused to allow the secretary OF
state 10 preside, they were guilty of
the first insurrectiOn; Of violating the
preceedents which they, themselves,
mad established.
But as great many people do not
realize the full Significance of the
rule of preceedents, please allow me
to quote the greatest of legal author
tiles, Blackstone. He says: 1.-The
doctrine of the law of the preceedc1tS
is that they must be followed u IS
fatty absurd or unjust" Then they
stand self-cOnfeSSed before the people
that they have dealt unjuStly with
them all these years, and their pre-
ceedent are fatty absurd. If not,
then there is no law for violating the
law Of precedent.
Next, it is the established custom
in all legal bodies that the member
first to get cOLtrOl of the official
gayel is entitled to call the house to
order and preside until the temper
airy chairman is chosen When
Secretary of State Osborne vacated
the chair and representative Semple
took the gavel, he was entitled by all
law and precedent to preside over
that body until the election of a
temporary chairman. How those
good SanCtimOniOus Republicans
respected law and order then.
When George L. Douglass sprang
upon the platform and pulled
mallet from his POCKET, he stamped
himself as an anarchist; and when
that bowling mob of Republican So
called representatives, arUse and
amid hOwls and confusion on their
side proceeded to organize without
list Of members or any means of
knowing who was entitled to vote
and who was not, Of putting motions
and declaring them carried, with no
opportunity for debate, their ignor-
ing and refusing to recognize any
POpulist member, were in plain
violations of every law and precedent
and shows that that Republican body
commenced and organized by revOlu-
tiOnary methods, and clearly demon
strated that they are revOlutiOnists,
and as such ought to be treated by
the executive. They have pursued
the same revolutionary methods ever
since. As a good sample of the
respect that these same sanctim Jnious
raScalS have for the law and order, |
would call the attention of the many
readers of the VOICE to the attempt
of the Republicans of Reno county to
steal commissioner.
The old board consisted of two
Republicans and one POpulist. Last
fall Mr.. Potter, Republican member,
ran for reelection and was defeat
ed by holland, POpuliSt by about q
votes. The county clerk, who is a
Republican, issued a certificate to
Mr.. holland, POpulist. Thus the new
board was composed of two POpuliSts
and one Republican and the News
vent into mourning over lOoSing the
county printing. Everything moved
of quietly until the day set for the
meeting of the board, when 10. Mr..
Potter is found in his old seat and
refused to surrender it to commits
Sioner-elect holland. The Republican
member recognized Mr.. Potter and
the POpulist member recognized Mr..
holland who held the certificate.
You know they lay great stress on
their legislat JrS having certificates
and they proceeded to organize two
boards of county commissioners.
The county clerk has recognized the
Republican board after issuing
certificates to the Others. Good
Republican consistency! Last week
Mr.. Potter was arrested for usurpa-
ton of office, and is under bond.
have mentioned this matter here
not only to show Republican
duplicity and inconsistency, but be-
cause | believe every POpulist should
know these things and then when