The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-22
SPEAKER DoUGLAss TALKS.

Hon. George L Douglass, speaker of the
constitutional house of representatives
now sitting in Topeka, arrived at the
Carey hotel last night, where he will
spend Sunday. When asked, among other
things, what he had to say about Gov
eruor dwellings, statement given to the
Associated Press few days ago, he re-
piled;
In connection with Mr.. Hoch I pre-
/ pared a full statement in reply, which
was given TO the press and published at
! length a day or two ago. The governors
statements of law are as erroneous as his
/ statement of facts with reference to the
! organization of The house. Not one of the
/ so-called 'precedents' cited by the gov
/ eruor susJains his position. Nearly all of
them upon full Investigation leads to
directly the reverse conclusions. The sole
and only question involved in this con-
troversy IS whether, after the majority of
the members OF the house of representa-
tives have organized the house a minority
can get off in one corner by itself and
organize another house which shall sup
plant the majority body.
The governor thinks that if the senate
and the executive recognize such body
as the house Of representatives, such
recognition has the effect of destroying
the majority body and making the minor
ity body the legal house. II that were true
the political complexion of the lower
house would always be al the mercy of the
governor aud the senate. Such is not the
law, never was and never will be. If any
body had supposed it was the law two
years go the Republican senate, in con.
nection with Governor Humphrey, might
have completely wiped out the Peoples
party house of representatives by merely
recognizing the Republican minority rs
a house Of representatives.. If such a mi
noriJy, in conjunction with "A lot of out
sidegs who were never elected
can by means OF such recognition
be manufactured into "A branch of the leg
isIature. there is an end TO every semb
lance of constitutional government.
What does this unseating mean by the
Populist house ?"
1t means simply this: That an abso-
lutely power,ess body is trying to confer
power upon itself 1t is like a man trying
to lit himself by the straps of his boots.
II Is one of the things that can't be done
The majority house is paying no attention
whatever to these proceedings, which are
Of no more account. from a legal point
OF view, than if the Wichita city council
were to pass resolution 'unaeatiug'
United States senator
What is your program -
1.-THE constitutional house is organized
and ready for business. il meets daily
and does all the business that
house of representatives. can DO without
the cooperation of the senate aud the gov
ernor. We propose to uphold the laws
and the constitution TO the end. The Pop
ulists have been threatening to pass an
bill for several days past, by
means Of which test case could be made
for the supreme court; but so far they
have hesitated, ana utterly failed to pass
il or 10 attempt to pass it. They evidently
have no confidence in their own position.
Sooner or later this minority and revolu-
tiouary structure will fail TO the ground /
Public opinion has made itself heard in /
tones. The majority are
for the fundamental principle P.
Of fee government. There VIII be no
on he part of the men who I.
believe in the constitution and the laws, /
and sooner or later the right Will til /
umph"