People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-02-09

'ii"' ~ SOuII Hdu any power 10 pass
upon the membership of either branch
OF the Legislature. for. according to
the constitution, each house shall be
Judge of the elections. returns and
qualifications of its own members"
The contention of the Republicans
was that he who procured certificate
whether qualified or not. and whether
entitled to the same by reason of the
legal votes cast for him or not. was
the only constitutional member from
his district entitled to participate in
the organization of the house and
enjoy all the rights of membership.
In this manner men who were not
elected, and who were disqualified
and in one case a citizen of Oklahoma.
were declared to be legal members OF
the Legislature by the supreme court.
1t is clear to any unbiased mind that
no court could pas, upon the legality
OF the house Of representatives with.
ont passing upon the membership
thereof; and to do this, we contend. is
a direct and fragrant violation of our
state constitution.
That men did hold seats in the Re-
publican house who were not qualified.
and who were not legally elected. can
be demonstrated by an investigation
of the facts. We challenge the fullest
investigation on this subject.
Undertaking to prevent this unlaw-
full attempt to defeat the will of the
people, POpulists were forced to take a
course outlined by the supreme judicial
court of Maine, a Republican court, in
a similar case, but were prevented as
the revolutionary acts of the Republi-
can members who had refused to per-
NIT the organization Of the house in
the manner which had been practiced
by Republican legislatures for thirty
years, thus precip;tat:ng the "legisla-
tive muddle' with which all are
familiar.
We deny that there was anything
revolutionary in the acts of the Popu-
list house, declare that in every in
stance the overt act which caused the
disturbance and trouble was commit
ted by the so-called Douglass house.
and court the fullest investigation on
this subject.
We further call attention to the fact
that similar controversies have arisen
from time to time in various states.
and suggest that the probable reason
that no such thing ever happened in
Kansas before is the simple fact that
the Republican party has had undis-
puted control of both houses for thirty
years, and consequently Republicans
have practically held all the certif-
Gates.
In this connection we desire to call
attention to the fact that the Populists
having, as they believed, and as they
still believe, elected a majority of both
branches of the legislature. sought to
retain control of the same to the end
that they might redeem their p edges
to the people of the state by passing
much needed legislation.
We point to the record of the laws
passed by the DunsmOre house and
senate as evidence of this desire to
redeem their pledges to the people.
We also call attention to the fact that
our state board of railroad assessors
fulfilled the pledges of our party to
the people of the state by assessing
the property Of the railroads in a lust
and equitable manner. thereby equal
izing the assessment of said property
of the state which has heretofore
borne an unjust portion of the burden
OF taxation. by reason of unjust dis
elimination in favor of the railroads
by former assessors; and we condemn
the action of certain railroad corpora
lions in attempting to coerce the peo-
pie OF the state into accepting a less
sum for taxes than is lawfully due
from them, and call particular atten-
ton to the fact that the average assess
ment per mile of the roads that are
refusing TO pay their taxes is less than
one-fourth the average Indebtedness
per mile of such roads. Upon this
Indebtedness the people have been
compelled to paw interest in the form
OF eXhorbitant freight rates. When a
farmer by reason of hard times and
low prices is unable to pay his taxes,
or interest on the mortgage of his
home, it is sold without ceremony or
delay, and if he complains or suggests
that there should be a stay of pro-
ceedings until times improve. he is
denounced as dishonest man, a
''repudiator.' When a corporation is
unable to meet its obligations it calls
to its aid United States court. which
interpoSes and compels its mortgage
holders to wait for their interest until
times improve" and said corpo alton
is able to pay.
/ The Misrepresentation. utilization
and abuse which characterized the
campaign of 1872 has been continued
as to the state administration. and
never in the history of any state have
public officials been compelled to en-.
dure more outrageous treatment at the
hands of portion of her citizens than
have the present officials at the hands
Of the Republican press of Kansas
until today some good people of our
state really believe that our state Off.
Gals are human monstroSities.
! The bond of State Treasurer Biddle
e which was pronounced by a meeting
of Topeka bankers to be the best bond
ever given by state treasurer. was
represented to be practically worthless
and an appropriation of $1,000 wa.
forced upon the legislature by Repub
licans to investigate the same.
In like manner. every official. from
governor down. has been asSailed. not
withstanding the fact. which no intel
hgent. honest man who will investi
gate will for moment deny. that in
most respects the duties of the severa
officers have been discharged in {
much better manner and at much les,
cost to the state than under Republi