The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-22
ELDER ON THE HOUSE.
He Says Some Good Things About
the Members,
BUT MOSTLY NOT GOOD THINGS.

Sizes Up CubBisOn and LObdeII in His
Customary Picturesque Way-Other
Legislative News.
Ex-Speaker and ex- Lieutenant Cover
nor P. P Elder of Ottawa, has been
visitor at the house of representatives for
two days. He has appeared only as an
impassive Cd locker and refused Speaker
LobdelIs invitation to take seat behind
the speakers desk, giving as his reason
that he is too modest.
To JOURNAL reporter last night Mr.
Elder freely expressed himself about the
house of representatives 81 have formed
a good opinion of the house." said he,
Gas far as the ability of its members is
concerned, but have never yet seen
house which was run with SO little re-
gard for parliamentary rules-it is aw-
full Speaker Lobdell was a delegate
when | was speaker in 1891. l did not
remembe him. but l have become quite
we'll acquainted with him, and he appears
to be a perfect gentleman as we'll as a
bright young man, but he does not seem
to know anything about rules. 1t is
pity he does not read up.
''Then there is CubbisOn. He is nice
talker-a very nice talker, but | want to
make a guess about him. In his law
practice I will venture to say that he de-
votes but little attention to the prepare
ton Of his case, but will depend upon
his eloquence TO sway the jury. That
will account for his reckless disregard
of parliamentary usage.
THE there are bright members on the
floor who evidently have never read the
rules of the house and they make the
most awful plumbers. If l was speaker
of that house I would bring them up
standing, not to show my authority, but
to compel the members to read up and
do business as it should be done"
The brawny hand of the ex-legislator
came down with a violence as he spoke.
Then the old veterans mind seemed to
carry him far back in the history of the
state.
''The best legislature" he said, (which
ever Assem- bled in Kansas was in 185 Z.
1t contained such men as G. K. Holli-
day, Judge StiIwell and others of that
class. Governor Morrill, was there too,
but he did not amount to anything then.
The legislature next to it in point of
ability was that of 1877 and there have
never been any like them since.
"The legislature of 1891 was a queer
collection continued Mr.. Elder. mo
legislature ever contained so few ex-
perienced men and still no Legislature
ever passed SO much good Legislation,
though it was killed in the senate. That
was terrible experience for me and
would not pass another winter like that
for the world. l had to watch those -
Republicans, who were smart, from bull
doing US and also had to keep my OWL
crowd, who were inexperienced, in line
1t was a terrible task.
This house has adjourned over tomor-
row, the - donkeys. Washington
can't do them any good nor they him, and
they had better have kept down to bust
ness. 1t is a foolish thing to lose a day
when the time is SO nearly up.
"Pshaw," continued Mr.. Elder. "thii
legislature is only training school, any
way. 1t is full of people who want to e
to congress. There are eight districts
and eight chances and there are lot o
fellows in that house who have thei1
eyes on a seat in that body. Now tel
you I won't be much surprised to Sc,
Lobdell get there some time and perhaps
some of the rest as we'll"