The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-12
Vote on the Initiative and Ref
erendum 80 to 10.
A Spirited Debate Raised Over
the Measure.
Republicans Oppose it Under the
Claim That it is Ahmed at Prohi-
bition-It Next Goes to the
House.


luton occasioned the most spirited de-
bate that has been participated in by
either house of the legislature so far
this session, but Notwithstanding this
fact, the battle ended with a quotation
from the peaceful Goldsmith. The gall
leries were filed and the spectators
took advantage of their right to APP
plaud. at first moderately, but as the
debate progressed, in a vociferous man
ner.
Immediately after,a special order was
declared for the consideration of the
resolution by Lieutenant Governor Har-
Vey at o'clock. Senator Lamb of
Woodson county, one of the Republican
leaders, took the floor and said
IF there is any excuse, whatever, for
passing a resolution of this kind, I
should like the author to make it
known"
This sally from the Republican side
was not unexpected by the Populist
members, and Senator Young, the au-
thor of the resolution, was prepared for
the occasion, with an opening speech
faVOring the adoption of the measure.
He said:
Looking backyard through history
for nineteen hundred years, we find that
Jesus Christ set up a standard of NOR
atty while on this earth which has new
er been fulfilled. This was his COM
mandment, to do unto others as you
would have them do unto you Looking
backward through the history of our
country 120 years, we find that Thomas
jefferson set up a political standard in
the Declaration of Independence which
has never yet been attained.
believing that government derives
its just power from the consent of the
governed, a movement has been started
in this state to diffuSe the power among
the people, The advocates of this
movement are not of the belief that a
body of men should come to this legis-
lature and decide what laws should be
enacted. We believe that these ques-
tions should be decided by the people,
and that the passage of this measure
now before us will mark a new era in
the history of this country. Enact such
a system as this amendment calls for,
and the people will become their own
representatives and render ineffectuaI
corruption in politics.
In appealing for the passage of this
amendment, [ do not speak as a parti-
san. 1t will benefit the people as
whole irrespective of party, and it seems
to me that all parties and all creeds
should favor the diffusion of power. 1t
is the most important measure that can
come before this legislature, and the
eyes of the advance guard of the world
are upon us. 1t is a measure for the re-
lief of the people, and makes all other
relief measures possible.
Senator Young sat down. During the
short pause which ensued, the Populist
members wondered which one of the
Republican leaders would undertake
the task of annihilating the measure.
Then Senator Lamb again claimed the
floor
Il had hoped" said he, "that the SEN
ator would give some sufficient reason
why the established form of govern
ment should be changed, but, alas,
was to- be disa ppOinted. Like all men
who push forward new schemes, he
polked about in the Scripture and the
Declaration of Independence, and then
left US to draw our own conclusions.
One thing he made plain, however, and
that was that we did not yet know the
meaning of the Declaration of indie
pendence. Shades of the past, has it
come to- this? A man stands up today,
in this enlightened nineteenth century,
and tells US that we know not the mean
ing of the Declaration of Independence.
II wonder if the friends of this meas
ure know that the Declaration of In
dependence recognizes the fact to the
greatest extent that government estab-
lished shall not be changed. l do not
believe that we have yet come to the
place in our civilization where our rep
resentatiVe form of government has
been found to be a failure, and the
passage of this resolution would mean
exactly that we deemed the representa-
tive form of government to be fail
ure.
q have heard much during the past
six years about the corruption of men
who have occupied seats in the congress
of the United States and in our state
LEGISLATURE but I do not believe, gen.
tlemen that these charges were true
do not believe that the men who stood
on the stump in the recent campaign
and made these charges, could bring
one word to prove them, and 1 believe
that these men were nothing more than
public slanderers.
II can see no Just reason, certainly
none has been offered to me, which
would form an excuse for the passage
of this measure. As civilization ad,
vanced into the west, as the school
houses made their appearance and the
savages disappeared, a more stable
form of government was adopted by the
people of this portion of this country
To now adopt this proposed amendment,
would be a step backward toward 'front.'
Ter law 1 do not believe that in the
closing days Of the nineteenth century
we are ready to reverse the history and
experience of more than 100 years of
constitutional government of this coun-
try"
Ex-Governor Lewelling followed Sem
ator Lamb. He said:
I confess that I am una BILE to use the
sonorous tones and burning words of
the senator from WOOdSOn cOupnty, but
if could l would put them to the best
advantage in advocating the passage of
this resolutiOn.I don't desire to stand
here and criticise the present form of
government any more than it should be
criticised, but, gentlemen, the present
form of government is in my opinion
but little more than a species of refined
barbarism don't believe that it would
be a greater crime to bring back the
government to the people. and give the
people a right to express their wishes
This ended the wordy battle for few
minutes. and the vote on the question
of the adoption of the resolution was
called for. When the roll call reached
the name of Senator Crossan, that gen
tlernan arose to explain his vote. He
said:
Should the resolution be adopted,
great change will be made in our form
of government in this state. I am thor
oughly convinced that the nearer we
can get to the people, the better govern
ment we will have. Whether this par
ticular measure is exactly the thing we
want I am not prepared to say, but I
believe it's passage will cause the people
to more thoroughly study the question
of government, and for this reason I
vote aye. (Applause.)