The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-12

principally for the reason that the ma
jority of his constituents desired the
adoption of the resolution, he voted
aye
Eight more votes were recorded, and
then the name of Senator Hessin of Ri
ley county, another of the Republican
leaders, was called. Senator Hessin
stood up at the call of his name and
said:
The best commentary upon the reso-
luton now before US was furnished at 2
o'clock this afternoon At that hour
this chamber was deserted save for a
few Republican members. There was
hurrying to and fro. and hurried con-
Sultation, and the whole proceeding was
a puzzle to the Republican side OF this
body. 1t is a puzzle no longer. The in
iative and referendum amendment was
decided on in a party caucus, and lead
by the iniatiatOr, the bell weather, the
whole Populist senate, like a flock of
sheep, agreed to vote for this measure.
1 say that this is a step backward
Twenty-Five men held a caucus and
dashed themselves into line, because,
forsooth, they didn't have the courage
to come here and stand upon this floor
and vote Independently.
why is the passage of this resolution
advocated? 1t is an attempt to resub-
nit the prohibitOry law under the cover
of the initiative and referendum
amendment? Has some shreWd fellow
DEVISED this means of getting the pro-
hibitory law again before the people?
Is this what is being the initiative and
referendum amendment? I ask you if
ii is not so?
Il say that it would be impossible to
carry out the iniatiative and referen-
dunn system in a country like this. 1t
may answer in Switzerland, or possibly
in Greece, but not in the United States
with go millions of Inhabitants
Here Senator HeSsin was interrupted
by Senator Lewelling remarking, I'VE
are legisiating in the interest of Kan
SaS just at present..
Il deny it," retorted Senator Hessin
hot f.sa11 f11af
ing against the best interests of Kan
sas. A man who is controlled and own
ed by a caucus, and then hasn't the
courage to say so, is not man who
has the interests of his state at heart
(ApplaUse.)
Il want it Distinctly understood that
there is no gentleman on this side of
the house who is opposed to decent and
representa- tive legislation, and 1 say
that there is nothing in the amendment
that will benefit the people. I vote
no"
When his name was called, Senator
Householder made the statement that
Senator Hesisn was la boring under
mistake in reference to the caucus. He
slider the text book bill. and that not
even reference was made to the mia
tiative and referendum resolution.
Senator Jumper next took the floor
He said:
In view of the fact that we have
listened to some remarkable explana-
tiOns this afternoon, I deem it no more
than justice to myself, my party and
the members of this body to explain
my vote.
I'VE have listened to a wonderful
display of oratory this afternoon. The
gentleman who was on the floor next
to the last (Hessin) gave US a remark
able exhibition of noise, but like a
story 1 once read it was mostly all
wind. The party caucus, of which the
gentleman so affectionately spoke, is, 1
own, a relic of barbarism, but let me
say, gentlemen. that it is a relic of
barbariSm handed down to us by the
party to which he belongs. (Cheers.)
L undertake to say that when the
gentleman who is opposing this reso-
luton states that it would be impos-
sible to carry out this system, he is
casting a reflection on the people whom
he represents. And, Mr.. President, if
the gentleman from Riley county is to
be taken as a representative of the
people whom he represents in my judg-
ment there is great doubt of them be-
ing able to govern themselves.
1.-The gentleman from Riley spoke of
the sins of a party caucus, and 1 want
to say something along that line my
self How long, oh, how long is it,
ask, that you and the members of your
party on the floor of this senate took
part in party caucus? And in that
party caucus you were whipped into
line, every mothers son of you, to NOM
mate a man for United States senator
who was repudiated by his party news
papers, by the churches and by all
people of morality. (Cheers)
Mr.. President, the passage of this
resolution will be no more than justice
to the people, and 1 vote aye
Senator Matthews (Rep., Mcpherson
county, explained his vote by saying:
Il believe the people to be the source
of all power, and no man will go farther
than 1 will to give them their just
power But in this resolution L see
scheme to resubmit the prohibitory law,
7 f1,r Of
every temperance man and woman in
the state when I vote no."
At the conclusion of the roll call it
was found that the vote stood 29 yeas
to 10 nays, every POpuliSt member
having voted for the resolution, and
every Republican member except Sena-
tor Johnson, who was absent, voting
against it. After the result was an
nounced Senator Forney of Sumner
county stood up.
Mr.. President" he said, ct want to
give the senator from Riley a little OBJ
ject lesson on this initiative and refer
endum resolution. He initiated the
charge that we decided to vote for this
measure in the caucus this afternoon,
and by every Populist member on this
floor declaring that this is false, we
will refer the charge back to him..
Then it was that Senator HeSSin, riS-
ing out of his seat and looking squarely
at the senator from Sumner county,
recited from Goldsmith the following
lines:
And still they gazed, and still the won
der grew,
How one small head could carry all he
knew"
Loud laughter and applause, partici-
pated in by the spectators in the gall
Iery and all members of the senate, ir-
respective of party, followed the recita-
ton of the lines, and the senate ad-
journed.
AN rNSuRANCE HEARING.