The Topeka state journal., 1897-09-09
CLAYCOUNTYPOPULISTS
They Resolve i'm Favor of an
Extra Session
If Pledges Can be Secured Fol
Railroad Bill.
They Also Favor More Bribery In
vestigation Without Regard
to Politics.

The Clay county Populist convention
at Clay Center adopted the following
resolutions:
convention assembled, true to the prin-
cipleS of equal rights to all and special
privileges to none, reaflrm and renew
our allegiance to the ST. Louis platform
and pledge ourselves to its support until
we shall have changed this government
of, for and by the corporations to a gov
ernment of, for and by the people, as
proclaimed by our forefathers in the
constitution.
Resolved, That we indorse the pres
ent state administration and especially
the action of Governor Leedy in his
veto of the railroad freight bill, and we
recommend to the governor that as soon
as a sufficient number of members of
the legislature shall pledge themselves
to vote for an honest freight rate bill
that will give the people of Kansas
reaSona bic reduction of freight rates in
every county in the state, such reduc-
ton to be made from the rates as now
eSta bliShed by the railroads in the state
of Kansas and to adjust all other in
equalitieS, and to confer plenary power
on the board of railroad commissioners
to enforce the same, and, when a Suffi-
cient number of pledges have been re-
ceived by the governor, to call the Leg
islature together in extra session for the
purpose of enacting such a bill into law.
And to this end we demand that our
representative, ]. ]. Marty, and senator,
SSOISSW 11dIlIlei, plGCS5G lIS1uS0lNGS De-
fore this convention that they will with
out delay notify Governor Leedy that
they will work and vote for such a bill;
and, in this connection. We further de-
mand that If our representative and
senator shall refuse to carry out the in
structtons of this convention, we ask
them to at once tender their resigna-
lions; and we further recommend to the
governor in the event an extra session
should be called, to urge upon the legis-
1ature that they continue the bribery
investigation and to adopt such ways
and means that no court, either high
or low, shall be able to stop or hinder
such investigation, to the end that no
guilty man may escape, whether he be
PopullSt, Republican, Democrat or Pro-
hibitioniSt.
Resolved, That we heartily indorse
the matchless effort now being made by
Webb McNall, commissioner of inS1r-
ance, and Attorney General L. c. Boyle
in the interest of the people of Kansas
and against the disreputable methods
and practices of the corporations. And
we commend the action of Governor
Leedy in holding up the hands of these
brave and determined men while en-
gagged in contending for the rights of
the people. And be it further
Resolved, That we are opposed to all
Judge-made laws or government by in
junction and we view with alarm and
condemn the action of certain district
judges who, upon the slightest indica-
ton from corporation attorneys, ad-
Journ court in the interest of corpora
tlOHS as against Inc people, the taXpaY-
ers who have to foot the bills, and we
pledge ourselves not to vote for any
man VINO in the capacity of judge has
been guilty of these things
Resolved, That we indorse the splen-
did work of J. w. Breidenthal in the
past, as chairman of the state central
committee; And be it further
Resolved, That we indorse our con-
gresham, w. D. Vincent, for the course
he has pursued in reference to the
Dingley tariff bill.
Resolved, That whereas our govern
ment is a representative form of gov
ernment, and whereas a public office is
a public trust, that a legislator is the
agent or servant of those who elected
him to such office, we believe it to be
his bounden duty to work and vote for
every measure promulgated in his party
platform Therefore, we declare that
when such a servant of the people can
noteOr will not carry out the wishes OF
his constituents, he should resign his
Office for the reason that ''a servant is
not greater than his lord, neither is he
that IS sent greater than he that sent
him.
Resolved, That it is the Judgment of
TINS convention that no person or per-
sons should be nominated to any office
who is not a good and law-abidine citi-
zen before such nomination and cleo
tion, and if after such nomina ton and
election such person or persons shoIlld
become Violators of the law we demand
that the county attorney, upon Informal
tlon, shall proceed as provided by law
10 remove said officer from his office
ana TO this end we denounce any and
all officers, whether township county
or state, for dishonesty, drunkenness.
aepaucher'y and immortality while hold
ing such office.
We are profoundly grateful to a kind
providence for abundant harvest and a
good market, yet sympathize With s1If
fer1ng humanity in other countries at
prosperity is due.
Resolved, That we congratulate the
members of the last legislature for en-
acting the following good bills into
law:
l. Chapter AT, regulating the organi-
zation and control of banks
z. Chapter IA, to prevent blacklist
3. Chapter 80, known as the public
utility act, giving all cities power eth
er to own or control all gas light cleo
tric light, electric power, water works,
| etc.
4. Chapter 240, relating to stock yards.
5. Chapter 179, school text books
| 6. Chapter 160, mortgage assignment
ments.
8. Chapter 13s, grain inspection.
| 8. Chapter 131, fees and salaries
10. Chapter 159 providing for safety
| in mines, such as ventilation and other
safety appliances.
II. Chapter 167, providing for trans
| portation of shippers with one car of
| live stock, but no attention is paid to
this law by the anarchistic railroad
| companies.
II. Chapter 172, protection to motor
| men on street railways.
13. Chapter 245, taxation of telegraph
| and telephone companies.
| IA. Chapter PA, taxing mineral re-
| serves when mineral rights are owned
| by corporations and others who do not
| own the title fee simple to lands. This
| is intended to stop monopoly of coal
| lands when not used.
Is. Chapter 265, antitrust law defin-
| ing trusts and providing means to reach
| them in both civil and criminal act
| ion.
16. Chapter 129 new ballot law-re-
| duceS expenses.
II. Chapter 16s, compelling railroads