The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-10
KANSAS LEGISLATURE.
A Lively Debate on the Metro
pOlitan Police Law
A Measure to Repeal the Act
Reported FavOrabIy.
Speeches Favoring Home Rule and
Denounce the Workings OF the
Law Made.

Grafton Of bills upon the calendar The
bin repeating the metropolitan police
law came up for discussion. it was in
troduced early in the session by Rep
resentative Hackbusch-
Taylor of Wyandotte made the first
speech. closing with a motion that the
enacting clause be stricken out Of the
bill. This precipitated the debate
which resulted in defeating Mr.. Taylor
motion.
After brief preliminary skirmishes
Weilep of Cherokee started the debate
by saying; The Republicans put this
bill upon the statute books, let them re-
peal it" He then discussed the merits
of the question briefly. He was follow
ed by Mr.. CubbiSOn, who desired that
the bill be Withdrawn from considera-
ton till some changes could De made
after a short controversy between CUB
bison and Walters Brooke of Shawnee
took the floor. He explained the reasons
which caused him to favor the repeal OF
the law and said:
The metropolitan police system is
pernicious. I have been told that it is
the foundation of the success OF prohibit
ton. 1 have said and say now, that if
prohibition mas no other or better foun-
datiOn than that the law will fall as it
should fall (Cheers). The time is COM
ing when the people viii demand a
voice in the selection of the men who
shall govern them The justice of this
demand stands unquestiOned. The peO-
ule are entitled to, and should have the
power to govern themselves The re-
peal of this law would be a step in that
direction and I am in favor Of it..
Mr.. Fairchild of kingman (POp. )made
the best speech on the POpu4ist side
with reference to the bill He said:
There is no question in my mind but
that the metropolitan police law and
the system which opera teS under it is
the most pernicious and corrupt of all
the political machinery 1t remained
during the last campaign an uudisputed
and frequently asserted fact that Gov
ernOr Morrill, ran ahead of his ticket
because of the influence of the metro
pOlitan police law His vote in Leav-
enWOrth county was due to that inffu-
ence- The whole system is used, has
been used and always will be used, to
secure the spells Of office It makes no
difference who the candidate is or what
party dominates him the corruption OF
the police system has been used in
his behalf and too frequently by the
candidate himself. Again. it should
make no difference as to who the man
might be that is chosen to that high
place he has but one duty. He should
appoint men who would enforce the law.
Supporting any other idea he violates
his cat h Of Office
Continuing Mr.. FairchiId said: Il am
d result rIllsSI Onist, pure and simple and
indebted Yet, were I governor of the
state of Kansas 1 would enforce the
prOh1bitOry law tCheers) 1t is the
only honorable position the chief execu-
tive can assume If the police commits
slOnerS appointed by Governor I.eedv
fail to enforce the law then the execu-
tive himself is responsible for its non
enforcement. Among all the governors
l have known since have been in Kan
saS there IS not one who failed to use
the metropolitan police law to control
the spells of office and has accompanied
that undesirable policy by no effort to
enforce the law
Mr.. Larimer followed FairchfId. He
said; I am pleased to note that one
OF the leading resubmissionists on this
floor, who has the courage of his con-
vIetons, admits that whatever party is
IN power the prOhibitOry law is not
enforced The law has never had a
chance, as you will concede, gentlemen
OF this house. 1t has never had a full
opportunity Let US give it chance
VIII Governor Leedy do it? L cannot
preach from a PopuIist pulpit, but 1
do believe it is duty you owe to your
selves and to the people to retain this
law 1t will also, might suggest, ac-
crue to lasting advantage to you from
a political standpoint"
Turing to the Republican side of the
house, Mr. Larimer advanced I'D the
aisle until he confronted his associates.
saying: Then you Republicans who
put this law upon our backs MAJ find
that 1t may break your backs as it did
ours"
Botkin of Reno CRep): 1.-THE foul
est blot upon the record and history of
the republican party was placed there
when this Internal law was placed IN
on the statute book. 1t has been a
source of corruption and vice from 1887
until 1897. Every governor since that
time has used the power conveyed bv
that law to perpetuate his own lease Of
power Two years ago Governor Lew
cling went down as a result of the op-
erations of this law. Governor Morrill,
followed him. as will Governor Leedy.
Why is this? Because the law is a
source of corruption and power that
every man viii use The gentleman
who preceded me wants to give the law
a chance. 1 submit that it has had a
chance. Do we want to longer permit
the existence of a statute which enables
the governor to strike down home gov
er1ment? Perhaps one of the princi-
pal causes for the failure of the law is
the fact that the preachers and prohibit
tionists have not had the moral cour-
age to support it In SO cases out of
100 not one preacher in all the state can
be found who will inveigh against the
saloon and existing disorders.
"Of the twenty odd in Topeka Won
cannot ind three who will come out
boldly and make the fight No. the
legislature has said, The state will
take care of moral questions. Won 90
along, wear good clothes and have a
good time and we will do the rest
"-Out in the lobby meet the prohibit
bitionist who argues against this bill
saying: Do you want to bring the
open saloon back to Kansas That is
the most tiresOme thing I have ever
heard. Not one of these men. including.
aye even the preachers, have had the
moral courage TO go before the proper
officers and file a complaint, for fear
some brother-in-Iaw, cousin, uncle or
aunt would lose a job or a chance to
get one. This system is the most pro-
life source of corruption in the state
and believe we should face it square
ly; come out like men, assert our prin-
cipleS; repeal the law and place the
government of this question solely
within the power of the people,
Mr. Stewart of Doniphan (Rep.): Mr.
Weilep, who, IN the good old days of
Democracy, which have never existed
in Kansas, was in favor of this Dem
ocrtic principle, today wants to force
the responsibility of this question upon
the Republicans, not because of the
involved, but because he has
found an opportunity to make the shoe