The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-13
He Defends Kansas from Alleged Ca
Street" Raiders of New York.
PERKINS TO KEEP HIS SEAT
REELECTED SENATOR FROM CALI
FORNIA on THE FIRST BALLOT.
OrvilIe III. Plat Again Successful in
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Dubois Prob
ably Defeated i'm Idaho.

TOPEKA, Kan. Jan. l.. - The Kansas
Legislature met to-day, with the Populists.
for the first time, in control of both
branches, as well as with an executive in
harmony Herewith. w. ID. Street, of De-
catur county, was elected speaker. Con-
siderable surprise was caused by the Gov
errors message making no reference TO a
prohibitory law or a constitutional con-
vention. Other features, however. were
sensational enough TO tickle the fancy of
the most ardent Populist. The message
was in many respects a remarkable docu-
ment. 1t was twenty thousand words in
length, dealing infinitely with the workings
of the different State departments, and was
brimful of recommendations. His first ut
terances touched on the adverse criticisms
on Kansas made by Eastern States, and
ridicules that portion of the country. Gov
ernor Leedy went on to draw a parallel of
the degree of prosperity in his State with
those of its alleged ~maligners.
With profound regret for the misfor-
tunes of our more pretentious sisters of the
East said the Governor, Il congratulate
the State of Kansas on the many simple
blessings that have fallen to us in these
adverse INES. While those who clamor
for aims in the streets of the crowded cit
ico " manly, luOSt viz seek assistance
from our ready public bounty are few.
While the failure of the great commercial
institutions brings sad calamity to the
chief capitals. whose fortunes accumulate,
the less imposing but quite useful deposito-
ries of Kansas savings are giving crafty
ing evidences of stability. While, accord
ing to the press of the Nations most pop
ulous metropolis. her children linger in the
streets untaN2ht- pyppnt in the lore nf the
pavement; unfed. except al the hand of
charity; unhoused, except in the kennels
they dispute with creatures scarcely less
miserable, the Commonwealth of Kansas.
rejoicing in d public-school system which
Is the most grateful heritage we receive
from our fathers and the best legacy we
can leave to our children, finds ample
houseroom and schoolroom for every Kan
sas child and for such struggling waits as
come 10 US for aid in Kansas. except those
BIRDS OF passage, which fly by Us, grim re-
mlnderS OF old communities.
With a cheerful audacity that almost
challenges admiration, Grub-street scrib-
blers on a venal press, which panders To
lied foreign colonies like New York and
Chicago, with semi-barbaric splendor at the
apex and semi-barbaric squalor at the base
OF their social life. have offered puny and
presumptuous criticisms of those whose
shoe strings they are not worthy to I'M
loose. The dogs of Egypt have barked at
the pyramids, unanswered, for fifty CEN
turtles. When the accused Doge stood be-
fore the Venitian council he said, My de-
Tense Is your accusation
Let Grub street rail. They will know
that Kansas was a pillar of cloud by day
and a pillar of fire by night before an OPP
pressed people in the Nations darkest
hour. We shall keep those fires alight i'm
our camps and that smoke ascending from
our hilltops till this is indeed a government
of the people and for the people and by the
people"
a resume of the State finances shows
Kansas to have reduced her State indebted
ness in the past year from sISs. 500 to $3.50. 600.
S4i9 5000 of which latter * owned by the per-
manent school fund. The report then re-
turned to the educational matters and after
treating the subject fully. said: That
the percentage of illiteracy is lower and
the average of general Intelligence is higher
i'm Kansas than i'm New York and the New
England States is most gratifying to our
people" The permanent school fund
amounts to Sc. 500, $50.
Irrigation was touched on. and because
cation established by a previous Legisla-
ture that body is booked for adjustment
an equitable tax on premium paid by for
eign fire and life insurance companies is
recommended, and cheaper text books are
demanded.
That portion Of the message treating of
railroad legislation is by far the most i'm
portant topic discussed by the Governor.
He attacks the Interstate-commerce Com
mission as that subterfuge for Justice"
whose report is just issued after eleven
&A84& 1N AA Ill
der which they were acting was defective
and had been held by the court of last re-
sort as imperative and unconstitutional.
Thus. after fifty years of effort i'm this di-
rection. we find that practically nothing has
been done toward control of our corpora
tions; the question has been delayed and
avoided as much as possible through the
courts. and finally, at the end. we find the
will of the people thwarted and the cor
porations resting on the bosom of the Su-
preme Court with the same feeling of conf
dence and security that an infant reposes
on the bosom of a wet nurse"
Governor Leedy recommends n maximum
freight law and that the Board of Railroad
Commissioners be vested with the powers
of "a court and given the power to adjust
fares and freights within the State. In an
attempt to overcome the inequalities in
interstate commerce suffered by the State
he advises the people of Kansas to seek
for justice out OF court. This. he thinks.
would be found in the States west of the
Mississippi river building a road of their
own to tide water. the shortest and most
direct route. IF the States OF Texas and
Nebraska" says he. would join us i'm the
building of "A line to Galveston the expense
of building a road would be merely nominal
when compared with the vast sums of
money which would ne saved TO the citizens
of thes" States through the lowering OF
freight rates.