Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-02-23
KANSAS WoMEN.LoBBMsTs.
Work I'm the Interests of
Several Measures

Topeka, Kas., Feb. 22.-(Special) The
lobby now lowering around the Kansas
, legislature is not made up entirely of
members of the sterncr sex. Quite Il por-
lion OF it is composed of that sex parsed
as feminine gender"
large, number of measures are now
pending an one house or the other or in
both. in which the women are deeply in
Ierested. Probably The only ones that have
their united indorsemept, however. are
those to establish q Mother Bickerdyke
home at Dodge City and providing tor the
compulsory treatment of confirmed drunk
ards. The women seem to be unit sfor
lhSse Two measures; The Mother Blcker-
dyke home bill has been introduced in the
house and an effort is Being made 10 get
favorable report from the lconmittee
so that il viii be sure to pass. The object
of the bill is to enlarge the Soldiers home
at Dodge City by the erection of Il building
large enough TO accommodate the widows
OF e%-Soldiers The women claim that the
state shOuld look after the widows of eX-
soldiers as well as the decrepit and dis
abled soldiers themselves. Many of the
members have been led TO believe the same
way. too; and the chances are favorable
for the passage OF the bill. The home will
be named after the well known Kansas
The feminine lobby is feeling discouraged
over the outlook for the passage of the bill
providing for the county treatment of in
ebriates. The argument advanced inathe
interests of this measure is that II viii
crease intemperance in fhe state. fts is
claimed that young men will be ssloTf TO
contract a liquor hdbit when they know
that the law will compel them TO take the
treatment when they reach a certain stage.
Then the women say IL will DE the means
topers right on -tBet start raTid bring sum
shine into hundreds of lfoHies where gloom
now exists. But the Ipa3ority of the MEM
,bers of the Legislature don't seem 10 give
The women much Encouragement. They
say II would be a sad commentary on Kan
sas for the original prohibition state in the
pulsory cure Of drunk 4rds. y
The women REPRESENTING the otd Farmers,
of the bills reducing fees and salaries of
the state and county officers. They claim
that n dollar to-day has three times the
purchasing power IL did at the time the
present fees and Salaries were established.
and thai the Popuiist party as duty il
owes the downtrodden, mortgage-ridden.
both The Jumper and Barley biiIs.
One of the most persistent and effective
lobbyists for the Wichita ~ =, normal school
Wichita is her home and she is a tireless
worker for the measure. She has the free
dom of the floors OF both houses and she
other member of the Wichita lobby in q
day. II the bill goes through, Wichita
ought 10 tender her a public reception.
The equal suffrage lobby is somewhat
J:tttled and disOrganized. The action of the
house in killing all OF their bills has caused
them TO become grogay A few of them
are still at work, however, on the senate
with the hopes of securing the passage of
the bill giving women the right to vote for
presidential electors. In case they get IL
through the senate. they believe they can
get the house to rescind its action and
The female members OF the Social Purity
Club. OF Topeka, headed by DIR. Eva Hard
ing. are still working for che passage of
the Botkin ''Pilclars bilk There seems TO
be a concerted. movement. on foot among
the social purity clubs all over the state in
favor of the bill, as each member of the
legislature daily receives letters from va
Idous sections asking h6m 60 support the
hill. This. bill has been Havorably reported
81 the house, and is now on the calendar
under general order. -