Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-10-29
Law DefierS.

devOtes particular attention to the iighi between
Webb McNall and the insurance companies and
also to the contest between the attorney general
and the stockyards company.
Governor Leedy explains in his speeches that
the state has to deal with the three classes of
corporations. He said: ''Of the three classes
of corporations there is cne-and only one
which recognizes the right of the state to SUI
pervise its business The others are bushwhack-
ers, and con6ne themselves to studions effort
to evade laws and couduct their business
under sort of monarchy which they them
selves establish 1t is this latter class which
gives lis the greatest difficulty, and as much as
| dislike to see business enterprises Withdrawn
from the state, | sometimes wish that these
law-defying institutions would get out of our
business circles comply with our laws. |
am confident it would be, in the end, benefit
to the state. Kansas has never vet been COM
PEELED to call upon some other state for the ne
cessities of business in any line winch | might
name, and for that reason | believe that we
could get along without some of thes alleged
beneficent corporations. There is one thiny
about it, and that is that they must prepare to
comply with our laws. The time is coming
when the people of the state will 10 longer
tolerate this systematic defiance of law, and
when that point is reached il will be a sorry
day for these cornorants
"The classification which | have made needs
slight explanation. There is one syitem of
corporations which recognizes the right of the
state government to regulate them. That is
the national bank. Although creature of
congress, these institutions, which are found in
every state and territory, with widely different
laws, conform strictly to every one of them vet
these banks seem to have no trouble in adapt
ing themselves to the circumstances
''The second class of corporations is that Gre
ated by Other states which come to Kansas.
seeking advantages of the business opportuni-
ties offered here. These corporations demand
all the privileges imaginable, but do not for one
moment concede that they should be governed
by the state law. Instead of conducting their
business in all orderly and lawful manner, these
corpations at once begin lodging the laws and
indulg'ng i'll nothing less than a general BUSH
wlacking policy. These are the corporations
which maintain the state can get along with
out. They are a menace to our peace and dig
nifty and cultivate spirit Of defiance against
the law which is as unpatrotic as they are self
ish, and that is comparatively limltless.
"The third class 10 which | refer is that
which includes corporations created in our own
state, like the stock yards company, which is
attempting to override the will of the people as
expressed in the law regulating that company
passed by the last legislature Instead of max
ing an effort to comply with this law, the
stock-yards company is spending thousands of
dollars to defeat its operation. Before it was
passed the company had paid lobbyists on the
ground lying in wait for men with the hope of
corrupting the representatives Of the people.
These proceedings were iniquitous They are
being continued each day the company declines
to conform to the law. A corporation which
owes its existence TO the patronage of the peo-
pie Of Kansas openly defying the laws which
the people want lisa spectacle which should arouse
every man to a realization of the danger which
threatens from those sources. This is IN
important matter and il should OF BE- neglect
ed.
$50 far as l am concerned, just as long as
there is dollar in the treasury which can be
legitimately applied to d,fray the expenses of
such fight, propose to stand by McNall and
Boyle in their effort to enforce the laws of Kan
sas These corporations must be taught the
lesson Of submission to the will of the majority
of the people or be driven out"
Ar last, Grover Cleveland and wife have
snn-born Yesterday.