The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-25
LAW DEFIERS.
Gov. Leedy Talks Severely of
the Impertinence Of Ger
tain Corporations.

In his campaign speeches Governor
Leedy devotes particular attention to the
fight between Webb McNaH and the in
surance 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
one-and only one-which recognizes the
right of the state to supervise it's busi-
ness. The others are bushwhackers and
cOnhne themselves to a studious effort
to evade our laws and conduct their
business under sort of monarchy which
they themselves establish. 1t is this lat
ter class which gives US the greatest diff
fculty and as much as 1 dislike to see
business enterprises withdrawn from the
state, I sometimes wish that these law
defying Institutions would get out of our
business circles or comply with our laws.
I am confident it would be, in the end,
benefit to the state. Kansas has never
yet been compelled to call upon some
other state for the necessities of business
in any line which might name, and for
that reason I believe that we could get
along without some of these alleged
benehcent corporations There is one
thing 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 longer tolerate this syste-
matte defiance of law, and when that
point is reached it will be a sorry day for
these cormorants.
1.-The classification which I have made
needs a slight explanation. There is one
system of corporations which recognizes
the right of the state government to reg
ulate them. That is the national bank.
Although a creature of congress, these
institutions, which found in every
state and territory, with widely different
laws, conform strictly to every one of
them, yet these banks seem to have no
trouble in adapting themselves to the cir
cumstances.
1.-The second class of corporations is
that created by other states which come
to Kansas, seeking advantage of the busi-
ness opportunities 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 an orderly and lawful
manner, these corporations at once begin
lodging the laws and indulging in moth
ing less than a general bushwhacking
policy. These are the corporations which
I maintain the state can get along with
out. They are a menace to our peace
and dignity and cultivate spirit of de-
patriotic as they are selfish, and that is
comparatively hmitless.
1.-The third class to which I refer is
that which includes corporations created
in our own state, like the stockyards
company, which is attempting to over
ride 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 stockyards company is spending
thousands of dollars to defeat its opera
ton. Before it was passed the com
pany had paid lobbyists on the ground
lying in wait for men with the hope of
corrupting the representatives of the
people. These proceedings were iniqui-
tous They are being continued each
day the company declines to conform to
the law. A corporation which owes it's
existence to the patronage of the people
of Kansas openly defying the laws which
the people want is a spectacle which
should arouse every man to a realization
of the danger which threatens US from
those sources. This is an important mat
ter and it should not be neglected.
so far as am concerned, just as long
as there is a dollar in the treasury which
can be legitimately applied to defray the
expenses of such a fight I propose to
stand by McNall and Boyle in their ef-
fort to enforce the laws of Kansas.
These corporations must be taught the
lesson of submission to the will of the
majority of the people or be driven OUT