The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-19
1--WE. the People," Defying Estab-
Constitution TO Pass Party Bills.
MANY SENSELESS MEASURES
DESPITE JERRY SIMPSONS WARN
ING AGAINST FOOLISH LAWS.
Evidences of Extreme Paternaiisn,-
The PopuIist Administration
Blankcd by Those Who Created IL.


TOPEKA. Kan, Feb. IS. - The rhymer
who said Boosters lay eggs in Kansas
should revise his song and say. "Popuhsts
play hell in Kansas" for II your corre-
spondent be not mistaken. the Pcpulists or
the Sunhower State are constructing a
hades that will torment them I'm later days.
Yesterday the majority I'm the House Of
Representative boldly overthrow rule
that required two thirds vote TO set aside.
The Republicans protested against ''revis-
ing the calendar-that is. permitting the
Populists to call up any bill they desired
without reference to .ts piece on the caien-
dar-but the minority was told: we, the
people. are in the saddle, and we propose
TO ride roughshod over any obstruction.
law or no law. If you don't like it. get
out Of the middle Of the road The Repub-
licans didn't like to the rules OF the
House violated and the Constitution over
ridden In so fragrant manner and said so.
but the proposition TO revise the calendar
was declared carried by a majority vote,
| despite the fact that the rules cannot De
suspended, except by a two-thirds vote
| Then the Populists began reading favorfte
measures and declaring them passed, with
| out even the formality Of a roll call To-
| day they condesoe TO permit the minor
! ity TO vote. but continued to pass bills IN
| der the Illegally suspended rules. The con-
| sequence OF this arbitrary action will be to
place doubt the validity of all laws
| passed by the Legislature after the re
vision of the calendar. make an immense
amount of work for the courts and lawyers
and continually keep the Populists i'm hot
water defending: their Illegally framed laws.
To undertake to prognostcate In Kansas
concerning the events OF tomorrow baf-
1 it,a.ao aovir nal nj
news gatherer 1t reminds him OF an Incl
dent of pioneer days. The approach OF a
| cyclonic cloud from the northwest had
| thrown the denzens of the village into the
| incipient stages of CONSERVATION. but when
the rain began to fall they heaved sighs OF
relief. saying: We'll it never blows much
after it begins to rain" Then there fell
| from the lips Of a young man somewhat
under the influence OF ferniented spirits
| this laconic chunk of wisdom: "Yaas. but
the he'll of il IS Kansas is always doing
| something ii never did before" The truth
| of that statement has been fully demon
| strated by observing the political contor-
| tions during the past six years. IL has
been anticipating that each day would fur
nish events with quick explosive and
tanic characteristics in keeping with the
dazzling pyrotechnics promised by Popu-
| lstic utterances. There have been many
indications OF scenes dramatic and sensa-
tional i'm the extereme. but the States So
| cial and economic fabric remains intact
! OF course, at times they have gone after
| each Others scalps INDUCED I'm personali-
| ties and cast more or less uncOmplimentary
nsinuations, but the people have been dis
appointed in the tameness OF the proceed
PoPULIsT PATERNALIsM.
| The number of senseless bills has ex-
ceeded expectation. For six years they have
| been bowling that the government had
| passed from the people into the hands OF
| the plutocrats. Until this nightmare era OF
| latter-day political saints struck US We inn
| agined that we were the freest people on
| earth In this administration the anarch-
| istic Populist is eclipsed by the one who
| believes I'm the extremes Of paternalism
and has an abnormal development OF the
idea that every business aud profession
| must be hedged about with governmental
| guardianship. restrictions and penalties.
| They imagine they have the power 10 con-
| struct a north-and-south railway the full
| length of the western hemisphere and regu-
| late everything else. down 10 Senator For
| neys chicken-license bill Think OF digni-
| fed senators wasting time over setting hens
and antiqueted roosters. Tney talk OF reg
| ulating BARRIERS and passing "A law to sup
press the wearing of corsets. OF course.
| IL will be necessary TO have inspectors to
| see that these laws are complied with.
| 1t occurs TO your correspondent that IL
| by any misfortune they should enact into
! hundred bills they have under consideration
| they would be able TO provide places for all
| the Demo-Populists and thus the Repub-
| licans would have 10 become the plain peo-
| pie. the laborers. the wealth producers.
end each one would have rninion of pater-
| nalism 10 tell hirn how to 90 his work ana
| conduct himself in society and business.
Their proposed measures destroy the free
| dom OF contract, trade and commerce and
| hamper the relations between man and
| man. They constitute the demagogue's os-
tensible purpose to fulfil his hypocritical
nTn nlGfE IN healn at rfr enr
and enterprise. those who are behind In
| the race of life.
Some fifty years ago the philosopher.
Herbert Spencer, discussed in a mastery
| manner the futility and folly OF legislation
to regulate business and personal conduct
| Prior te ms time Macaulay commented on
the legislation proposed by cranks and hem
headed men similar TO our modern Popu-
iistlc disease. In vain did kings and
parlaiments attempt 10 make people
eign viii weii-dgested " common % Sense sense
learn that laws have not the omnpotent
quality TO create morality and regulate all
the movements of man. They deal with
conditions, and not with theories: with i'm
perfect human nature. ana not with an
IDEAL OF perfection. Vexatious and severe
regulations are not evidences OF wise states
manship. Their tendency is TO harsss those
who employ labor. TO drive out capital and
destroy the spirit OF enterprise. The recent
remarks of Jerry Simpson along this line
were decidedly startling. he said:
Il am here "a prcvent the passage OF fool
! ish laws II / can. Interest cannot be reg
ulated by law. Usury laws affiict the bor-
/ rover moro than the lender. Another thing
| | am opposed 20 is this proposed law TO
| list notes and other evidences of Indebted
ness for taxation 1t viii make double tax
alton for the borrower "
This IS queer talk from the wild-eycd,
sccklesS statesman OF other years. It Is
| undoubtedly TIE same gentleman who dur
| ing camI.aigns wears secdy clOtf IS and no
socks and at Washington dcns silk stock
irEs and good clothes anc rides a bicycle
If Jerry can help Kill a few bills nc VIII
win the applause OF kansans and earn the
title OF statesman.
THE GOVERNOR SCORED.
The leading Populist country papers are
doing a brave and commendahle work in
turning the sesrchiight upon this admins
tration and legislature They seem to feel
r that wave OF foolishness has struck this
/ section OF our country. The useful states
man is now the wko can Kill time.
For regent II the State University the
, Governor has selcCted William Rogers. who
) was fired" from the same place under the
! Lewelling reign ON account of this APP
pointment the Dsmocratie railroad com