Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-03-18
!. nssone oP rME L.aIaLArURE.

! uuu 1uo uOAnWl" uAO hOW a" ShOh AZ
spectivp places OF residence receiving
their need OF blessings or cursings as
the CASE may be.
(! Mt al has been done that should
have been done BY any means and yet
we re happy to observe that all or
about all Of the important measures
that had been promised we're finally
pushed through. except the railroad
bill. Upen This question, We have not
altogether despalred. We are still
hoping that snme Of the members who
have returned 10 the bosom of their
constituency may, after feeling the
pulse, experience change Of heart,
ADd b. willing 10 be called back In
special session, to do their bidding.
Governor Leedy has expressed bis in
tention " so doing As soon as he can
receive any assurances that the pros
pect for accomplishing anything will
justify the expense.
The text book bill Is now a law, or
will be Is soon ~ published. 1t was
passed AT the last hour, and several
amendments were made which we're
finally disposed Of in conference CON-
mlttee. Just what defects the details
Of the bill as passed may show, we can
not tell, but trust that it is all right.
The general fee and salary bill will
no doubt work large saving to the
tax payers Of the state, and the stock
yards bill, although 1t is sure to go into
litigation, will we believe, stand the
test and work great saving to shippers
and dealers 10 stock which should be
felt to some extent by thDse who sell
their live stock to the shippers. The
antitrust law is another measure that
passed which should be of service. 1t
is nearly all definition, as Of course,
such law must needs be, and though
it has always been difficult to get q
law on this matter that can be en-
forced, we are all hoping this one may
be Of value. The Breidenthal bank
ing bill which imposes more safe
guards on the business, conducting to
conservative banking, also passed; and
a bill taxing foreign judgments went
through late In the session.
A bill intended TO remove all legal
obstacles to the purchasing and Operat-
ing of water works. electric lights and
other natural mOnOpolies by munich
palities also passed, but 1t is said to be
a failure through legal technicality.
These are the bill IF cardinal and gen.
eral Importance which passed The
bills regulating interest and taxation
failed, as did also the initiative and
referendum resolution, by only two
votes. However, this can not be
charged up against the party, as every
populist voted for it and they even Sc
cured few republican votes, but not
quite enough for the two-thirds ma
jOrity required.
Another bill which failed, was the
Alien Land bill. The attorney gen.
eral pronounced the one on the statue
books invalid by reason of never hay
ing been properly passed, and recon-
mended its re-enactment, which Was
not done.
We may always expect in any party
to get somewhat less in the legislature
than is promised in the campaign.
Legislators may be honest in making
the promises, but they are unsophiti-
Gated In the plausible, persuasive ways
of the lobby.
But the failure of the railroad bill,
the difficulty with which so many other
good and important measures, cardinal
doctrines of the party, were passed,
and the number Of good bills in line
with our promises which were not
passed, should teach us that more care
should be exercised in selecting our
standard bearers, particularly for leg
islative honOrs Not only men of
honor and ability are needed, but men
who are firmly grounded and rooted in
the faith of populism-men whose
minds are broader than the silver ques-
ton or even the money question.
There are times to be conservative and
times to be radical. The tendency is
now toward reaction and too much
conservatism. Our party is now get
ting big enough to be considered and
recognized as a helping or hindering
force, by the corporate powers. Care
must be taken that success work not
he corruption, decay and defeat that
no amount of calumny and persecution
could. We are now getting strong
enough to furnish inducements to the
spokesman and those who work their
tricks for a price.