Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-08-09
LEEDY WILL CALL AN EXTRA SES-
SION OF THE LEGISLATIVE.
WILL BE HELD IN OCTOBER.
DETERMINED TO put THROUGH HIS
PET RAILWAY SCHEME.
Rut He VIII Meet With strong Oppose
tiOn Among POpuIist Legislators
Declare They Will Not
BE Whipped Into
Line.

Topeka, Kas, Aug. S-(SpeCial0 From
reliable source it is learned that Governor
Leedy has determined to call the legislat-
IRE together in extra session in OCTOBER
During the past few days he has sum-
moned several Pop statesmen to Topeka
and consulted them concerning the matter.
He was inclined at first to have the leSls-
Iature assemble this summer and attempt
to pass a railroad bill that would he ef-
fective before the grain shipments COM
menced. but he concluded that it would be
better to wait until the Populists held Their
conventions in the various counties ana
stirred up their representatives,. SeVeral
conventions have already been held, ana
only about half Of them have said word
about 'exorbitant' freight rates. This has
been a disappointment to the governor lie
is quoted as saying now that he PROPOSED
to force the thing. When the legislature
convenes he expects TO lay aside his duties
as governor and join the lobby He will Try
TO whip the recalcitrants into line.
1t is predicted that he will have a merry
time doing il. Those Populists who voted
for the bill he vetoed claim that II would
have given the necessary relief and that
Lecdy vetoed it because it did not bear the
name of Leedy. They point TO the fact that
the very sections which he criticized IN NJ
and gave as his excuse for vetoing II were
clipped bodily from bill " 1lch ne got
through the senate four years ago while
member of that body. They assert that
I.eedy cannot drive them to do anything
If he attempts il they declare that they
will proceed TO pass some laws abolishing
the metropolitan system and several use
less boards. including the board OF par
dons and state board of health:
Walter Costigan, formerly editor of the
ottawa Journal, a close friend OF the gov
ernor until recently, has let the cat out of
the bag regarding the reason why Leedy
vetoed the so-called Harris railroad bill
last winter. He says:
This veto Is simply one feature of a
game of politics between Mr.. Leedy and
several other ambitious POpulist statesmen.
Ever since there has been Populist party
the railroad question has been a prominent
one Our people want a limitation placed
on the constituencies greed OF the roads.
Even many Democrats and Republicans
share with us this desire. This has brought
| forth several POpulist statesmen who want
| the exclusive glory for the passage of such
, a law. Hence the Brown bill and the Har-
| ris bill and the Ryan bill and the House
| holder bill. and this bill and that bill.
There has been and is now no end of
| rivalry and jealousy on this matter. No
| man in the party has this weakness more
| than Leedy. l regard IT the sole cause of
| his veto; and; II l am right IN my pre-,
| sumption, nothing but sudden death will
| prevent Leedy from calling a special SeS-
| sion. No matter what bill would have
| passed, / feel certain it was his intention
| to veto it, and to say that il was no good.
| This ne has done. Now he can call a
| special session; a bill will be passed; he
| can say it is all right, and then set UP
| claims to the sole glory for it
so you think there will be a special ses-
| sion?'
| Undoubtedly"
| "Will they pass maximum bill?"
| Certainly. The vetoed bill was a maxi
! mum bill. which is proof that most men
| who condemn that bill never read it. OF
| else don't know the English language when
| they do read it,