The Topeka state journal., 1897-06-25

upon the money question. There are
several other important principles for
which we have been contending for
years, but none so important as the fin
ancial problem"
who is your choice for vice presi-
dent?"
waiter Clarke of North Carolina,
associate justice of the supreme court
of that state"
Arthur SewaH. Tom Watson or Abe
Steinberger wouldn't suit you, then?'
Il know SewaIl and Watson won't do,
but I'll have to have time to think it
over before answering about Stein
berger" This with dry humor. Who
ever is nominated will be elected
Walter Clarke is a noted reformer,
whose writings in the Arena and other
attracted wide attention. Clarke was
formerly a Democrat now a Populist.
Speaking of the failure of Speaker
Reed to appoint the necessary commit
tees in congress, Mr.. BOtkin said:
4 think he is imposing a menace up
on the public welfare. Reed, person
ally, is fine man. He is the greatest
man in this nation, beyond any uues-
ton. He has probably established
more rules than any parliamentarian in
the United States. His rulings are the
highest authority. But, after all,
think he has departed from the right
path in this matter. He should do
more for the public welfare and less to
sustain the science which he has made
government hO1SP
Of congress.
Continuing Mr.. Botkin said: kansas
occupies high place in the minds of
the people of the east, the Republican
press TO the contrary Notwithstanding.
The members on the floor of the house
occasionally take sly digs at US but
they respect Kansas, her people and
treat the congressman with as much re-
Spect as is accorded to other members
on the floor. OF course we all under
stand that the congressman from the
eastern states are engaged in the one
Idea-mOney getting. All other inter-
ests must subserve that. The struggle
for wealth destroys every other ambi-
ton in them. That is one of the rea-
sons why the wealthy lobbies get in
their work.
There is not in congress the bitter
ness existing among the Republicans
Democrats and Fopulists which many
would have you believe. There is the
utmost good feeling. The Repu ublicans,
many of them, have talked to me very
freely during this, my first few weeks
of work. They have even gone so far
as to confidentiaIly criticise Spea ter
Reed for his position with reference to
the appointments of committees If
the members would vote their senti-
ments upon this question the speaker
would be OVer-ruled. But the Republi-
cans, when it comes to a show down, of
course, vote with Reed. They do it as
partisans and not as guardians of the
public welfare. This is another instance
where party politics stands in the way
OF benefits to the people.
Coming out of Washington talked
with a man who is said to be the most
extensive farmer in Maryland. 1 asked
him concerning the financial condition
Of the farmers of that state. He re
Piled that as a class they are absolute
" bankrupt was aStOniShed at hear
ing this statement but further inquiry
and investigation of the conditions con
vinced me that my informant was cor
rect. In fact the agricultural classes of
the east are in q serious condition They
are 50 much oppressed by vicious laws
that they have most serious and ter
rible struggle for existence This is not
only true of the farmers but of the Ia
boring classes in general. Wages are
being cut down by reduction of time
IN manufacturing districts; they are
taxed to support the big enterprises
created and fCstered by tariffs; they
are imposed upon, crowded down and
trampIed upon by their Representative
in congress to whom they appeal in
vain for relief. While constituents suf-
fer, officials gather in whatever money
comes to them, whether through legitf-
mate or other sources and neglect the
interests of the people. It should not
be so. A change is sure to come.
Ihe most hattering prospects I have
seen IN my trip through the states of
the east, are seen in Kansas. want
to tell you that would rather take my
chances in the eastern half of Kansas
than in any state east of the Mississip-
pi river. Kansas is always at the front
and am proud to claim this state as
my home.
Il have done nothing but work among
the various departments, principally
upon pension claims [ have been tJv-
ing to do all I can do for the old soldiers
Of Kansas and have been successful in
many pension cases which have been
taken up in the department. I eniov
the work but do not relish the delay to
which we are being subjected in the
consideration of the tariff bill''
Mr.. BOtkin left Topeka this morning
for Washington. He has been absent
two weeks having visited his father and
mother at Attica, Harper county and
his family at Winfield. He visited his
brothers, Department Commander Bot
kin and J. T. BOtkin of the Santa Fe
secret service department in this city
yesterday.
sNIDER VISITS M'NALL.