The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-10-22
A DEFENSE THAT DOES NOT DEFEND

A DEFENSE THAT DOES NOT DEFEND
K C. Journal
On Saturday the much talked of
political handbook was issued from
the press of the Kansas State printer
at Topeka 1t has been boasted for
weeks by the Populist politicians that
when this document made its appear
ance the Republicans of Kansas would
| be forced to take to the woods in
dismay. After such heraldry it is
only with establishment that we may
contemplate this pamphlet, for it is
iDgloriOusly weak and puerile and so
dishonest in its argument that he who
runs may read.
Let us investigate for moment and
see how truly this charge of dishOn-
esty will apply. The pamphlet is en-
titled, "People Party Economy VS..
Republican Extravaganza" and the
whole burden of the testimony and
argument brought to bear is to estab-
lish that the Repu blicans have squau-
dered the peoples money while the
POpulIsts have saved it. While the
argument is very verbose the entire
testimony consists in the statement
that 1.-the records of the State auditor
show that Governor Morrill's admin
istration expended $3.50, 352.13 more
than the Lewelling administration"
Comparison is made with the Lewell-
ing administration because, it is
alleged, the Leedy administration has
not been long enough in power to
supply basis. 1t is probably true
that the State of Kansas expended
this sum of money during the Morrill,
administration in excess of the sum
expended during the Lewelling adj
ministration, but the statement that
Morrill,, the Republicans or the State
Repu blican administration expended
tits a downright falsehood and was in
tended by its authors to deceive the
people.
No money can be expended in be-
half of the State of Kansas without an
act of the legislature authorizing it.
No discretion is lodged in the State
officers beyond the dutyof economical
ly applying the money appropriated
by the legislature. A dishonest State
officer might swindle the State by
not expanding the money properly,
but he can get no money at all to
spend until it has been appropriated
! by the legislature. During the official
term of Governor Morrill, the legisla-
ture appropriated 5000 600 more than
it did during the administration of
/ Governor Lewelling, but il was not a
Republican Legislature. There has
not been a Republican legislature in
/ Kansas since 1888, and half of the
responsibility for Legislative acts of
every description has rested with the
POpulist party since that date. If
/ there has been extravaganza in public
expenditures within the last seven
years the POpulist party must divide
the blame with the Republicans, for
the Populists have controlled one or
both houses during all that time.
During the Morrill, administration the
Populists overwhelmingly controlled
the senate, and the senate is equally
responsible with the house for any
excess appropriations that may have
been made.
While striving to deceive the people
into the belief that the Morrill, admin
\ istration had plunged its hands into
the public treasury and taken out vast
sums of money, it was of course i'm
possible for this Populist hand book to
give the true story of how the legisla-
ture of 1895 came to appropriate $780,
900 more than the legislature of 1898.
This sum does not repsesent an in
crease in the cost of conducting the
affairs of the State. 1t represents
nearly 100000 expended on the Kan
sas State house, 100000 expended on
the Soldiers Orphans home, 100000
expended on the Hutchinson reforma-
tory, 100000, expended on the insane
asylums and large sums on the
educational institutions of the State.
Every dollar of the apparent excess
went into permanent improvements
which were sorely needed by the
State establishments, an<a COMPARE
son between the real expenses for ad-
ministrative purposes during the two
administrations shows substantial
saving upon the part of the Repub-
licans.
Another department of this Populist
handbook undertakes to show that the
last legislature, controlled in both
branches by the POpulists, made a
fine record. A list of laws is given
upon which the party stakes its claiH
for vindication. Some of these laws
are good, some are bad, but most OF
I :.