The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-25
CONGRESSMAN BOTKIN
Says he Does Not Think the Presi-
dent Should "Be the Whole
Thing"

Congressman ]. D. Botkin does not
agree with the Republican speakers
when they say that Republican con-
gressmen should be elected this fall in
order to back up McKinley's war poll
cy- In speaking on the subject he said:
'One of the most unreaSOna BILE posi-
lions taken by the Republicans in this
campaig ign is that the people should elect
the Republican congressional candidates
so as to have congress in harmony
with President Mckinley in the solution
of the grave problems growing out of
the war with Spain. In the first place
the congress elected this fall will not be
In session until year from next De-
cember, unless we have an extra SeS-
sion, which is not likely. My confidence
IN the president and his advisers and
the present congress is such that I. am
sure these problems will practically be
solved with a good degree of satisfac-
ton to the American people long be-
fore that time arrives.
In the next place the American peo-
pie are not ready for a dictatorship
even though the dictator might be Viii
liam Mckinley. The theory is that we
send people to congress to represent the
people, not the preSld ent. If our repre-
sentat1Ves are to be controlled by the
president, why send men to congress at
aIIE Let US abolish congress and en-
throne the president as dictator. 1t will
be remembered that one of the greatest
roars ever made in this country went
up from the Republicans and the rank
and file Of all parties a few years ago,
when Grover Cleveland was said to
nave absolute control of his congress
through the power of patronage
ne was the whole thing It is also well
known InaI many Republicans and all
the Democrats and Populists of this ma
ton are in revolt against Speaker Reed
because he has converted the house of
representatives into a house of regis
trars. whose real work is to register his
sweet will. And now the Republican
bosses of Kansas gravely propose that
the people shall elect men to congress,
FwrM he IT.
this matter, have practically pledged
themselves to be subserVient to the pres
ident rather than to the people. Thus
are the Republican politicians and lead
ers getting farther and farther from the
people. Never in the history of our
government have we so much needed
independent men in our legislative bod
aeS- Much as admire the many splend-
Id qualities of Mr.. Mckinley, I, for one,
am not willing that he should be made
the whole thing.
Another statement that seems to be
stereOtyped for the use of Republican
speakers, and which is as silly as 1t is
false, is that a vote for Republican
congressional candidates is a vote for
Mckinley and Americanism, while a
vote for DemO-POp candidates is a vote
for Spain" This statement may fool a
few Republican voters, but the masses
OF the people in this country who
watched the proceedings of congress
during the extra session, as well as the
regular session, know that it was the
0eIuOCTdLSs requests ana SILVER HepuD-
icans who made repeated and persist
ent efforts to bring up the Cuban bel
Hgerency resolution that had passed
both houses of the Fifty-fourth con-
gress, and had passed the present SEN
ate early in the extra session. They
also know that it was a Republican
speaker, backed by a powerful Republi-
can majority in the house, and by the
administration that prevented even it's
consideration. They know, too. that it
was the minority in congress that
voiced the sentiments of all the national
platforms adopted in 1896, and repre-
scented the general sentiment of the
American people in demanding that the
administration should hasten to the res
cue of the wretched victims of Spanish
misrule and cruelty, even though it
might involve war. They know that
every Populist and Democrat in con-
gress voted for the $50, 000 600 emergen-
cy bill except few absentees, and ev-
cry one of these wired that if present
he would vote for it. All informed peo-
pie know also that after war was de-
clared the Democrats and POpulists in
congress, at Manila, Santiago, and all
the army camps, exhibited quite as
much patriotism, bravery, and DISPOSE
ton to whip Spain to a finish as did the