The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-14
MRS. DIGGS ON ELECTION.
What Had the Victory of Dewey at
Manila to Do With Kansas
Internal Affairs.
d diseussing the defeat of de e

In discussing the defeat of the PopuIist
party and the advisability of calling a
special session of the legislature, Mrs. An
ME L. Diggs said:
"Oh, of course, I know the precise
cause of our defeat, but 1 won't tell 1t
may be unkind of me not to settle the
public mind on this point, but I ever have
in view the vindication of my sex and
am determined to refute the SANDER that
there is also little politics in my re
ticence. If We are to have a special ses-
sion of the legislature, I do not care to
make remarks. want everybody to
venture to give the casting vote for a
special session. There would be much
riSked, still, l think the odds are in favor
of good legislation. 1 see nothing high
handed in taking advantage of the legal
and constitutional rights of the case l
do not regard the objection that the
majority OF the people nave spoken agalnst
Popul!sm, ana that We are honor pound
to retire In the first place it is a ques-
ton if a majority of those who desire the
pass spoke a all a this election. In the
right. believe IN proportional represent
alton; the minority should have a chance
ion in this case for orderly, and equitable
procedure. I repudiate the assumption
that a referendum has been held in this
election as regards matters Whlch would
be legislated upon. The referendum as
advocated by progressive politics requires
a single issue to be considered and passed
upon ASSOCIATED from other propositions
Of candidates No one viii pretend to
say that state issues were thus clearly
campaign. The victory of Dewey at Ma
Mia figured to far more moving extent
ance. Territorial expansion, national
pride. loyalty to the flag and standing by
exploited with high pressure of eloquence
and the Legislators went down with the
congressman. There are several voters
in Kansas, as elsewhere. who can be depend
ed upon to be confused as 70 the merits
are due and no high treason is perDetTat-
Cd nv III a SnRPi3l session
laws which half if not more of the peo-
Die of Kansas desire I believe the pres
ent members would feel a high sense of
responsibility which would insure careful
their last experience and better able to
cope with the tactics of opposing partisan
ism. AS to the measures to be acted up
on, they should not be numerous, but such
as would be distinctly in line with the
economy toward which the Peoples party
always tended, and which have only re-
ceived a slight and temporary check. In
the way of railroad legislation there may
be something done, but that vast question
is of national scope and it is idle to hope
that anything short of public ownership
will thoroughly adjust that business The
during the last session to enact maximum
rates. The ground of my impeachment
of the legislature two years ago was not
so much failure of maximum rates as
failure to fulfill the pledge-that con-
In the matter of our state institutions,
there should be legislation placing them
them forever beyond the power OF parry
shifting to derange their conduct me
state board of charities should be cOmpOS-
ed of men, irrespective of party, OF such
especial fitness and of such irreproach-
able character that Kansas people might
repose entire confidence in their opera
lions. The metropolitan police law should
be wiped out of existence. The banking
law should be amended in accordance with
the suggestions made by the bank COM
missioner at the bankers convention at
LeavenWorth. The regents of the agri-
cultural school should be confirmed. If
Populism in all the years Of its effort and
struggle in Kansas had done nothing more
than to bring to the state the class of
| educators now at Manhattan it would
have justified its existence. We should
have an initiative and referendum law ap-
plicabIe to municipalities similar to the
| Nebraska law, through which cities may
] carry out plans for the employment of
| the unemployed and the helpless. sub
merged contingent of humanity. The war
department of the state could be dispensed
with. The labor bureau mission enlarged
from simply statistical and suggestive
functions to positive and constructive
work in the line of an employment agency
Through this most important bureau the
benehcent work of bringing order out of
chaos might begin, and the state might
take a step toward restoring to the indi-
vidual that right of opportunity which
the state has taken away from the pioneer
man. All, how much a Legislature might
do if in deed and in truth it would forget
partisaniSm and remember humanity.
Well if the Populist legislatu does not
meet and work for their fellowmen, why,
maybe the Republican legislature will do