Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-03-17

Topeka, Kan, March 1.-THE popu-
list administration OF the state OF Kan
sas gave out startling public address
yesterday, one OF severe criticism on
The recent decision Of the United
states supreme court in the Nebraska
maXlmum freight rate case. The
address is particularly significant in
that Governor Leady mas already
taken steps preliminary to calling the
states Legislature II special session
With the especial purpose OF enacung a
maximum freight rate law. While
the address given out is over the sig
nature OF Governor Leedy, il was first
nature OF Gov. Leedy, it was first ap-
proved by Chief Justice Doster OF the
state supreme court and prominent pop
ullst. In giving the address to re-
pCrters Leedy said: How long do
you suppose a man can write treason
like this without getting into Jail? You
may put my signature to it, and make
it signed statement, so if anybody
gees to jail it will be me-"
The governor begins the address
with the statement that for a year the
press dispatches have said the opinion
in the Nebraska case would be adverse
to the state and he insipuates that
these forecasts were put out in ad-
vance by persons connected with the
court in order to feel the public pulse
Then he says: THE opinion has been
handed down and the dispatches say
that it is a clean victory for the rail-
roads. On the contrary it is an I'M
clean victory, every aspect Of the
Ease showing that no matter how care
TulIy the robes Of justice are folded
about the personnel of the supreme
court, these robes can no longer con-
ceal the cloven hoof of official NAL
seasance and usurpation.
The governor declares that the con-
stitution of Nebraska gives the legis-
lature power to establish maximum
charges for transportatiCn, and that
the supreme court has tried to abro-
gate it. He challenges Justice Har-
Ian's declaration that a corporation
is a person under the fourteenth
amendment to the federal constitu-
ton, and says: How, in the name
of God, can the fourteenth amend
ment apply to corporations? Cor
poratiOns are not born, they are Gre
ated-made by law. They cannot
be naturalized; they can take no oath
of allegiance; only human beings
born elsewhere can do that"
After more in the same strain the
! governor, still referring to the four
teenth amendment, says: Nobody
but a slave or a knave will yield as
! sent to the hideous distortion of the
meaning which Judge Harlan gives
| to the word person as used in the
fourteenth amendment, and upon
which he bases his infamous de-
! cision, and which shows to what
| depths Of inquiry the supreme court
! Of the United States has descended -
In conclusion Leedy states that his
| maximum rate bill will be presented tc
the Kansas legislature in such shape
| chat to decide against it the court must
! reverse the decision in the Nebraska
case, and he states that elf the court
still pursues the corrupt and rotter
practices it has heretofore, by chang,
ing it's decision to suit the shifting
interests of the railroad corporations,
the remedy will be with the people il
their dealings with courts, or in build
ing railroads of their own