Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-05-21

There was the opportunity to secure the
thegisiadon hga Snd, ~ that the Stephens demag9gues
seize the opportunity. Oh, no. The elec>
ton bills were more important. Senator
Dowell, who has been telling all session
about how much he loves the common
people, moved TO postpone consideration of
the resolution until o'clock. All the Ste
phens demagogues voted for the motion.
The Republicans then saw that the night
must come AT once with avowed lobby
senators and the secret lobby senators all
up the Kansas City election bill. The mo-
ton 10 put the bill on third reading and
nnal passage was carried without giving
opportunity to debate the bill. Senator
Lyons protested against such high-handed
proceedings and asked as an act of cour-
tesy 70 be given ten minutes in which to
demonstrated his ancestry by objecting
while Senators around him cried: For
shame.'
Lyons Honest Indignation.
Senator Lyons. however did explain his
position when he voted no. He said:
Parties, like men. i'll their eagerness to
succeed often resort to tactics that are
scarcely excusable from politicians
standpoint, and from the standpoint of a
statesman and leader are worse than Il
crime, because they are colossal and all
destroying mistake. i believe IL was Mira
than crime. believe the passage of
these bills TO be one of those mistakes.
! am willing TO do anything To bring about
Democratic success except that which will
violate the sanctity of the ballot These
measures may not mean that Democratic
election officials are instructed tc stuff the
pallot boxes of the cities affected thereby,
put they provide protection for them il
tney choose TO do it, and il gives one po-
aIieal party power and furnishes the ways
ana means 10 thwart the will of the ma
1ority of the people as expressed by their
votes al the polls. This is not politics. II
Is me Jury Of party spirit against which
~ nsssauston, s.sn IN ms farewell address, so
earnestly warned us. 1 am opposed to
the passage of both these bills because
there is no ground either of public policy
or party eXpediency upon which they can
Public policy demands that law which
no man can complain of should not be
tnls state has urged the passage OF these
nlils; Where are the petitions from the
people OF Kansas City or st. Louis asking
a change in the law? There could be no
petition, because the persons advocating
the change would not make a corporal S
guard The law should not be changed.
ana found sufficient to protect the citizens
ana you VIII change it al your peril.
But there is still less reason for their
ency. ! am behind no man in a struggle
Ior party supremacy. am ready TO vote
sway OF the Democratic party. But when
a measure is brought into this house
which Will strike a death blow TO Democ-
idSSp IOE one. VIII raise my voice in pro-
test. My Democratic brethren, this legis-
lature has piled high mass OF campaign
material for the Republicans. and beseech
you not TO apply the torch of stolen cleo
tions TO the tfnder. Pass this law and from
every Republican stump in the next cam
Paign will ring the cry OF stolen elections.
Ihey VIII tell the people that an honest law
needed no change, except for the assistance
OF crime. And the people will believe them.
You Will find that a mistake in a mat
ter OF this kind is worse than a crime and
j ire
mission. protest in the first place as a
cltlzen that IL Is against public policy to
put any such measures upon the statute
books And 1 protest in the second place as
a Democrat against dealing death blow
70 Democracy. Judas Iscariot betrayed his
Master with a pompous display of affec-
tion. call every Democrat in this body
70 witness that ] am not ready to betray
my party with kiss"
But the Democratic senators paid no heed
70 Lyons words of warning. They sat in
stolid silence and voted for the bill
Nesbit Bill Called Up.
This disposed of, the next infamy on the
calendar was called up by Senator Morton,
who had not yet taken the chair IT proved
10 be the Nesbit bill, a greater enormity
than the Cardwell bill. for Stephens prom
ises 10 appoint Chauncey /. Filley as the
Eepublican member of the board of cleo
O'Clock and Senator Morton moved that a
vote be taken at o'clock. This applica-
tlon OF the gag rule brought such vigorous
protests from Senator Schweickardt and
other Republicans that the motion was
subsequently Withdrawn.
Bit Phelps friend, Senator Frank Far
rls threw of the mask when the critical
moment arrived. While Senator Davisson,
the Republican senator from Harrison,
sun held the floor and was talking on an
amendment TO the bill the voice of ..RilI''
Phelps friend, Farris, was heard high
above the din and roar of the mob. de-
manding that the roll be called. "Bilr'
Phelns friend, Senator John Morton, kept
pounding the gavel and ordering the ser
geant-at-arms to take Senator Davisson
on the floor. but Sergeant-at-Arms Reid
was SO incensed at the outrageous conduct
OF ::Bill'' Phelps representatives that he
positively refused TO arrest the senator
from Harrison.
Senator Davisson, although having
spoken on the bill for nearly two hours and
a half. oourageously held the floor, pro-
testing against the infringement of his
constitutional rights as a member of the
senate.
With all of "Bin" Phelps henchmen yell
ing and another of "Bilr' Phelps crea.
lures. Secretary of the Senate Con
Roach. reading the title of the bill and
afterward calling the roll at the TOD OF
his voice. Fiji" Phelps friend Senator
Morton. all the while pounding the gavel
Senator Davisson continued TO speak.
The Phelps secretary of the senate finally
handed the roll call to the Phelps presiding
oficer of the senate, John Morton. while
Governor Stephens stood near with his
innocent looking private secretary, and Al
torney General Crow, "Bill" Phelps polit.
ical brother. "Bill' Phelps friend, Sen.
ator Morton. announced the vote and de.
clared the bill passed amid the screams OF
the army of clerks put on the payrolls a,
the behcst of "Billi' Phelps and Governor
Stephens. Senator Morton and other Dem.
ocratic senators.
The vote announced. "Bin" Phelps
friend. Senator Frank Farris, jumped Il
his feet and moved that recess be taker
until o'clock tonight.
An "Opportune'' Recess.
"Bnl" Phelps had issued this order be-
cause the report had been circulated tina;
the house had refused to recede from its
amendments TO the revenue bill taxing Iail.
road, street railway and telegraph com.
pany franchises and it was necessary Il
'see' certain senators. Speaking to tht
very last, with might and main, Senate
Davisson would probably have held the
floor until Monday at noon if he had moi
been carried off on the shoulders of admir-.
ing Republicans.
In the meantime. important action haC
been taken hy the house. The revenue bill
went back trUT. the senate and n motion
was made to recede from the house fran
chise amendments. DR. DalZell, a Demo
crat who is as honest as the day is long
made an impassioned appeal to the house
20 stand firm and defeat the insidious at
tempt of the lobby to undermine all hon
esty in the legislature: defeat franchis,
legislation and at the same time perfect ;
scheme TO steal elections.
Democrats and Republicans Joined il