The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-22
BUSINESS VS..
PARTlSANSHIP.
Gov. Stanley Says Kansas Is
Crippled by Politics.
He Would Have Legislature
Meet In Off Years.
WANTS TIME TO THINK
During Session Is Busy List
ening to Office Seekers.
Some Reforms He Would Sug-
gest to Law Makers Now.

Since taxing charge OF the executive
office, Governor Stanley, so he says
himself, has learned g. number of things
which he believes could be put into
practice for the benefit of the people of
the state, provided of course, that the
legislature would forget the partisan
ship which kills good laws and enacts
many bad measures for the govern
ment of the state.
The governor has one idea which is
entirely new but it is one which will
probably never be carried into effect SO
far as practical operation is concerned.
He said:
I think it would be far better for the
state II the legislature of our state met
in the off years and am not sure but
it would be best to have the sessions
late in the summer or early in the fall,
at such times when the people are not
involved IN a hot partisan campaign IN
which the advancement of every h1ng
but party is neglected.
I can but recount my own expert
ences in considering this subject" said
the governor in conversation with
Journal reporter, but they have been
such that L can readily see where the
advantages would arise by having the
legislature meet in off years.
THE campaign a year ago was decid-
eddy lively and the candidates on the
various tickets did all that they could
do to poison the minds of the people
against the opposition. This was the
partisanship idea carried into opera
ton Then came the election followed
Immediately by the legislature, the in
auguration and the dispensation of the
patronage.
The time which I set apart for the
preparation of my message to the leg
islature was occupied for the most part
in hearing applicants for hearing. This
was perfectly legitimate because the
men who sought the positions had
right to ask for them and I was in
n a hearing. /
worked at night on my message and
finally sent it to the legislature, but |
now see many places in which could
suggest reforms. The suggestions could
be better made if the legislature were
now about to convene.
when the legislature met last winter
I was overwhelmed with patronage
matters. I was besieged night and day
by men who wanted places. The 1egis-
lature was crowded in at the same time
and 1 could not give the affairs of my
office the attention which should pc
given them. 1t was a rush from be-
ginning to end and many things which
should have received attention were
overlooked.
Il presume every man who has been
governor of this state has had the same
experience. The conditions which sur
round the biennial sessions of the legis-
lature prevent the governor from ac-
cOmplishing what would be of inest1-
mable benefit to the state. Then i'm
mediately after the elections when the
Z
tisan lines it is a difficult task to dis
abuse them of the partisan idea and
unite their representatives on issues
which would prove valuable were they
put into active practice.
Were the legislature now about to
convene / could recommend legislation
concerning the management of the pen
itentiary. I could go before the COM
mittees and the legislators and explain
the advantages arising from parole
system for the cOnVicts- could not
do this last winter because Of the press
of. other business.
another important subject which I
could discuss and work on is the high
school course in this state. In the first
place 1 would have a course strictly
uniform throughout the state. For ex-
ample: The Topeka schools have stud
les in their senior year that Wlchlta mas
in the sophomore. The opposite is also
true Could I have my way 1 would
have the course in every high school the
same In those high schools which do
not extend their course as far as in the
larger towns, l would make the shorter
course subordinate to the larger and
so arrange it that it would complete,
on graduation the same relative studies
found in the higher schools. That is If q
city could maintain a high school course
of but two years I would make that the
same as is found in the first two years
| of the higher courses, then a pupil go
/ ing from a smaller to larger town
! could start in school with fair Oppor-
/ tunity Under the present system
/ change from one town to another places
! the pupil at a great disadvantage by
! being compelled oftentimes to take up
| what has been completed in other
| courses.
| "A strictly uniform course so ar
ranged as to give the pupil the ad-
| vantages, seems to me, to be the rea-
| sonable solution of this question.
| There are many laws which need
! amending; some need to be repealed
| and penalty clauses should be attached
| to others which are now practically
| dead letter. 1 am not sure but session
| of the legislature every four years, in
an off year, too, would be about all the