The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-08
WON'T BEHAVE.
House Republicans Refuse to
Be Steered
By the Steering Committee and
Consequently There's
NO END OF TROUBLE.
Suspicion Rife That Some Are
Favored
By the Lobby of the Corpora
tiOns, While Others
NO END OF TROUBLE.
Are Ignored and General 1rri-
tatiOn All Around.

The house Republicans have a steer
ing committee which cannot steer. 1t
was appointed at a caucus held last
night, but many members have already
declared that they will not be guided
by any committee.
The cause of the caucus was that the
Republicans have not been pulling to-
gether, and as a result the few Popu-
lists in the house have been playing
horse with them. For the past ten
days some of the Republicans who wish
to pose as leaders" have been trying
to have a caucus called in order that
the majority might ''get together" but
the majority does not seem to have had
any desire in that direction. The last
time an effort was made to hold eau
Gus not more than Is or 20 mem berS
were present. Last night there was a
bare majority.
There are several reasons for this
lack of interest in caucus matters. Some
of the members got wind of the inten-
ton to appoint a steering committee
to rule their actions, and they got mad
and stayed away on that account. 9th
erS are too busy to pay any attention
to a caucus, and still others, a cOnSid-
cradle number, always spend their even
ings in committee" meetings. These
committees are generally composed of
four members, and gather around a ia
pie, studying the comparative merits of
two pair and three of a kind, and keep
ing tab on their decisions with red,
white and blue disks. These commit
tee meetings are held by both Popu-
lists and Republicans, and sometimes
last all night. It was after a meeting
of this kind a few nights ago with a
Nebraska man that some of the mem
bers of the legislature are said to have
found themselves short $3.50.
One cause of dissension among the
members of the house is that they have
grown suspicious of one another since
the oleomargarine episode. 1t is claim
ed that some are afraid that others
will get in closer touch with the lobby
than they are. and the result is that
they constantly regard one another
with the greatest doubt
The matter of united action was
brought up at the caucus last night and
a committee of five appointed by the
chair to nominate the steering COM
mittee. The following were appointed
on the steering committee: Henley,
chairman: Dawes, Adams of Sedgwick,
Brooke. Grattan, Hoag and Mason.
1t is alleged that this committee was
decided on between Speaker Osborn.
Bale Waggoner, J. A. Richards, and a
few other outside politicians, MEM
bers of the third house" several days
ago. and that the speaker had the list
in his pocket before the caucus met.
Among those who will not be steer
ed'' are Willis, Flannelly, Grosser and
others. who maintain that they will not
turn their individuality and independ-
ence over to any committee. Gregory is
also against the committee on some
measures and he is another who, it is
said, will issue a declaration of indie
pendence. Grattan has been one of the
most persistent kickers on the Republi-
can side. He has always acted indie
pendently, and in order to fix him
he was put on the committee.
Fogles mining bill was brought up
for action in the caucus, and caused
division. This bill is favored by the
miners, but its consideration has been
postponed from day to day. Some of
the members demanded that 1t be con-
sfdered yesterday afternoon, but Mr..
Dawes led the opposition against it to
have it postponed again. Some of the
Usage county miners went to Mr. Greg
DRY and persuaded him to favor the bill
and he came out in opposition to
Dawes.
After discussing the bill for nearly
two hours the friends of the bill headed
off any action by the caucus with re-
gard to it.