The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-04

Arthur S6WalI, Late OemocraI1c y
ernor, shaking hands with the news
paper man. Just set me right.
The interview was written and pub
lished The governor through some of
his friends purchased several hundred
copies of the paper containing the state
ment and circulated them among the
delegates. When the convention as
sembIed the opposition because of the
opinion that Lewelling did not want a
denomination had disappeared, and
LeWelling was renominated by accla-
nation He was, however, defeated by
THE FIRST MESSAGE.
After the result of the first election
was known Governor Lewelling hired a
man to take charge of his butter and
egg business at Wichita and assumed
the duties of the chief executive. He
found time each week to go to Wichita
and personally give attention to the bus
mess. Before being inaugurated the gov
ernor spent some time on his farm pre-
pairing his message to the legislature
1t was not a remarkable document. 1t
was in many respects like other mes
SageS, long and unintereSting but it
was read more than the average message
because the governors political op-
ponents were seeking flaws in it upon
which to hang causes for future on
s1aughtS against him. The message
among other things suggested the fol-
lowing:
ASSGSS-
ment and taxation.
To reduce the state and county debt.
To reduce the legal fees paid to news
papers for official and legal publications.
Appropriations for the state schools.
Free school text books for the state.
Aid for the state historical society.
Recommended an investigation looking
towards the establishment of a binding
twine plant at the state penftentiary.
Criticised the officers of the law for
evading the prohibition law and ini-
mated that it would be enforced how
ever lame and inadequate it might be-"
Amendments to the state railroad
commission law so to give the COM
missioners power to enforce their de-
cisions.
Here is the Scylla and Charybdis of
1.-THE inefficacy of too little power on
one hand and the constitutionality Of too
much power on the other hand
Prohibiting the bestowa1 of free rail-
road passes by the railroads.
For revision of the statutes of the
state.
For a revision of the constitutional
provision that the governor could not
veto an Objectionable article is an ap
preparation bill without disappearing the
entire bill.
For the creation of a court of appeals.
For q revision of the election laws.
To protect all employees in the exercise
of free and unrestricted ballot.
For repeal of the ''appraisemenr
waived clause OF mortgages
For a screen law to protect miners
The establishment of the state grain
inspection under the state board of agri-
culture, with the appointing power
lodged with the governor.
The binding twine plant was established
before Lewelling died, by the Republican
majority of a legislature IN which the
the state senate from SedgWick county.
The screen law came later.
Under ordinary circumstances Lewellng
was conservative, but he was subject to
excitement and when in this condition be-
came the subject of ridicule on the part
of opposition papers because of his utter
ances. When Coxey's army was march,
ing through Kansas LewelIing made a
9nS tt,ere s uttered some Of the widest sort
of predictions about the future IF the de-
mands now being made by an oppressed
people were not needed" Lewelling re-
cially when he realized that the mission of
the Coxey army had failed and that the
lnoS SelfsTS1f ENEMY OF BREIDENTHAL-
When the time came to nominate can
anst aa feE or TG John 'fs
thai was talked Of He declined. and
started out to make w A Harris the
had appointed Breidenthal bank commits
sioner. the latter was opposed to Lewell-
ingss policy. Breidentha1 denounced in un-
measured terms some of the men Lewell-
ing gave positions of trust This caused
an enmity between the two men and
Lewelling went to the Abilene convention
to prevent the nomination of Harris be-
cause Breidenthal had said that such ac-
ton was the proper poll ~ to pursue.
LeWelIing himself became a candidate:
he besought others to enter the race and
so managed affairs that before the con-
vention was organized the defeat of Har-
ris was apparent. Lewelling had no
chance for the nomination and he knew
it but he was lingering on the outside of
the fighting line with his forces ready to
name the man at the proper time, and he
did it. Atchison county was one Of Lew
elling's strongholds- The delegates had
been voting for LeWel1ing in the conven-
ton. At a signal from LeweIling Atchi-
son county cast her vote for John w
Leedy Then the scramble began. As the
roll call proceeded counties jumped fran
ticalIy into the Leedy band wagon and
before the astonished opposition to LEVEL
ing could obtain their bearings and rally
the scattered forces Leedy was the nomt-
nee.
For this service LeweIling was made
member of the state board Of railroad
commissioners While occupying that po-
sition Lewe1ling was elected senator from
Sedgwfck county and held the two offices
despite the protests of some Of his party
associates for some time.
In the death of Governor LeWeling,
John Breidenthal loses one OF his most
bitter political enemies
When the Leedy administration retired