The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-20
Representative Grattan Swings
Whip With Thwack.
CRY OUT FOR MERCY.
Postponement Taken After 9
Bitter Debate.
Representative McKeever Also
Assails the Trust.

Dale yGSAGAd11J Liz Straw WAS LAOA0A9A-
~ threshed over Grattan and the sup
porters of his bin smote the book trust
hip and thigh and told right out in
meeting how the Ubiquitous octopus
reared its head from afar, being safely
lodged in a Kansas City hotel. across
the Missouri line, from whence it
reached out to gather Kansas legislators
in its NAV. For two hours after con-
vening they wrangled over the question
OF taking up the book bin or postponing
its consideration till today. At the end
of that time the opponents were beaten
into submitting by a vote of So to Al. The
reading Of the bill was then begun, and
this was still in progress when adjourn
ment was taken 1t is not certain but
that the opposition gained a point any
how. because after four hours debate
the bill was laid off over night and the
several hours intervening until the
house gets into committee of the whole
again gives the opposition delay enough
to cook up all the trouble they can pos
sibly fix up. which isn't considered
enough to change the result Of the uIti-
mate adoption of the Grattan bill
Just before the vote was taken Graf
tan made one of his characteristic
speeches. He went after the teachers Tor
being here lobbying instead of tending
to their duties He assailed DoOley as
bore his name and went into a detailed
explanation of his own work in con-
structing the present Grattan bill or
the one introduced by the education
committee. He said that the first bill
that he introduced didn't correct all the
defects in the present law and with the
rest Of the committee, he wished to have
drawn another As he was the lawyer
on the committee it fell to him to draft
the substitute for his own bill
During the early stages Of the debate
the minority had not q word to say.
They were drilled and marShaled.
Neither Johnson of Decatur nor Lew
Belts, the Butler county farmer, with
both OF whom the literary society style
Of forensic disputaton, which is % get
In and out whether they have anything
worth saying or not, ventured to tug at
the leash that held them back. The fu-
sionists had their course all mapped out
in caucus. Toward the last Bowman
and Babb did venture in a little.
Bowman broke the ice on that side. 81
have learned from experience he said
in his smooth, bland way. never to take
sides in family row. But I just want
to say that you fellows have only got to
get p fellows to vote with you for state
uniformity. / have here at my back AZ
solid votes that will help you
Up to this time the war Of words had
blazed hot.
Harris. of Lyon, as an old soldier.
history that the G. A r. condemns as
unpatriotic. GiessIer, OF Logan, and
Biddle, of Comanche, asked that the bill
go over another day in fairness to mem
bers who want to satisfy their informa-
ton. Biddle said. i don't believe it's
good politics or good sense
Rees, Of Ottawa, made the point that
it was useless to have a competent COM
mittee select a bill and then throw open
the gates to have all the bills that went
through the committee hopper printed
and the grist all ground over again by
the whole house It would not be good
business"
He made good speech urging that
state uniformity should not fail on one
book, besides that evil was the fault
of the judgment OF the commission.
Ed McKeever next assured the old sol
diers that the offensive Jeff Davis,
patriot, history would not be selected
by the next commission. Now we must
not go back on state uniformity -
Who proposes to go back on state
uniformity asked Grosser
I get through mine
VIII you answer my question who's
going back on state uniformity?'
THE gentleman from Lyons (Harris)
for one. and there may be Others re-
piled McKeever.
McKeever continued with an expose
Of trust methods. He said the outside
trust came to him two weeks ago say
and attempted to get him on their side.
Then. thank God, these gentlemen
saw through the trap and turned square
around.
There was round of hearty applause
at this.
AS for George w. Crane, he and his
fought me at the polls lasr election
McKeever claimed impressively that
his hands were therefore clean and he
said that Grattan and Nelson were also
working for the best interests Of KAN
sas. This is a clean legislature, too he
said
There is one fellow who was here
four years ago who has never got nearer
this legislature than Kansls City and
now communicates with Topeka by tel
ephone-"
James Lawrence said Superintendent
Nelson's deadly parallel has been pub
lished- One time he's against the law
the next time he's in favor of it. Let
him explain himself
Lawrence said he was representing the
teachers Of Sumner county, who protest
ed utterly against the Grattan bill.
DoOley termed infamous the charges
made by Cranes pamphlets and favored
an investigation.
DOoley in continuing his fiery speech
resented the imputation that the on
ponents Of the Grattan bill were in
I fuenced by a trust. He charged the ed
ucation committee with calling up the
/ special order today as simply choking
! teachers getting consideration He plead
with the minority to support his motion
4 to get another days postponement
Harner stated that his bill was rather
in the nature Of amendments to the
\ Grattan bill to cure two evils and he
would risk getting them into the general
bill.
Harris took exception to McKeever's
statement T am in favor of uniform
ity," he said, but not SUCH uniformity
that rams rebel history down our
throat
Meanwhile the time was slipping away
ana no progress making More mem
1 bsrs talked, Hefley, of Osborne and
Short, of Cloud The latter said he was