Mexico weekly ledger., 1901-01-10
(TS1siO~s fA,fil
.H 6P@lHOAY
BY C. T, ALLEN.

correspondence OF the Ledger
JEFFERSON CITY, No, Jan. AT
his early day Of the session one
Knows not what to say Of the present
legislature. AS 70 the outward ap-
pearance OF the members both sena-
tors and Representatives, many good
may be said; but be it remem-
pered that in the management Of the
Affairs Of state. good looks don't
much. "Pretty is as pretty
aoes'' is an old saying, but it has borne
itself through the lapse Of years
a great truth.
This Legislature viii go down IN o
States history commended OF damned
by what it does and what it refuses 70
10 do rather than by the good looks Of
its members or the smooth eloquence
Of the many good speakers by the
effects Of its deeds upon the plain peo
nile and varied interests Of the state
than by the wild applause Of
the lobby attendants
In the Senate twelve new men "ere
elected. three who were members
of the last House. and two old Sena-
tors reelected, thus showing that hf-
teen outof seventeen old Senators were
retired. and only two were reelected.
It nav be that these fifteen retiring
Senators didn't desire to be reelected
and voluntarily retired.
In the House 10 Democrats and II
Republicans were reelected and 10
are new members In the Senate
there are 25 Democrats and 9 Repubi-
Republicans; in the House - Demo
Gratis, 81 Republicans and l Populist-
Thus it is seen that the Democrats
have a good working majority in each
House, and will be held rSponsiblefor
all that is done during the session.
And vet, it is true, this general state
ment touching Democratic response
bility, often carries with it a false
hood. For instance, a bill comes up
for final passage. Good men differ as
to its merits. The Democrats are
nearly divided on its merits, honestly
50. The Republicans utterly reckless
Of its effect upon the people, il enacted
into a law, forsg0 their real opinins as
to its merits. and vote soiidly for IL
and then, in DAYS to come, berate the
Democrats for enacting such an in
famous law, Saving that II was passed
by a Democratic Legislature, and
thus hide themselves behind the gen
eral statement, true as a general state
ment that the dominant party is
always responsible for legislation.
A notable instance Of such a manip-
ulation Of the record occurred two
years ago In the House when the
Republicans voted, almost solldly,
against a franchise law, and thus
uniting their vote with the Democrat
ic minority, defeated the proposed
tax law. Aclose and analytical exami-
nationo Of the record will show that the
Republicans are more responsible for
the failure Of the passage OF the
franchise law than the Democrats
II things go wrong, the record vii
show who are responsible for il. That
record never lies provided nc mistake
is made in its make-up) il you look al
it and analyDe it properly, which il
seldom done, and then By only a YER
few men. 1t is the easiest job imagin
able 10 manipulate the record, ant
when so treated il will lie like a Choc
taw Indian and lead astray manl
well-meaning men. Many a publi'
miscreant has covered his tracks witt
a manipulated record, and, occasion.
ally, a good man has been wronget
by a shrewd and false showing OF
legislative record.
If a few brave and impartial mel
from each county could spend tn
winter with a Legislature, they, AM
through them their people, w0ul'
learn a great deal that would do then
good, and, perhaps, a great deal tina
would retire from legislative life quit
a number Of these public servants.
The Speaker, realizing the heav
work Of the Ways and Means Con
mittee, appointed the members there
ofon Friday, the third day Of the ses
sion, with Mr.. Hawkins, Of Marion
as chairman, and such tried and tru
men as Woolfork, OF Lincoln, Blail
Of DeKalb, Hamilton, OF Dayie:
Dellzell, of Webster, Williamson Scott
Ransdell, OF Cedar, as his co-workeri
There are no ''ifes'' on that commit
tees banner; and il lobbyists com
hereafter and take and possess 1t, tn
dead bodies of these brave defenders {
the people in the Legislature will B
FUND at the committee-ro0mdOo
There are men here-how many n
one knows-who will thew to the lin
Of right, let the chips fan where the
may" and when the tocsin OF wa
is sounded between the lobby and IN
people, they will take their stan
where the ''bullets fall thiekest an
steel glitters brightest.
II your readers will follow these lei
tiers from week 10 week. they wi
know something OF the acts and d,
ings Of the present Legislature, an
perhaps something Of the men VIII
will fight on either side.
When John Hampden, Of England
whose name will live as long as free
dom has a friend, went into III
rebel army to fight against monopoll
created and fostered by Charles th
First, he inscribed upon his regiment;
flag these immortal words: Mi
Veaigid Rdrorsum-no steps backward
Thus began over go years ago in Enl
land the struggle against the none
power, and Hampden's spirit stl
lives "Let the drum beat, my knal
sack Is slung." c. T. ALLEN.
a Royal EditoE.
There is at least one nswspape
- 60