The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-30
RowEN REARs zee PALM-
Representative Bowen is the Cham
pion Modest Legislator.


There are several members Of tic
house from the snort grass country that
are more thar ordinarily bashful but the
champion modest man Of the group has
been brought to iight- Ralph d Bowen,
who represents Smith county has receiv-
ed the distinction without coming for
ward to lay claim to it. In spite or not
having come forward, il had better BE-
said. Bowen is a blacksmith in Smith
county and a Democrat This is his first
trip TO the legislature. He had a chance
to make a speech yesterday and
wouldn't The house could stand a few
mora &c that kind.
The house got ranDageOus over ccur-
~ high school bills. as it has a. way of
CiOinE over little things when lit has m
SO through some sort Of work and can't
find any excuse to adjourn. First it
ripped into IT. j.. Hawkins, who had a
bill in to repeal an act giving Elk
county privilege to have a ligh school
at Howard. After q great deal of fuss
and feathers ard good many hard
words about the people Of that county
not knowing what they wanted. they
gave way to the right of a legislator to
have approved his measure that was OF
local interest only. It was not many
minutes before a county high school bin
came I'D bearing the name of Bowen
and asking for the privilege for Smith
There was a sputter in the back row
on the south side because the bill did
not provide that the matter should be
shown that it did, however provide that
petition Of a majority OF the tax-pay-
ers should be filed with the county
commissioners.
Ed McKeever took up the cudgel be-
fore this last discovery was made and
said he favored passing the bill and let
ting the responsibility for it rest upon
the author. He wouldn't miss a chance
like that he said, to remind the minor
1ty cf their love for the initiative and
referendum. Democrats and POpulists
sill look alike to the south siders and Mr.
Bowen is judged. by the company he
Keeps as we'll as by his appearance. lie
has a most patriarcha1 appearance. He
wears his hair extremely thin on top nf
hi head. while his face is almost com
pleteay hidden from view by a wide
originally now nearly frazzled to gray
It was settled that the petition method
would BE- accepted in lieu Of the recourse
70 a special election when r. NJ Wood
ward Of Republic said he would soon ask
1ut tnere seemed 70 be thirst for in
formation from the Smith county member
came Forward and said a little piece about
the high school and assured the other side
~ tq 1s,,l mouse that It was no repetition Of
the Elk county case of building a school
Without asking the peoples permission
There was a call-several calis-in an in
direct way. for Mr.. Bowen to explain his
bill and no one could understand why he
Gid not respond until E. F. Green OF Cow
''aIr. smith says that there is not a citi-
zen Of Smith county but wants the high
It remained for s. c. Martin of Rawlins.
himself making his maiden speech by his
acr. to rise and say:
Mr. Bowen. like myself. is A new. mem
Der ana timid about making a speech -
before the fun meaning of the Incident
was clear to all Then his bill was rec
commended tavorably without a hitch
though Air. Bowen did not even make the
customary motion himself. He sat in his
seat having just come in from a meeting
of the committee on rules, bathed in a
nervous Precipitation