The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1901-03-08
WHAT HOPKINS SAYS.
The DepOsed State Senator Expresses His
Opinion of the Politicians Who
Robbed Him of His Seat.

Selden g. Hopkins, of Hoxie, who
was elected by the fusionists as state
senator Of this Thirty -ninth) senator
ial district, and whose seat was taken
from him by the republicans on con-
test proceedings, says in an editorial
in his paper, the Hoxie Palladium:
"By virtue of the power of the re-
publican majority in the Kansas state
senate the editor of this paper is now
a private citizen. Without other ex-
cuse than that Of power the writer was
last week deprived of his seat in the
upper house Of the Kansas legislature
Without other justification than that
of political necessity, the republican
politicians have committed a theft
that is not only an injustice to the
writer but an outrage on the people of
this senatorial district and a stain on
the politics of our great state. 1t was
a steal, plain and culpable. It is so
characterized among republicans
themselves. For the first time in the
history of the Kansas senate members
of that body have been ousted on con-
test proceedings. Senator Ross,
bright young farmer and stockmsu of
Rice county, who occupied a seat by
the side of the writer, has the distinct
ion of being the first Kansas senator
to be unseated for political purposes.
Twelve hours later the writer gave up
his seat to Charles Buschow. Sen
ator Ross was elected by 70 majority,
the writer by -. While these major
tiles were small, they expressed the
will of the electors of the 35th and 18th
districts. Many of the republican
senators who voted for and were par
ties to this crime, were elected by
smaller majorities than either Senator
Ross or the writer.
MANY people will wonder what
could be the object of such high hand
ed proceedings. 1t is easy to explain.
The senators are elected for term of
four years, or two regular sessions of
the legislature. A United States SEN
ator is to be elected two years from
now, to succeed ". A. Harris, whose
term expires at that time. Should the
lower house have a populist majority
at the next session, the republican
politicians saw the necessity of having
as large a majority in the upper branch
of the legislature as possible to ensure
a majority in joint ballot and thus to
elect a republican United States SEN
ator.
"The writer made as hard fight as
he could. He did not do this entirely
on his own account, but he felt that it
was duty he owed to the people who
elected him. He had had very little
experience in politics and could not
believe the members of the senate
could be whipped into line to do him
and his people so great an injustice.
1t is but justice to them, however, TO
say that most of them did not want to
do it, and some Of them went out of
the senate chamber, when the vote
was taken, and would not vote to rob
two young men Of the positions TO
which they knew they we're honestly
and fairly elected. The politicians
who were the prime movers in this
outrage deserve the contempt of every
honest man, whatever may be his po-
litical faith. That they expect to be
rewarded for their dirty work goes
without saying. That there can be no
reward commensurate with their dast-
srdly conduct is also true. The wri-
ter's confidence in the honesty ana
fairness of the voters leads him to be-
lieve that such political brigsnds will
never be rewarded at their hands, but
that they must look to the bosses
whose hirelings they were"