The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-27
He RAPS CURTIS.
Senator Kennedy Charges Him
With Being Inconsistent.
Says He Started the Trouble by
Fight on Bailey.
PECK is UNCERTAIN.
Says SenatOrship Is Not the
Whole Thing.
Pringle's Supporters Claim He
Has Already Won.
PECK is UNCERTAIN.


howls because he gets whipped in fight
which he started himself When he
starts a row and then gets licked he
ought not to blame the other fellows
because the row was started"
This is the opinion of Senator Ken
nedy of Coffey county He handed il
down Wednesday at the Copeland. He
was speaking of the senatorial contest
Curtis came out from Washington
last spring" continued Senator Ken
nedy, "and did all he could to prevent
the nomina ton of Bailey for governor
Curtis and Eurton both went to the
Wichita convention and lined up every
delegate they could against George e.
Cole, Baileys candidate for chairman
That was Bailey's fight-nOt Curtis, but
Curtis broke into it.
Now Curtis friends are setting up a
howl because Bailey is taking hand
in the speakershiD contest instead of
sitting down and letting Curtis have it
all his own way. After Curtis did as he
did at Wichita he ought not to kick be-
cause Bailey stands by his friends in
the organization of the house"
One of the measures that Senator
Kennedy proposes to push in the COM
ing legislature viii be a change in the
poll tax law. making the tax payable
in cash instead of work
The present law is very unsatisfac-
tory all around" he said in speaking of
the matter. THE farmers especially in
my county want it changed. At present
when a man works out his road tax
he takes his poorest team, cuts the day
short at both ends, the work is done
without system. and the chances are
that he leaves the road in worse condi-
ton than when he began. The farmers
who have to haul loads over the roads
don't like it. and in my county-and 1
think it is the same over the state-they
would rather have the road tax paid in
cash and then have the roads worked
systematically"
Members of the house who are behind
Pringle's candidacy for speaker claim
that the speakership contest is already
definitely settled 1t is asserted that
nearly sixty members have already
lined UP" for Pringle, while it will re-
quire only As to nominate him in the
house Republican caucus.
ITO my mind there are other things
to be done in the coming legislature be-
sides elect a United States senator, -
said Charles N. Peck. representative
elect from Cloud county. My people
elected me to look after their interests in
legislation, and I am more interested IN
donig that than 1 am in electing a
United States senator. The house ought
to be organized with view to good leg
islatton rather than to help make some
body United States senator. For in
stance 1 hope all the gratis will be cut
off this year Some of the appropria-
tions that got through the last legisIa-
ture were simply scandalOus They
were gratis on the face Of them The
ways and means committee which
handles those things, ought to be made
up of good sound business men who are
not afraid of work and who will watch.
the interests of the taxpayers OF course.
the state charitable institutions and
such things as that should have liberal
appropriations, but the gratis ought to
be weeded out. Other Committees
should also b made UP with a view OF
careful legislation On this account
have not wanted to line up on the
speakership matter until | understand il
more thoroughly. That is why | haven't
announced myself 1 am thoroughly a
friend of Mr.. Bailey and he knows If
but do not like to come out hat-footed
for anybody until know more on the
subject"
A K. Robinson, editor of the Cawker
City Ledger. tells the following remi-
nlscence of Chief Justice Doster:
Bale Waggener has appointed Frank
Doster assistant attorney for the Mis-
souri, Pacific railroad. at salary Of
$4,000. He has selected one of the hest
men for the position he could find in
tEe state We knew Doster soon afte,
he landed in Kansas. We were running
little sXl2 paper in Marion, the first
one they ever had in the town. ",
Kept patch In our office, little room
over harness shop, and the young at
torney frequently visited with us Fl.
had no wife then and he put in goo
deal OF his time reading our exchange
ana watching US soak our bread IL
gravy. We knew Frank would amount
to something he had no bad habits
and was very studious. Since then h,
has been member of the legisIaturA
Judge OF the Twenty-ffth judicial dis.
and
the supreme court. and we-are still
running little weekly paper and trv.
ing to make both ends meet"
Burlingame Chronicle: Soon after elec
non II became apparent that the sera
teIlaI l, question. ewing to the activity o
senator. threatened to completely absorl
the legislature and overshadow all othel
matters. The people generally were hon
ing that in some way this migbt be o,-srt -
ed, that there might be a friendly anf
pleasant solution to the house organiza
non Inc senatorial candidates realize
the danger of the situation and Instead q
announcing candidates for speakershiy
were soaring for position. There wa,
general feeling among them fha
they would like a man who would be faii
toward all. Governor Bailey 100 feit
keen interest in the organization He vii
be responsible for the affairs of state an,
the work of the legislature will eitber a. ~ i
or handicap him in his efforts to continu
Gov Stanley's good work and Cioverno
Bailey naturally felt that he could no
nave lue administration SnlpWrPcked in
senatorial storm. They looked for a ma,
who could come nearest to being accsD
table to all There a reason for thei
turning to Pringle- They know his fitnes
! and they know his fairness The one Sid
knew that he was instructed and wo,iI,
vote for Curtis and were willing to ALLOW
Mr.. Curtis the honor Of having one OF hi
men as speaker. yet they knew he wouI,
be fair to all. He was acceptable to Stan
lev Long and Bailey. and was instrilctnl
for Curtis. 1t was a unique position and
nice solution OF a bad mess. They all SAY
It and accepted the situation dt once 5u
curtis Mr.. Curtis knoWc and has ex
pressed himself as confident thar Mr.. Prin
aie would stand by him and MIR. Curt
10 iofu 10 ot7erz in, =,