Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-09-11
Mighty Malieisus Lying.

Wn0n yOu pavo W guy now sCu0Vi
books for your children remember
that's Republican Legislature u 70.
sponsibls, and that Emil 0rossef
voted for the law. ffk (.
The textbook Law Of Kansae will
b. caused to suffer smother fall ii the
estimation Of the people Of the state
again this year. - Emil Grosser
who IL asking to be reelected to the
Legislature voted for this change Of
books. -[Dickinson County News.
The above iss fair example Of the
News idea Of political warfare. 1t
goes on the theory that any barefsced
lie will do to fool the people OF Dick
inson county and that by repeating
it often enough it will at last become
truth. Just now It is busily engaged
roasting Emil Grosser for the text
book law on the Kansas statutes.
Week after week 1t abuses him In
language Of which the above quota
tions are fair samples. 1t abuses the
law as a Republican measure and
attacks Grosser as having voted for it.
The present textbook law under
which the books we're changed was
adopted in the legislature Of 1897.
This legislature was Populist in both
branches. On its passage in the sem
ate Senator Geo. W. Hanna, Populist,
representing this district, voted FOR
it. (Senate Journal page 1,O94) On
its passage in the house Representa-
tive K. J. Bennett, Republican, repre-
senting this district, voted AGAINST
it. House Journal page 1850 1t
was approved on March ID, 1897, by
Gov. Leedy, Populist.
But the law as then adopted only
provided for four years Of state uni.
iormity and provided that the commits.
sion then should end. 10 remedy this
at the special session Of the same Pop.
ulist legislature in December, 1898,
it was amended making the appoint
ment Of another commission at the
end OF each four years obligatory on
the governor and 40 making the pro-
visions perpetual. In this session as
before George Hanna was senator and
Leedy was governor. Representative
Bennett had previously died.
Emil Grosser did not enter the leg.
islature until 1899.
The only law relating to textbooks
passed by the legislature since Mr..
Grosser became a member was chap
ter 176 OF the laws OF 1899-which ex-
tends the provisions Of the law to the
books used in the high schools OF
Kansas-ixing a maximum price
therefor. Mr.. Gfosser supported
that measure.
The textbook law is Populist
measure pure and simple and II the
people do not like it there is where
they should lay the blame. The
News in trying to shift the blame
from the shoulders OF its new allies
by bareiaced ialsehoods Is In mighty
small business and ought to be
ashamed OF itself. A little every day
common decency and honor should be
injected into Its methods. In case
like this when the facts are Of com.
mon knowledge such unblushihg ial-
sifcatlon Is inexcusable and beyond
the pale Of honorable political an
tagonism.
II the News wants to discuss the
textbook matter from q sensible and
rational point Of view let 1t compare
the price Kansas is paying for books
with what Democratic Missouri pays.
This state pays $s.sS for Its list Of
books while Missouri pays eS.7St,
which Is sl,S5l or nearly ~ per cent
| In favor Of Kansas. Kansas under
a Republican textbook board is get.