The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-21

and debauchery without parallel, not
excepting the bogus legislature of 1856.
People are at last beginning to realize
the weight of the burden, which has
been put upon them by legislative ex-
travagance and dishonesty. The reck-
less wastage of money is already appar-
ent in increased taxation unpreceden-
ted in our history. But this is not all,
nor even the worst. Party politics has
become thoroughly corrupt, and as re-
suit standards of political integrity and
official duty have been lowered and the
masses of the people become so far in
different that prevailing methods have
come to be regarded, if not entirely pro-
per, as the necessary concOmitantS of
public career. Isn't it time to pause and
carefully consider the situation? 1t is
not a pleasant service. true, but there
are duties to be performed as well as
favors to be received the part of
those who control our public affairs The
effort to ignore facts and suppress critic
ism in the interests of the party would
be entirely subversive of good morals
and good government.
Political parties exist and have the
right to exist only as a means or in
strument through which wise and hon
orable aims are to be achieved When
they fail of these and come to be mere
ly Instruments in the hands of design
ing and INSCRIPTIONS men or for selfish
ends the right to exist has been for
feited and speedy reformation or speedy
Il defer to no man in Kansas or else
where in loyalty to the principles of
Republicanism-the basis and bulwark
of a material prosperity and the safe
guard of our nationality-or In my ad-
miration and pride in it's history. The
personal distinction that most prize
is that of having been chosen to pre-
side over the convention that organ
think may fairly claim to have been
faithful to the high aims and purposes,
but am appalled, at the condition with
which we are confronted. and can
factions and individual greed for power
and place. the men who constitute the
strength and numbers of the Repub-
lican party in Kansas will rally to her
rescue before it is too late.
20. E. LEARNARD."
F. L. vandegrift has discovered pos
sibility that George A. Clark may have
the office of state printer ''cinched'' un-
til 1907, if the constitutional amendment
making the state printer elective by the
people instead of the legislature carries
next year. If the amendment carries it
is alleged that the present constitutional
provision for electing the state printer
by the legislature will be done away
with, thereby leaving no way In which
a successor for Mr.. Clark can be elected
until the general election of 1906.
The resolution submitting the state
printer amendment was passed by the
legislature last year with hardly a dis
senting vote in either house. At the
time the friends of Ed Hoch were over
whelmingly for it, and it was alleged
that Mr.. Clark and his friends were
secretly opposed to it, although they all
voted for it. Now it is alleged that it
was all the time a deep laid scheme
on the part of Clark and his party.
The resolution was not published in
the statute book, however, along with
the other constitutional amendmen1
propositions, and it is also said that it
was never signed by Governor Bailey
Whether this will affect it or mot has
not yet been determined.