The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-11


one within the sound of my voice,
whether l have ever tried to influence
anyone unduly. / have shut my eyes
to the fact that / was in the minority
and to all other influences and have
tried only to do what I thought to be
right, and it grieves me that so dis
ffTguished a man as Senator Smith
should say what he has about me
have the highest regard for him and I
hope he is still my friend
t'As to this tax bill. have done
what I could to frame what / believed
would be a bin acceptable to the peo-
ple-one which would build up our
glorious state and not a great city at
the mouth of the Ka@- Senator Smith
says ] have done everything I could IN
opposition to his wishes. have not.
EVERYTHING [ have done has been open
and above board and because be
lieved it to be right, and Svnen you
have not agreed with me you have not
hesitated ia running the band wagon
over me
who is it that has been playing pol
itics in this legislature? Why has
there been a controversy between the
chief executive Of this state and the
members Of the senafe2 by do they
attempt at every opportunity to clip
him of his prer0gatives and power-the
chief executive who mas just been
elected by the people OF TINS state %
exercise these prerOgatives2 Are they
dominated by some get-rich-qulck poll-
tician2 tLaughter and applause.) We
have too much politics IN this state
There are not half a dozen candidates
in that senate to succeed Chester =.
Long as congressman, and everything
POSSIBLE has been done to give some one
Of them the advantage in this race
Another thing am accused OF that
I am hitehed up with ~ Leland, ana ana
that he is one Of the chief devils of this
house. I have known Cy Leland for 70
vaars-and I don't say this to fatter
hfm-but I have never known MN 70
break his word. fApplause) And Sen
s4tor Smith can do me no greater honor
than to say that Mr. Leland ana nlyseiA
are friends.
0f fhis house was attacked in q. speech
on the floor Of the senate last hight,
and YOU all know that Mr.. Mason has
been uniformly courteous and faithful
in the discharge of his duties as chief
clerk of this house.
Il am also informed that other Off
+ GERS of this house have been attacked
/ bv the senate. Speaker Prlngle has been
criticised for appointing me chairman
4 of the judiciary committee. regret eA-
] ceedingly that he ever dld So ana H II
had it TO do over again would decline
4 the appointment, knowing what l now
do"
! IN closing Mr.. Waggener made an ap-
neal for legislation solely in the Interest
+ OF the state and for its upbmldlng afle
net for petty political purposes.
DR.. O,Donnell then took the floor. Efe
said that while there had been de-
+ mand for q congressional apporuonmenl
/ bill there has been a greater denaane
for legislation along the line OF tht
Francis amendment and when tht
house proposed it, the senate gave i
vituperation and abuse in return
I have no political ambition con
tinled DR.. O.DDnnel. Il have served
two terms ia this house and DO no
expect to come back I know when
have had enough But others among
i you are serving heir set1st terms ant
/ viii want to rettf8 a. want you TO g
home right before tne people and tina
the people may know the truth abou
f these matters. The senate may cast re
Heetions at this house, but il has sim
to answer for. I was on the floor OF tn
senate last night and witnessed the Vot
on the railroad bill and ! want to sa.
that if the apparent juggling with tn
I vote had occurred in this house that dI
in the senate, it would cause d scanda
from one end of this state to the other
1t was necessary to verify that vet
three times.
Then the house passed Mr.. Waggen
er's motion that there be no furthe
consideration of the tax bill and tn
obsequies of all attempts at tax legisla
tion in the legislature of 1903, includini
the work of the tax commission, wer
ended.