The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-07
Will GET OUT OF WAY.

derstand them The redemption OF
these pledges is a comparatively easy
and simple matter. Let the legislature
push these platform promises and enact
them into law this week, If possible,
and then let it take up any new ques-
ton and discuss il in a fair and candla
and friendly manner. Time IS flying;
one-half OF the legislative session is
past and while twenty or thirty DIS
and resolutions have come to me Tor
signature not a single thing of general
Importance has yet reached me ana not
n single one of our platform promises
has as yet been enacted into law.
Concerning the oil refinery question,
let me say that my opinion has under
gone no change. stand by every ut
terance of my message and by every
word Of my Kansas Day speech, but
any attempt to make any Speclnc
measure an administrative measure, or
to attribute my failure to indOrse any
specific measure SO far proposed as an
Indication that I have changed my
views on the subject is unkind and I'M
just to me The pending proposition to
make an experiment in The refinery
business at an initial cost of 100000,
with all the vast possibilities which
ton with which I was first made ac-
Quainted by the newspapers after its
such 4 measure involves, is a PROPOSE
Introduction in the senate.
IT have grave doubts about the
wisdom of this proposition and /
would be untrue to myself and to the
not voice these doubts. Able lawyers
tell me that such an expenditure is
of more than doubtful legality under
the constitution, which forbids the
and the penitentiary adjunct is so ap-
parently an evasion that the courts
might, to say the least, declare it I'M
constitutional Surely it is not asking
too much before such an expenditure
is authorized that the judiciary COM
mittee of the two houses meet and
discuss and pass upon this phase of
the subject. NV own Judgment is that
the expenditure of any sum of money
by the state, large or small, for re-
hnery purposes would prove an absO-
lutte failure unless this legislature pro-
V1deS for the control of the freight
traffic in oils, for with friendly freight
rates the Standard Oil company can
defeat any enterprise of this kind in
which the state or private individuals !
may engage
NO citizen of the state can be more
indignant than / am over the outrageS
perpetrated upon competitive COM
merce by the Standard Oil monopoly, |
but wish to take counsel of my judg-
ment in every matter rather than of
my impulses and passions. There are
those who honestly believe that the
control of freight rates, together with
some reasonable provision against dis
examinations, would alone solve this /
problem. I only say that it cannot be !
solved without this control I have
refinery to cost $4,000 or $4,000,
supplem ented with the freight legis- !
lation alluded to, and I am still of
the opinion that this is the wiser plan
if it can be cOnstitutionally done.
mo man has a monopoly of wisdom
on the subject. But what I am plead !
ing for is for the fulhllment of our
platform promises first and then the
calm, deliberate consideration of this |
great question upon its merits. Let
the discussion go on, but let it be con- /
Quoted in n dignifed manner and do /
not let it retard the fulfilment of our
platform PROMISES.
Stubs interview is very much like I
Governor Hoch's in all of its essential |
features. The chief difference is that /
Mr.. Stubs does not advise the expendi- /
ture even of a small amount of money |
for experimental purposes. He says the /
only way to accomplish anything is by /
drastic railroad legislation concerning I
maximum rates and to prohibit dis I
elimination.
The following is Mr.. Stubs state
ment:
1.-The only way the state of Kansas
can legally engage in the manufacture /
and sale of oil on a commercial basis is /
to establish q branch penitentiary in |
the oil region and build a refinery IN
der the guise of furnishing labor for
the cOnvicts. The public policy and con-
laws of this state and ma
ton are opposed to the government en-
The nation generally, and our state,
has been very prosperous
under existing laws and policies; and
this state and nation should move with
the greatest caution and extreme care
in matters where the basic principles
and constitutional functions of govern
ment are involved
THE move behind this oil refinery is
q desire on the part of it's promoters to |
have the state do what our constitution
specifically declares it shall not do and
the building of another penitentiary is
a mere subterfuge to cover this ques-
ton of law.
IF there is to be a change in the
of Kansas with reference to
our policy on these great questions the
first thing, in my opinion, that ought TO
be done is to change the constitution of
our state and make 1t possible to carry
On this business in a legitimate and
ousiness-like way I, for one. do not
,are to assume the responsibility of es-
-ablishing a precedent which will make
{ possible for this state and nation to
AXE over any and all lines of CONNER
eial and industrial business which are
not mana ged or carried on in the exact
way that we would like to see. The
posi- bilitieS OF such a scheme are as
endless as the ocean and the extreme
result of such a movement would be
the full realization of Socialistic and
Populistic dreams. I would rather re-
move. by drastic laws, the causes which
make Standard oil methods possible
and give the people an opportunity to
engage in this business on a competi-
tive basis If you viii pass q maximum
rate law: declare the pipe line a COM
mon carrier and make it Z misdemeanor
to discriminate between localities on
the price of oil in excess of the differ
ence in freight. you viii make it pos
5ibIe for private capital to embark /
safely in the refinery business. With
out this protection. the state would be
as helpless as a child, no matter how
many refineries the state owns. Private
capital will be prosperous in the re-
6nery or any other business where the
II ar would rro info IN 1l<1.11r,trxr