The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-06
What the Newspapers of State
Are Saying.
Almost Without Exception They
Support the Oil Measure.
DO NOT UNDERSTAND.
QuoteMr. .HOch's Speeches on the
Question.
Burlington Republican Reviews
the Situation.
SUPPORTERS TO COME.
Charter a Train to Call ON the
Governor.
Also Let Legislature Know
Where They Stand.
CHANGED IN THE SENATE
Claim to Have Secured
One Accession.
Confident They Can Pass the
Bill.

From now on sthe arguments ad-
vanced by the Standard Oil lobby that
the building of a state refinery would
be a sociaIistic move and should be
stunned by the Republican party will
have no force,'' said a senator this
morning. From now on the Stand
ard Oil lobby can deal with the legis-
lature only commercially"
The legislators are hearing from
their constituents on the state refinery
bill, and the constituents are for the
establishment of a state refinery.
This fact, together with the fact
that the Standard Oil lobbyists have
been forced from cover into the open
and that their position is now thor
oughly understood, has brought sup
port to the bill from legislators who a
few days ago were against the propo-
sition.
Before the 55xansas Day banquet
meeting the state refinery proposition
had a good majority in both the senate
and the house. Immediately after the
open declaration of Governor -Hoch in.
his speech before the Kansas Day club
banquet, in which he announced that
Kansas must put its food down on the
Standard Oil there was no open and
active lobby representing the Standard
Oil and opposing the state refinery
so far as the legislators could see.
But Immediately after that declaration
on the part of the governor John
O. 'Brien, western manager of the
Standard, came to Topeka and opened
headquarters and directed his lieu
tenants in the lobby against the state
refinery.
Up to the time that O'Brien came
to the scene of trouble J. G. Sion
ecker had been advancing arguments
a la al ff1- CT
Then his arguments had some weight
as the legislators looked upon him as
one of the strong reform movement
politicians and they thought he was
reform" leader, but as soon as the
lobby was driven into the open and
reinforcementS in the way of other
politicians were summoned to Topeka
SIonecker's position was revealed and
now his arguments, in the senate at
least fall upon deaf ears.
The legislators have been flooded
with letters, kilograms and petitions
from their constituents clearly defining
the fact that a great majority of the
people of the state, regardless of poll
tics favor the establishment of 2 state
here from all parts of the state urging
the passage of the refinery bill and
legislators who went home for Sunday
found their people for the refinery.
What Senators Say.
Senator Benson, from EI Dorado
was IN his bank for short time Sun
day, and while there twenty citizens
called on him to urge him to support
the refinery bill.
Senator Benedict, who is not looked
upon as a supporter Of the state refine
~ bill, admits that from what he has
heard that his constituents in Wilson
and NeoSho counties favor the state re-
finery.
Senator Miller said this morning that
his Usage county constituents are un-
doubtedly for the state refinery
Senator Baker, from the Linn-An-
the refinery.
Other senators, who are opposing the
DILL admit that their constituents want
state refinery but they think their
constituents do not know what is best
The refinery bill may be brought up
DeIore the senate committee of the
whole this afternoon. Those backing
the bill do not know whether they will
call it up or not. They will count noses
first Saturday the senators favoring
the bill announced that they had %
votes for the bill. Today they claim to
have Won one of the senators in the
doubtful column.
Several of the senators favoring the
bill admit that they believe that Speak
er Stubs holds the whip hand in the
house and that although the constitu-
ents of the representatives favor the
establishment of a state refinery that
they will vote on the bill as Stuhbs die
tates and that he will vote a majority
against the bill.
Senator Fitzpatrick. from the Elk
Chautauqua district, said this morning:
Il take no stock in the pretended alarm
that a.state refinery would be a social
istic move, because the people OF the
United States and the people of Kan
sas find affairs so absolutely in the
control of a few individuals that thev
are compelled to pay tribute to thosa
few upon every gallon of crude oil they
produce and tribute on every. gallon ard
ounce Of its products which they con-
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