The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-13
THE LAW Is A FARCE.
Correspondent Calls Attention to GOV.
ernor Hoch's Inconsistencies.

To the Editor of State journal.
"TheLaw is a Farce" When s,,ch q
statement is made by the chief 1aeis-
trate of a large and progressive state
and made by Republican governor
'elected on law-abiding platform. is 1t
not about time something was DOING
1t is hard to reconcile this statement r,f
so-called anti-n1achine press and the
campaign speeches, which were all to
the effect that in the candidate for gov
ernor was a man who would enforce all
laws that were on the statute book re-
CARELESS of whose toes might get crush
ed in the process. That if the laws
were not to be enforced they should be
repealed. I did not see any recommen-
dation in the governors message to the
legislature even suggesting the repeal
ing of the law requiring the governor
and his executive council to make
monthly examinations of the condition
OF the state treasury.
If I were governor of Kansas, which
is a very improbable supposftion, and
I held the view that any certain law
farce" I would not attempt to hold
responsible (Which by the way he does
not do) any other man, even though
he be county attorney who considers
the prohibitory law a farce, and by the
way the jointists of this state have
come much nearer proving the prohibi-
tory laws to be a farce than the COVER
nor has proved the examination law so
to be. And If I considered any law
was farce and I was not bound to
pay any attention to it, I would use my
utmost endeavors to get constitution
al convention convened for the purpose
of repeating section of article l. of the
constitution OF the state of Kansas,
which reads as follows: 1.-THE supreme
executive power of the state shall be
hat
the laws are faithfully executed
/ recollect few years ago a good
business man was governor of Kansas.
He foolishly made the statement that
1.-The law could not be enforced where
local public sentiment was against it,"
That is a truism that no one can con-
trovert where the jury system is in
force yet this governor, who was a
good governor, was nailed to the cross
on account of those words. 1t was con-
tended by his Republican opponents
that such expressions encoura ged an
arcty and if my memory does not serve
me falsely, I believe read something
very vigorous from the pen of our pres
ent governor denouncing our then gov
ernor for making such a statement and
stating that If he were governor he
would enforce the laws even If he had
to call out the entire militia force to
do so. Why did he not call in the mil
itia to compel himself to enforce the
examination OF the treasury law, or al
least call in the adjutant general? That
would be pretty situation never equal
| led or excelled in comic opera, not even
| by Poo Bah in the Mikado.
| And if I were governor of Kansas
which 1 think is now more remote than
I thought it a few minutes ago, would
call the legislature together in special
session, not only to repeal the laws
which are undoubtedly a farce, such as
the punishment for murder in the first
degree, but would have the Legislature
seriously consider the repeal of every
law which any individual might con
slider a farce. whether he be governor Of
treasurer of the state of Kansas. a sim
pie plug citizen or an aristocratic booz'
seller. T. D. HUMPHREYS.