The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1905-01-13
The MESSAGE

oho ~ hoS eiS ilbS dOout
it of honest fearless manhood
After little general land alton of
the state over its generally feIlci
tous condition he launched out in a
little plain, positive and easily
understood heart talk to the legs
lators. He condemned in strong
terms the reckless extravaganza of
the last legislature and warned the
present against committing the
same mistake.
He asked an appropriation if not
less than $1,000 with which to
institute thorough and exhaustive
examination of the public records
and accounts.
He pledges himself to make the
investigation SO thorough and COM
plete that no doubt will remain in
the mind of any one as to the cond
ton of things when the investiga-
Is completed.
The Governor is very much in
favor of paimary election law,
He urges that no stream can rise
above its fountain source. And, as
the primary is the source of political
action it is necessary to keep the
source pure.
He favors the establishment of a
juvenile court and devotes quite a
space to the tax revision subject.
On the topic of gas and oil he is so
positive and straight forward in his
views and suggestions that we give
them below verbatim:
GAS AND OIL
The marvellous development of the
gas and oil resources of the state,
placing this commonwealth in the
front rank of those endowed by the
Creator with this kind of wealth
imposed duty upon this legisla
ture which no former legislature
has had to meet. Monopoly threat
ems to rob people of the chief bene-
fits of this great endowment and ap-
propriate the profits to itself. How
to save this wealth to the state and
it people and secure them its great
ests benefits is serious problem.
One phase of the subject is of vast
immediate Importance, and that is,
how to save the gas for the develop
ment of manufactures on Kansas
soil. Schemes are already on foot
to pipe it out of the state for the
development of manufacturing in
duStries elsewhere. The desire to
keep this wealth at home to furnish
fuel for manufactures that shall pay
taxes in our own treasures, give
employment to our own laborers
and enrich our own commonwealth
is a natural and laudable one, and
if this legislature can find some legal
method to preserve this. great source
of wealth to the people of this state,
it will have performed a great duty
and will receive from the people the
plaudit, well done. Whatever may
be the limitations of power of the
state in reference to piping the gas
beyond its borders, one duty clearly
within is power demands immediate
performance. Vast amounts of gas
are constantly gong to waste in all
the gas fields of the state-a condi
ton which Indiana and other states
have learned, to their sorrow,
should not be permitted to continue.
Stringent laws to prevent this waste
should be Immediately enacted.
Our oil interests are also in jeo-
pardy. I am firm believer in the
competitive system and entertain
with caution any proposition look
ing TO the naturalization of govern
mental power over commercial en-
prises which should, as far as pos
sible, be left to individual owner
ship and control. 1 have been a
student of these subjects for years
and as grounded In the philosophy
Of the competitive system in contra
distinction to 10 the socialistic idea
Of governmental absorption of husi-