The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-16

WILSON, 4aylof-
Story of the Debate.
W. p Hackney warned the young
men not to ruin their political future by
voting for the bill and concluded as fol-
lows:
Remember what Bill Hackney tells
you four years from now. when you
have to confront the folly of your &C
ton Hackney moved to strike out the
enacting clause of the bill.
Following Mr.. Hackney came G ).
Beekman, his colleague from Convey
county.
Il want to say that if some of these
men DO not obey the viii of their con-
stituents. there will be some old, gray
J haired members who Will not be back
1 here two years from now
( This answering shot was received
with cheers.
Mr.. Beekman declared that if the
state refinery is Socialism, that he is
in favor of Socialism to that extent
/ G. d. Jones of Norton moved as
substitute for Hackney's motion that
when the committee rise il report the
bill favorably. He made speech IN
favor of his motion. He held that the
house should obey the voice of the
people. He said the legislature was
being flooded with kilograms against
the oil refinery and that the kilograms
were coming from Standard Oil agents.
He advised that the constitution be
thrown over if it was in the way.
S s. Glasscock of WyandOtte. who
was one of the hardest fighters for the
refinery. was received with applause
when he took the floor. His speech
was frequently interrupted with ap-
plause and cheers
"They tell US" he said. that the
Standard Oil is too strong for US. /
tell you that if 1 should see the COM
bined armies of the earth coming
down on my little home, / would stand
up and fight to the last breath in my
body"
Mr. Glasscock was not terrified by
bill" Hackney's threat that the
young men who voted for the bill
would be defeated. Il would rather
vote for what is right and stay home
forever than vote for what is wrong
and come to the legislature.
I'VE start today the most magnif1-
cent battle ever started in the world.
If we can start something here in
Kansas, we viii get the help of the
American people, and we will be do
ing something worth while
Mr.. Glasscock concluded with the
story of the fight between David and
Goliath and said that Kansas would
have the help of right and justice as
David did of the infinite God.
T. E. Adair. the representative of
Chautauqua, where it is proposed to |
locate the refinery, made strong /
speech for the bill. Tt was the first
speech which Mr.. Adair has made dur /
that he is familiar with the business.
He was heartily in favor of the bill. /
W. Z. Archer of Brown made 1
speech again the bill He said he
knew he was up against defeat but
he proposed to die game. The house
applauded the sentiment. He opposed
the bill on the ground that II Is
Socialistic system of solving the prob
lens of government. Mr.. Archer
made good speech for a lost cause
c. A. Stannard Of Lyon stated that
the oil people are paying $500 900 a year
in taxes and they are entitled to some
J,oT.. re~10f f11a n ar-r7i
Oil He said that the tax necessary to
pay for the state refinery will be only
s1.O4 on each citizen of the state. all
of which is not to be paid in one year.
P. c. Young of Wilson spoke against
the refinery. He said he had every rea-
son to fight the Standard Oil because it
had fought him, but that he would rise
above personal feelings. Had it not
been for the hatred of the people of
Kansas against the Standard OIL said
Mr.. Young there would not be 20 men
in this house who would vote for this
bill"
Mr. Young paid a tribute to the news
papers. He said that they had famed
the flames of hatred against the Stan
dard Oil He said the newspapers had
said that Standard Oil money had been
sent here in bags. Anybody knows"
said Mr. Wilson, that money is not
in bags. and the story is false
on its face "
Judge A w Benson of Franklin at
/
founded on an appeal to prejudice
against tyrannical corporation and on
pride in the state. Voting down Mr..
amendment" said MI Ben
son, was a declaration that the pur-
pose of this bill is not to provide en-
Dloyment for convict labor"
Judge Benson skinned" the bill clear
down to the dark meat. He ridiculed
the Spectacle of a deputy warden at
a salary of 50, 500 a year, marching out
in the morning at the head of Is men
to manufacture oil Tt was about the
most artistic piece of singing sarcasm
which the house has heard this session
and the crowd cheered Judge Benson
heartily.
Judge Benson declared that the courts
will hold the bill unconstitutional. He
says that the courts will hold that this
Is not bona fde effort to establish but
is in fact an effort on the part of the
state to engage in competitive business.
He believed that the supreme court
would take this view of the case.
J. S Simmons of Lane said he had
concluded to leave the question of con-
to the supreme court. He
said he had doubts about the business
wisdom of the measure, but that he was
content to accept the opinions of his
and vote for the bill
Robert Stone of Shawnee said this
proposition to establish a state refinery ,
TO create state monopoly This plan I
s just the reverse" said Mr.. Stone I'VE :
nave a monopoly here and the state is
trying to break it up"
At 4:50 o'clock the speeches were fin ]
shed, and the committee was ready to /
-ote on the substitute motion by Jones
IF Norton that when the committee
Use it report the bill for passage. The
motion carried on viva voce vote by
what seemed to be large ma iority. (
The committee then rose and reported
pack to the house
On motion of Robinett the bill was
out at once upon its final passage. and 1
carried as above stated
OIL REFINERY BILL.