The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-18
He Defeats Curtis Candidate
for the Legislature.
FITZGERALD REPLIES,
hakes Extended Answers to Mr..
Stubs Question.
Would Not Require a Pledge
From Senators.


an all the morning papers that Dolley
~as ignoruiniously defeated in the Wa
baunsee county convention held at Alma
TUESDAY.
lit is claimed that Dolley's candidate
Cor the legislature, Wyatt Roush, was
renominated over r. j. L-oInis, The Cur
ais candidate. Dolley also organized the
county committee by the election Of Dr.
C.. r. siMerthorne OF Mcfarland for
chairman.
1t was the purpose Of the friends of
Curtis to have the convention endorse
Curtis for the office of United states
senator. but when they found out no"
the delegates felt. they We're AFRAID 70
ATTEMPT such q move. The result IS that
IN. people opposed to Curtis feel that
Ehey won a decisive victory. It Is likely
that Wyatt Roush, the nominee for the
legislature. will feel friendly 10 " K.
Stubs for the United States senate.
The following is the ticket nominated;
Representative, Wyatt Roush; county
treasurer, L. J. McCumb; county cieFk
~ c. Stotler: probate judge, Joseph
Hittle. county attorney, John Martin;
clerk Of the court, /. L. Teas; sherlH
cred Baker: register OF deeds, john Bis
hey: county superintendent r. L. Hllls-
ehaws surveyor, L. B. Burt: coroner p
81. Aameyer3 commissioner FIRST alslrlct'
Herman Asndt-
The resolutions favored the election
Of United States senator by direct
vote a 2-cent passenger rate ana re-
duction Of freight rates; primary aaaar.
election was adopted The resolutions
also expressed confidence in the national
and state administrations. and were
complimentary to Congressman >. NJ
Miller. Congressman Curtis ana non
J. L. Bristow addressed the convention.
There were no Instructions for United
States senator
W. ]. Fitzgerald Republican nomi-
nee for lieutenant governor. and one
OF the men against whom the StuDDA
questions were especially directed
was in Hutchinson yesterday, and gave
out a long statement concerning his
position on the primary election and
railroad question Mr. Fitzgerald SAID
that he had received no letter from MI
Stubbs containing the questions, but
continued:
so far as I am concerned, no SOW
ereign citizen of Kansas is so humble
that I would deny him frank and
positive forecast of my official policy
and conduct in office. If he desired it.
I have certain we'll defined convictions
and ideas of right and wrong which 1
have tried to follow all my life, and
which I have adopted in my business
relations with my fellow men. and
will not sacrifice them now for posi-
ton or power.
81 have said on a number of occa-
sions that If il should. devolve upon me
TO make the committee assignments,
the senate would be organized upon
fair business basis, with favoritism to-
ward none. with justice toward all;
that [ would not put one Interest
above another. neither would serve
one interest with greater fidelity than
another; that / would assign to places
on the most important committees
men of the highest charac ter, the
largest experience. and the best con-
structiVe ability; that ] would endeaVOr
to make the organization SO as to
facilitate wholesome legislation, and to
the end that such measures as would
rebound to the greatest good of the
people might be enacted into law.
Il viii not under any consideration
undertake to constitute the commit
tees so as to PREJUDICE their action on
any measure that might come before
them. Given committees out of the
best average of its membership, the
responsibility of legislation rests with
the body-no committee in any event
can defeat the will of a majority of the
body.
For the presiding omcer to require
q pledge from senators that they would
report favora bly, certain measures as
a necessary qualification to securing
coveted committee assignments would
be offering them gratuitous insult. and
would rather in mourning the just con-
demnation Of the body
AS to question No. /. 1 am in favor
of direct primary for the nomina-
ton OF membe of the lower house of
congress, for state. county. city and
township Offices. and the same method
for nominating United States senator's
except making the representative and
senatorial districts the unit. The cleo
tors of said districts to vote for their
choice for senator. In this way. the
preference of the voters would be in
dicated as to all candidates by the
vote, and would be in purpose and ef-
feet. serve as instructions to the rem
resentatfves and senators Of such dis
tricts in casting their votes for United
states senator as provided By law
This method would be an Improvement
over the present system. and vet in
harmony with our present law.
THE people of each representa- tive
aud Of each senatorial district alone
have the constitutional privilege and
right to instruct their servants for
whom to vote for United States sena-
tor, and, until the constitution is
amended, that right can not be abridged
or denied them. I do not believe in
enactin9 law which is openly and
VIGOROUSLY in conflict with our consti-
tuition. and with public sentiment also
ln at least the western half Of the state
the provisions Of which could not and
would not be inforced. Mr.. Stubbs is
mistaken about the attitude of the PEG
pie in western Kansas on this phase Of
the question They prefer to instruct
their own representatives. rather than
have them instructed by the popuIous
cities and counties of eastern Kansas.
and they assert and that law, even
though it be imperfect, Is the supreme
authority and ought to be enforced and
0bsyed until repealed.
II am in favor Of the assessment of
railroad property on the same basis as
other property in the state but I
should not favor having railroad pro-
rarty assessed by the numerous city
and township assessors in the state
"The objection to our present system
Of assessment is lack Of uniformity on
the part Of city and township assessors
to q greater degree than the railroad
hoard The railroad board is now con-