The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-01
What Senator Harris Said in
Leavenworth Speech.
Was Requested to Cut Out
Reference to Prohibition.
REFUSED TO DODGE.
Said Plainly He Would Enforce
the Law.
Brief Reference to Residence in
Kansas.

Yeavenworth. Kan. Nov. THE Post
gives the following account Of senator
Harris meeting:
Col william A Harris, the Demo
cratic candidate for governor adoE ess-
ed an audience at the opera house 4ast
night which was considerably larger
than has attended any previous poliu-
cal meeting in Leavenworth this year.
All Of the seats were occupied ana
many stood in the space in the rear o.
the parquet-
Many of those in the audience were
Republicans and members Of the NIB
eraIs element They wanted to hear
what Col Harris had to say about pro
hibiHon If the saloon-keepers had
any doubt about the position Of Harris
before the meeting it was completely
dispened by the speech of the candf-
date BE declared in language that
could not possibly be misunderstood
that he intended to close the saloons
as long as there was a law on the stat
ute books demanding it Col Harris
was importuned by local leaders yes
terday TO cut out all reference to pro-
hibinOn, but he declined to accept the
advice He was told that Leavenworth
favored the present way of running
things and that it would almost ruin
the town to change it. but he said ne
could not favor one town any more
than he could another Many Demo-
Gratis who went to the meeting last
night with their minds made up 10
vote for Harris went away determined
TO vote against him They could see
in his election great injury to the city,
which, under the present way Of run
ming things. is hourishing and prosper
ing as it never has before
Col Harris started his speech last
night by deploring the fact that GER
tain persons in LeavenWOrth had de-
clared he was no longer a citizen Of
Kansas.
Col Harris touched on all the issues
now paramount and used the prohibit
ton question as the climax Of his
speech "Au the powers in heaven OF
hell" said ne. cannot prevent me from
enforcing the prohibition law If I am
elected governor.
II guess Tn 90 home tomorrow, Bill
said the political worker from the short
grass country. who had been at Repub-
lican headquarters for some time, to
the state politician
"AIl right, Charley. I suppose you
don't want to walk?"
wei I don't care about walking es-
perially, but I don't want you to incon-
venience yourself
you come in tomorrow and III see
what I can do for you OF course it
must be understood that you are not
going home to vote I can't get any
thing for you if you are going home to
vote You can go home, and after you
get there. of course I can't prevent
your voting. But there's no use in
asking for passes 10 get people home
to vote
Politicians have been shocked by
the announcement from railroad head
quarters that no transportation will be
issued this year for people who want
to go home to vote, and the hint is Civ
en- out that on January l. the rail-
roads VIII anticipate the anti-pass law
by absolutely refusing to issue any
more free transportation in the sta
of Kansas for any purpose whatever.
The railroads are convinced that the
coming session of the legislature VIII
enact the andpass law, and thev figure
that they might as well claim the
credit for going under the system vol
UNFAIRLY. The refusal to issue a line Of
free transportation to get Jones. home
10 vote" is the first move in the refor-
nation
A we'll known state politician said
today; THE railroads are getting
mighty particular. We are finding it
dimcult to get transportation for anv
purpose whatever The companies
give US transportation for our speal-
ers. but it IS hard to get 1t for anyone
else And now they have sent word to
us that there must be no TRANSFORMATION
requested for the purpose of getting
re q
instructed to ask for no TRANSPORTATION
for that purpose. but we have to state
definitely In our requests that the per
son for whom We seek transportation
IS not going home to vote.
II believe the report that the rail
road companies are planning to shut
down on all free passes in Kansas at
the beginning Of the year No new
ANNALS VIII be issued. The legfsla tllre
viii be given taste of the 'antipass'
law before 1t has a chance to enact
such a law.
The refusal of the railroads to is-
sue free transportation to the state
committee to assist in getting 'patriofs
home to vote viii result in consider
able saving to the railroads. At times
the railroads have had to put on ex-
ira trains to accommodate the crowds
starting out the day before election to
80 home to vote. And as nine-tenths
of this rush Of business is carried on
free tickets issued to the state CEN
traI committees. there is nothing in it
for the railroads.
But it is creating a panic among the
employees at state Institutions. These
employees have been counting on their
free trip home to vote as sort of q
vacation. There are hundreds of en-
pIoyes in the state institutions v-bo
usually get free passes home. and the
Republican committee sees to Fl that
they are all provided with the nacee
sary trip slip. The same rule applies
20 stuuetlts a. tiAe state university.
Hundreds Of railroad tickets are sarf
each year to Lawrence and ofbar
large schools and colleges. to be dis
tributed among the students of voting
age who are of the right political
party. 1T is such inducements as this
that makes it Of advantage Ia
students IN colleges to organize RE
publican clubs The members of the
Republican clubs have been eligible
10 free transportation home at cleo
don time.
The ruling of the railroad companies
gau probably cost the Republican ticket