The Topeka state journal., 1906-03-05
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Farmer Smi h Gives Boss Stubbs
q Set Back.
Intimates That the Boss Buster
Is a DemagOgue.
1T DIDN'T ORGANIZE.
His tp ech Puts End to Nc
PhersOn Civic League.
Almost Certain Ed Little viii
Enter Congressional Race.

Tt was at q meeting cdtIeQ Tor tuG pul~
pose of organizing a civic 1eague. Ansel
r. Clark, Tom Potter and Stubbs were
the speakers.
All the speakers condemned the pub
lie men of the state. denouncing them
as being Influenced in their public acts
by the railroad pass. Mr.. Stubs laid
great stress on the n gnihcent work Of
the last legislature and as a climax as
serted that the best railroad law that
graced any statute book in this nation
was passed at the last session of the
Kansas legislature.
AT the conclusion Of Stubbs' speech the
chairman OF the meeting announced
that they wourd proceed to the organiz-
alton Of civic league. Blanks were
Being circulated among the audience
for that purpose when somebody yelled
Tor Farmer Smith
The cry was taken up by the au-
dience and the old man, once speaker
OF the Kansas legislature, was COM
PEELED to go to the stage When he got
started he went for Stubbs in great
shape ne prefaced his remarks by
saying that he agreed with much that
had been said but disagreed with a
great deal that had been uttered. He
then said:
IF there is anything in this world
abhor it Is a demagOgue; If there is
anything that despise it is a coward,
and on this occasion 1t is my purpose
to speak nay mind regardless Of conse-
ouences. The first exception that I de-
sire TO take to the speeches that have
been made here this afternoon is their
wholesale attack upon the integrity ana
character OF the public men OF this state
and nation. Tt has been my privilege
to serve IN the Kansas legislature with
more than 500 different men. and have
met there as good, conscientious, God
fearing men as can be found in any OF
the walks OF life, men that could not
be Influenced to do anything that would
be detrimental to the best interests of
the people OF this great state In our
national legislature IL has been my priv
flege to know every man who has repre-
sented this commonwealth in congress
and with one or two unfortunate exCep-
tious they were men above suspicion.
cit appears to me that Mr. Stubs
statement of the accom- mplishment OF
the last legislature, Of which I am
proud, refutes the Impression that he
tried to make that our legislature Is
Corrupted BY The use Of free passes
He said that the last legislature passed
the best railroad law that graced the
statutes Of any state in this union. and
yet it Is fair to say that nearly, and
perhaps every, man that voted for
that magnificent railroad law had a
railroad pass in his pocket It appears
to me that this dlsDrOves the preFal lent
idea that men who accept railroad
passes are dishonest.
Mr.. Stubbs has given some sta
tLstics along the line of economy i'm
the last legislature. He stated that he
had only siXty-three attendants in the
house as against more than 200 that
the previous legislature had. That is
a fine showing. but the pruning knife
could vet have been used to good ad-
vantage When [ was the speaker of
the house we had only thfrty-fOur at
tendants in the house. Did you have a
clerk for the speaker and a stenog-
rapher2"
Mr.. stubbs replied that he did
Smith then continued.
When 7 was speaker the only at
tendant I had was a page" The old
farmer then took up his record as a
railroad fighter in the house in 1885.
1885 and 1887 and related some un-
written history of Kansas that made
the crowd cheer. At the conclusion
of HIS address the audience dispersed
Immediately, and no civic league was
organized.
W T. Morgan is now talked Of as
a possible chairman for the Republican
state central committee Morgan could
not be given the place without the op-
position Of Governor Hoch. but there
are some who think that the governor
VIII not be allowed to name the chair
man this year. Governor Hoch has not
Indicated who he VII favor for chair
man.
]. S. George has made formal an
nouncement Of his candidacy for rail
road commissioner. de has given
long statement to the public explaining
his position. He says in part:
Believing this. and that henceforth
the office Of railroad commissioner viii
IA IN 4aH fn-rr ryaaf-V
est man can be of benefit to the state.
have decided to accede to the request
OF my fellow citizens and to become a
candidate for that position If noninat-
ca and elected [ viii not be the gainer
financially. but 7 assure nv friends that
my interest IN the commercial and ma
terial welfare Of Kansas is sufficient to
Induce me to devote two years of NV
time In her interests 7 viii give nv
entire time and attention to the duties
Of the office. Ny efforts viii be on the
SIDE on Detterment Of conditions for the
people, and while guarding their in
terests, I viii be fair to all interests
It is now expected that Ed Little viii
within few days announce himself as
Q candidate for congress in the Fifth
district. The report that Hessin may
withdraw Is strongly denied by some
OF his friends, and If he STAYS he and
Little viii probably be the candidates
against Calderhead.
At g. meeting Of the Dickinson county
central committee Saturday n was de-
cided TO call two county conventions.
one, TO nominate delegates to the state
and congressional conventions. will be
held on March "a. and the one to n0ui-
nate county officers will be held on Nav
rs Primaries viii be called for both
conventions The meeting Of the com
mlttee was very Interesting. the feature
being speech by D. r. Gordon com
this city, in which he took Congressman
Calderhead TO task for his position on
the issues Of the day. Mr. Gordon said:
II nave heard 1t stated that Mr. Calder
gressional convention this month. If this
IS true. Il appears to me some one is
badly scared This does not give the
people time enough to get together and
Z think this is the year above all others
when they should have ample time to