The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-14
William "A. White Sounds Warm
ing to the Legislature.
Square Dealers Now Are in Con-
troll OF Situation.
MUST NOT LOSE GRIP.
Urges Re establishment Of the
Volunteer Commercial Lobby.
Meeting May Be Held to Cen
tralize Railroad Opposition.

Watch the Legislature" is the word
which is being sent out by the Square
Deal Republican club. The club officers
claim that they have a oIking ma
jority in the legislature, and will con-
troll the situation unless somebody
works" with the members.
There is talk among the Square Deal
ers of holding a mass caucus in To-
peka shortly after Christmas for the
purpose of agreeing upon certain meas
III es to be endorsed by the square deal
ers. Members of the legislature will
be expected to vote for those measures.
w. A. White, OF Emporia, has writ
ten an editorial which will serve as
note of warning to members of the leg
1Slature. 1t will notify the members
that they are going to Be watched
and that their actions concerning pend
ing legislation will determine their sta
tus with the square deal movement.
The editorial advocates the continu-
alton of a volunteer lobby in Topeka.
from the Federation of Commercial In
terests, as was done at the last session.
road lobby does not have everything its
own way The w. A. White editorial
is as follows:
Advises E-atchfulness.
"A careful scrutiny OF the list OF mem
bers elected to the state legislature, to-
gether with the known attitude of the
members OF the upper house, indicates
beyond reasonable doubt that that
wing OF the Republican party called the
square dealers has a working major
ity in the legislature in botn houses.
The square dealers are the Republicans
opposed TO corporate control OF politics
through the grand lodge of politics
rms wing of the Republican party is in
favor OF government by the people With
out the Interference OF the Topeka club.
And the mere fact that this element Of
the party has a majority of the legiS-
Iatu1e indicates nothing except that the
people are tired OF olu-time conditions.
1t dOeS not prove that The people will
get anything out OF the Kansas Iegisla-
ture, 1or unless the legislat tors repre-
senting the liberal progressive element
OF the Republican party organize and
unless the people organize and stay or
ganized until this fight for Ine funda-
IncntalS of decent government is won,
the forces prohtfng by a government
granting special privileges Will win.
The situation IS this: Four impor-
lant ma tiers are before the legislature;
the passage of the three laws to which
the square deal movement pledged
itself and the election Of a United
s ates senator who is not under politi-
cal and railroad control. The three
laws in question are: A direct pri-
mary law which shall give the people
a direct voice in the nomination of
United States senator and of state
county, city and township officers. an
anti-pass law which will make every
man of every calling pay cash for his
railroad transportation, and tax law
that viii make railroads pay taxes on
the property which the people paw in
terest on in the way OF fixed charges.
Unless there IS an organizatio of
the forces in favor of these things a
distinct agreement to stand together
upon all of these things the election
of a senator and the enactment of the
three important laws, the railroads
and the politicians will catch each one
out alone and lick it. Mr. Stubbs. Mr.
Murdoch, Mr. Benson, Mr.. Bristow
and Mr. Getty have one thing in COM
mon which should be more Important
to either of them than his own cleo
tiOn, and that is the elevation of a man
like any one of them to the senate and
the defeat of the railroad candidate
Phe victory of Charles Curtis which is
impossible without Doodle and STRAIT
egy, would set the clock of Kansas
back to the days of Jim Legate and
Pee Kline.
The passage of the laws pledged bv
the square deal movement is more vital
to Kansas, however, than the election
of either of these men. And it is the
duty Of these decent candidates for the
senate to waive their personal ambf-
tions and to urge the organization of
the progressive elements of the party
against the BOurbOns who learn nothing
and forget lothing in Kansas politics.
Moreover. the duty OF the people of
this state did not end with the election
of an honest legislature. The people
should organize also. The federation Of
commercial interests which did so much
in the legislature two years ago should
be revived and broadened to take in
every citizen of Kansas who believes
in honest. progressive government. The
politicians and the railroads have high
salaried men at Topeka. scheming and
planning to put ashes on the slide to-
ward good government. 1t will be hard
shedding al first, but unless the people
organize, unless the fight is kept up un-
til the promises of the legislature to
the people are kept, the victory of the
election will be a hollow mockery.
Honest men in Kansas must get to.
gether in and out of the legislature and
not give up the fight"