The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-30

after the most aggressive political
| fight of the years, acquired a rate com
mission law, giving the commission n
power, on its own motion. to regulate
rates and service; taxation law. un-
der which railroad corporations are
| bearing their full share of the taxes;
| a primary election law, providing Tor
! nominate by direct vote; a law pro-
| hibiting the giving of railroad passes
! to public officials; a law driving the
paid lobbyist from legislative nails,
pearances before committees; and
| law prohibiting campaign contribu-
tons by corporations.
mo man! No man, 1 repeat! NO
man shall, unchallenged, raise objec-
| lions to such wholesome legislation!
| 1t was accomplished under the leader
ship of that aggressive iron man or
| Wisconsin, who taught that one who
| breaks a promise to the people, IS an
| enemy of the people, deserving to be
| a man without a country and worthy
| the respect of nobody. Robert M. La
Toilette, who has received the highest
honors in the gift of his people, taught
them to love the sentiment expressed
by the Quaker poet:
"Who shall simple manhood try,
The strength of gold and land,
The wide world has not wealth to buy
The power in my right hand.
And yet there are a few politicians
and editors in this state who call such
a man as this falxir and demagogue!
THE rank and file of the people are
awakel The mistake of all political par
ties is to credit the masses with too lit
tie intelligence only to awaken to their
error when the landslide comes. Con-
tinue to permit public service corpora
lions to direct the public policy of your
part and you should sound the death
knell of party fealty.
You cannot expect the people to carry
a yoke forever. Yet it would bring the
blush of shame to my cheek, to assume
that in my pleading with the young
men of this state, I should deem it
necessary to speak of this danger for
in the mind of every honest man, What
is right, what is just should be the
first consideration and party fealty
only remembered as the means by
which these may be attained.
Talk about the greed of the man at
the plowi The plain people of today
Those who have been the savers of the
nation in its extremities, Then, was
it selffshness and greed that actuated
General Washington, on that cold De-
cember night. to cross the Delaware
through the floating ice? Then. was it
selfishness and greed that actuated the
Cuban patriot as he stood at the trOcha
with his breast pierced with Spanish
bayonets? Then, was 1t selfishness and
greed that actuated Senator La Fol-
lette to block the sale of the public
timber and coal lands of this country?
Is it selfishness and greed that actu-
ates the tiller of Kansas soil to come
here and ask tAis legislature to win
for him that justice which has been
won by the citiz..p-j of other states?''
Brandon Is President.
steve H. Brandon of Butler coun-
ty was on Tuesday afternoon elected
president of the Kansas Day club to
succeed w. s. Fitzpatrick of Sedan.
The only candidate against Brandon
was George P. Moorehouse of Morris
county. ,.
w. H. Vernon was reelected secre-
tary without opposition, and the fol-
lowing vice presidents were chosen
without opposition:
First district. Charles E. Snyder of
Leavenworth.
Second district. S. B. Haskins or
Third district, George Boone of
Chetopa.
Fourth district j. N. Dolley of Wa
baunsee.
Fifth district, c. B. Kirkland of sa-
lima.
Sixth district, o. o. Osborne of
Rocks.
Seventh district. E. P. Rochester of
Scott.
Eighth district, Charles steiger of
The fight between Brandon and
really developed into a |
fight between the "Stubbs crowd" and |
a..
friends were backing Moorehouse, and |
also had the support of |
the retiring president, W. S. Fitzpat-
rick. For time it looked s though |
there would not be much of any OPP |
position to Moorehouse. John Dawson |
Of Graham county was talked of as a |
andidate, but Dawson discouraged the |
talk. Brandon's name had not been
suggested by anybody until half doz-
en- of the members of the legislature
ole II I'LL.
pie got together shortly after the
house convened at 2 o'clock, and talk
ed over the situation. Moorehouse
had the general support of the state
as he was formerly mem
Der of that body. The house members
who were looking for a candidate
against Moorehouse decided to hand
the honor to Brandon, who is very
popular with that body.
When the members of the club assem-
bled at $3.50 in the supreme court rooms,
the word had been passed around that
Steve Brandon was to be the candidate
against Moorehouse.
E. r. Simons, of Topeka, nominated
John Dawson, and Judge West, speak
ing on behalf Of Dawson, withdrew his
name.
Ion, stating that he did SO on behalf Of
mis- colleagues in the house.
w s Kretsinger, secretary of the
state senate, nominated Moorehouse.
Senator Porter moved that the vote
be taken by ballot, on the two candi-
iates, and Robert Stone moved as a
substitute that the people present d.
vide, those favoring Brandon lining up
along the south wall of the room, and
hose favoring Moorehouse taking the
south wall. Stones motion prevailed.
The people present, to the number OF |
about 300. divided into two bodies. II
was at once apparent that the Brandon
crowd was considerably larger, and it
gradually received reinfcrcements until |
hQr "a DO to h. Il,
IF the room. Senator Fred Dumont
Smith and Parks Helmick were the only