The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-19
senators from tAe Forty-first district
had their way.


had their way.
Another good joke which appears in
the Noftzger staten ent was this:
The senate provides a special table
for the press reporters. 1t is not ex-
pected that these gentlemen Will al
ways be accurate or even unpre1u-
diced The senate. becoming con
WINGED that the representative OF one
newspaper was Intentionally hostile TO
members of the senate and that his
paper wilfully INDUCED in misrepre-
sentation decided to deny him the use
was not intended to interfere with the
freedom of the press.
Again it seems that Mr.. Noftzger
must have forgotten. The senate not
only barred the Kansas City Star re-
porter from the press able. but barred
him from the floor and the galleries,
barred everybody furnishing any news
to the Star, and caused the sergeant at
arms to exercise the powers of private
detective and censor to see that moth
ing should be sent to the Star by any
of the newspaper men present. II
even went SO far that Western Union
boys were searched on leaving the
senate chamber. But of course this
didn't interfere with the freedom of
that Senator Noftzger says so.
1t is said that the Fitzpatrick ma
chine will devote it's attention, at the
next session of the legislature, to the
enactment of a new and severe libel
law, with which to muzzle the press of
the state, and prevent any unfaVor-
able comment about the actions OF
public men, This action is backed by
ex-State Treasurer T. T. Kelly, very
much abused man, about whom the
truth has been told too often to please,
and by Senator w. S. Fitzpatrick, of
Chautauqua county, the leader of the
railroad lodge in the Kansas state
senate.
Together. Kelly and Fitzpatrick feel
that they have the power to put any
measure they please through the SEN
the senate has the same
now that it had during
the last two sessions.
In conversation with T. T. Kelly,
ex-state treasurer, and Senator Fitz-
patrick, the libel law tissue was ex-
plotted.
1.-The issue at the next legislature"
said Kelly. will not be the railroads
Or the primary election bill or anything
else that has called forth attention
this session, but it will be the passage
Of a severe and stringent libel law"
Such a law would have been intro
luced this session in the senate, but it
was found that it would not pass the
house.
The statement appeared to be of
particular interest to Senator Fitz-
patrick, for he remarked:
The state needs new -nDeI law 1t
s an outrage that a man who, for |
bird of a century. has been trying to |
build up a reputation for honesty and |
brightness among his neighbors, |
should have it torn down in a single |
week by a newspaper reporter"
KeIly's statement that the legisla- |
i've issue will be a Stringent libel |
aw may be considered the voice of |
he machine lobby. Kelly, of course, |
works under Dave" Mulyane, but the |
1oice of one is generally taken to be
he voice of the whole organization.
So it can be taken for granted that !
he professional politicians in the Re-
,ublican party in Kansas will at the |
lext legislature work for a libel law,
he object of which will not be to pro-
ect the upright officeholder, but
which will be intended to shut off any
by the public press of those
n office.
Washington. March 19.-To Dave
President Roosevelt put in /
few plugs for Taft. ''Delighted; |
Ion't send delegat ton from Kansas to
he next Republican national conven-
ion for Harrimanism or La Toilette
sm,'' said Mr.. Roosevelt. BY this as
xpIafned he means a Taft delegation.