The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-08
RYAN SOUNDS KEY NOTE.
says Democratic Campaign VIII Be on
Primary and Against Taxation Law.

A primary law and fight upon the
taxation act enacted by the last legis-
lature will be features of the next cam
paign of the Democratic party In the
state according to w. H. Ryan, chair
man of the Democratic state central
committee. -
THE party platform in Kansas Will
not be changed, by that l mean notn-
ing will be taken away from the lase
PLATFORM" said Mr.. Ryan But We
will come out for primary law anu ~
my opinion a hard fight VIII De IIiaue
on the appointment of the county eaA
assessors by the county commissioners
The party will take issue with the laA-
alton law which permits the county
commissioners to say VINO the assessor ?
are to be. 1t means centranzatlo aan Ta
power. Under the old law the people
in a township would get together ana
caucus for the nomination OF trus-
tee they felt that they had something
to say about it. But under this pres
ent act the power is brought right 70
one point. Here in Topeka the power
is lodged with the county COMMISSION
ers and 1t leads from the county 70
this one point, in other countles II 10
the same 1t builds up Capitalization
of power I think that is strong
point and you will find that IN the
coming state campaign that TINS VIII ne
brought strongly to the front. Got W men
you centralize the power you get TUT
Their away from the people
Another thing, it is fertile OF trou-
BILE when the county COMMISSIONERS aP
point an assessor of Republican ten
denotes in a Democratic township or
Democrat in a Republican township.
That the Democrats of the state are
united back of Bryan ana the pIdt-
form that he is outlined in the course
of his speeches is the expressed peneI
of Mr.. Ryan. ''I don't think there is
question of it," said he. 81 have talk
ed with quite number all over the
state and they feel the same"
However, the state platform viii be
the primary weapon of attack by the
Democrats during the next national
and state campaign. They feel that
trenched with the character of the
platform already constructed and whlcn
will be added to within the time pre-
ceding the opening of the campaign
This is the statement which Mr.. Ryan
parted with in his concluding remarks.
Recently c. NJ. Van Hamm, manag-
ing editor of the New York World, d.
rected letter of inquiry to Mr.. Ryan
asking him for definition OF a Deit NJ
crat. In the course of the letter the
question is asked thus, viii you Rlnu-
" answer the question, What is DEM
ocrat?' defining the duty and oppor-
iieva with Mr.. Bryan that the people
are in favor of the initiative and refer-
endum and government ownership OF
s,,
To which Mr.. Ryan Hnaue eho Ao0"
@Dear sir:-Answering your favor OF
June 81, What is Democrat
Democrat is one who believes all pow
ars should rest in the people ana
government of the greatest good to the
greatest number. sov.o,,
Il believe the initiative and referen-
dunn win bring the law making power
back to the people. 1 believe In com
petition in railroads same as otner
BUSINESS. In order to bring this about,
a railroad from the Atlantic TO me
Francisco backed by the government
viii come nearer solving than all the
railroad commissions u the ai la rs nalneu
"A Democrat is one, WHO believes
that the party that talks about con-
rolling railroads and at the same Tune
soIicits and accepts money from the
Harrimans and other corporations
tbro1gh the chairman of the party COM
1oittee is not practicing what II
breaches, and is therefore fnsincere.
CIV. H. RYAN"