The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-31
HNCSIN BALANCE
GernOr HOch Making q Special
Session Canvass.
Iesn't Deny That He lis Secur-
ing a Poll.
iEPLIES COMING In.
Viii Soon Know How the Mem.
bers Stand.
Then a Definite Announce.
ment May Be Expected.

Some days ago it was announced that
Governor Hoch was taking the CEN
sus' of the legislature for the purpose
of finding out what the members would
do with various proposed laws in case
of a special session
At that time Governor Hoch vigor-
ously and emphatically denied that he
had sent out any letters, or that he had
been asking members of the legislature
. to come and see him.
Today a similar rumor was checked
up to the governor, and he didn't deny
Governor. are you making a poll of
the legislature?" was asked
Il haven't word to say about that
was the governors reply.
And the governor didn't say a word
either, but the evidence which has been
secured to show that such a poll was
being made was left undisturbed and
unanswered.
full and systematic canvass of some of
the members of the legislature from
whom he has not directly heard and
whose position he does not positively
know. there is little doubt. Letters
have been going out from the COVER
nor's office for several days calling for
information, and replies are beginning
TO come in. BY the end of this week.
Governor Hoch expects to have a line
on just what the legislature may be ex-
pected to do. If the governor finds that
he can count on the legislature to pass
a primary law and a guaranty deposit
law. he will call the special session.
That's just where the matter rests.
and that is why Governor Hoch is Civ
ing no hints as to his probable course.
Said one members of the legislature
who visited Governor Hoch today: "I
believe that the special session is now
hanging in the balance, and that 1t
won't take much TO turn the scales one
way or the other
When one of the members of the
state senate was told of the governors
poll he said:
That won't give the governor a true
test of conditions. There are lots of
members who would say, in a private
letter to the governor, that they are
opposed to a special session, and op-
posed 20 the primary and guaranty de-
posit bills, who. if called upon to vote.
would not have the nerve to defy the
demands of their constituents. The roll
call is great persuader to tricky mem
bers of the legislature
During the past two or three weeks
the governor has had personal inter-
views with a considerable portion of
the legislature, and has no doubt kept
careful track of their opinions. The
letters which he is sending out are to
those members with whom he has not
had a personal interview, or with
whose opinions he is not thoroughly
conversant-
Homer Hoch, the governors private
secretary, and Ferd Funk. the execu-
tive clerk in the governors office, are
both absent from the office, and 1t is
announced will be away the rest of the
week Some think that these two are
helping the governor get line on the
attitude of some of the doubtful mem
bers by personal interviews. but Gov
ernor Hoch says they have nothing to
do with it, and are merely spending the
holidays at Marion
Another reason for calling speclal
session of the legislature was placed
on exhibition this morning before
Governor Hoch. Representative John
7 Miller of the Gray-Hasken district
was the exhibitor, and he came clear
from the western line of the state to
make his plea. Representative Miller
wants a special session SO that bill
may be passed reapportioning the
state into representative districts, the
object being to give Gray and Haskelf
counties separate representation, ana
also to give separate representation to
other western counties which now are
Obliged to travel double with some
other county in the legislature.
Unless we can get such Dill pass
ed at a special session." said Mr.. Mil
Ter. I'VE can't have the reapportfon-
constitution limits the reapport1on-
ment to once every f1ve years. The
peopIe out in western Kansas reee
that they were jockeyed out of their
rights at the last session because or
no1ittcal combinations in the senate.
The house passed the reapportion-
n1ent bill which / introduced. and the
senate lodge killed it. 1 think the bill
could be passed at a special session"