The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-20

the fundamental principle and pur-
pose of the law are eternally right and
| must be maintained. The voters must
! learn how to utilize its provisions and
SO take their first step In the actual
| exercise of their prerogatives in gov
| eminent. This must be followed by
/ destruction of patronage, which is by
far the most corrupting element in
our government today. This can only
| be accomplished by making public
officials elective instead of appointive.
| Why should man living an hundred
miles from your home appoint your
postmaster and not your county treas
| urer? We must begin this reform by
| providing for the election at least of
| United States senators, federal judges.
tax commissioners and assessors and
postmasters. ~-
Plea for Direct Legislation.
I'VE must also provide for direct
closer touch with legislative machin-
cry. The following section of the
Democratic state platform adopted by
the convention at Hutchinson the 21st
of last February would, If incorpor-
ated in our fundamental law, go far
toward the establishment of a peoples
government in reality: The initiative
and referendum, or direct legislation
should be invoked in all important
matters, and the right of recall re-
served 10 the people,
These provisions incorporated and
you will have no more misrepresenta-
tives in legislative bodies. Give the
people the right to invoke the refer
endum upon any general measure
adopted by the legislature and the
great interests will quit spending
large sums of money to corrupt leg
islative bodies. Provide that the peo-
pie shall have the right to initiate leg
| isla ton by petition and they can force
their representatives to enact desr-
! able laws in spite of the influence of
| the third house Given the right of
recall and the people have the power
to force their public servants to be
decent.
| Had the people of Kansas possessed
the right of recall, would any member
| of our delegation have voted for Mr.
| Cannon for speaker last December,
| even if commanded to do so by the
party caucus? When public officials
are compelled to do business for the
people or resign, they will do the bust
coins ideal of popular government I'M
til we adopt these measures recon-
| mended in our last state platform.
''Other sections of the Hutchinson
platform upon which 1 stand are thu
following: Laws should be enacted
| making it impossible for corporations
to issue fictitious stocks and bonds.
| We favor a state and federal income
and inheritance tax The Democratic
| campaign of 1906 in behalf of law en-
forcement has had a wholesome effect.
and we emphasize our purpose along
| that line. We insist that it shall be
| continuous, not spasmodic for political
purposes. The enforcement of anti
trust laws. the probationary law, tn,
| old soldier preference law, and all laws
tending to regulate and punish corpor-
ate greed and criminal acts impose
duties upon public prosecutors that
should not be neglected
'An laws should be obeyed by the
| citizen and enforced without fear or
| favor by the public official charged
with their enforcement. 1t is the right
| of any citizen or citizens to labor for
! the repeal of any law or laws they think
| inimical to the public welfare, but 1t is
not the right of any citizen or citizens
| to violate existing law. The initiative
| and referendum would. in my opinion,
prove an ample provision for the elimi-
nation Of any evils that may have
| crept into our laws. -.' SIMS
Railroads are as essential to our
| we'll being as mills, shops, banks,
stores or any of the other institutions
| of our commercial life. Right-minded
people do not wish to crush or even
cripple, these highways of our COM
| merce. Much patience. study, and work
will be required to properly solve the
great problems of transportation. Some
. progress has been made. The antipass
| law is a wholesome bit of legislation,
| advantageous alike to the railroads
| and the general public. The rebate
evil and all other forms Of discrimina
| ton must be eradicated. The over
| capitalization of railroad and other
corporations must be prohibited. While
| these reforms should be promoted.
| care must be exercised lest the vital
| interests of the 1,500. 900 employees of
| railroad corporations be put in peril.
| All wage earners are entitled to just
and fair remuneration for their toll.
and to absolute equality with every
cratic party in Kansas and the nation
| is fully committed to this policy and
will take no backward step.
Another policy to which we are ir-
revocably committed is the depositor's
| law, properly framed. as the best pos
sfble security to both banker and de-
positor We do not advocate this law
because we believe bankers dishonest,
for We believe no such thing. Untold
misery and loss have come in the past
| to innumerable bankers and depositors
| that would have been prevented by a
safe and sane depositors' guaranty
| law. Believing this, can do no less
| than stand firmly for this reform
In national affairs I favor the issue
of all money by the national govern
| ment and the REDUCTION of the tar
| if by the friends of the people, rather
| than revision Of the tariff by its
| friends. The tariff has been revised
many times by it's friends, but always
on an ascending scale. All tariff
| schedules that furnish shelter for mon
| opoly must be either greatly reduced or
| altogether abolished
Reward of Politicians
''It is well known that in our state
| and in the nation. innumerable jobs
| have been created with which to re-
ward political heelers, and that this
class. high and low. have been per-
| sistent in their demands for these
lptaces. IIlustrinus examples have been