The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-23
Could Not Afford to Ruin Him.
self Financially.
MIR. FAXON'S IDEALS.
Says Southwest VIII Come to
Legislature Well Organized.
Will Demand ReappOrtionment
OF Representative Districts.

Ralph F'axon, Senator Longs private
secretary, is in Topeka today on his
way to Washington. D. c., to resume
his duties for the short session."
Speaking of the rumor that Senator
Long will go into Taft's cabinet. Mr..
Faxon said:
do not attach any Importance to
that talk. As Senator Long has said.
the cabinet is a rich mans Job and he
does not care to ruin himself financially
To satisfy political ambition. Senator
Long has Important interests In the
cement business at Medicine Lodge.
and 1 anticipate that he will return
there after the adjournment OF con-
gress He may go into the practice of
law, and if so it will probably be at
Wichita. or some other point where he
can keep in touch with the cement
plant"
Mr.. Faxon does not anticipate that
there will be any tarin legislation at
the short session.
The tariff can't be revised in two or
three MONTHS he said "It will not
surprise me If the special session to be
called for about March Is should con-
tinue until September The session
which passed the Dingley tarf con
tinued till September. The article by
Andrew Carnegie CONCERNING revision.
Is of great significance. 1 think the
tendency of congress will be to make
a revision which VIII provide for just
SUFFICIENT tariff to represent the differ
ence between the cost of labor in Amer
lea and in Europe. This will protect
the American Iaboring man without
preventing American manufacturers
from coming into competition with
European manufacturers"
Speaking of state political matters.
Mr.. Faxon said: I'VE had a meeting
Of nine state representatives and one
senator at Garden City the other day,
to discuss what our part OF the state
will stand for at the coming session.
You will find that southwestern Kan
sas will come before the session well
organized and ready to shoot some
holes "a the plans which have been
made without reference to the interests
of southwestern Kansas.
I'VE want legislative feapportion-
ment, to give the counties in western
Kansas the representation to which
they are entitled under the constitution.
Each county which casts 200 votes is
entitled to a representative in the leg
iSlature. and yet there is Meade with
2, 900 votes and Seward with 1500 cou-
pied together for legislative purposes.
Every combination district should be
I'VE want some action taken which
will bring about more effective enforce
ment of the forestry laws of the state.
The present law is good enough, but it
isn't enforced. The law requires the
forestry commissioners to make a re-
port to the governor showing the kinds
of trees adapted for planting in west
ern Kansas. He has not made such a
report for eight years. My suggestion
is that we make the salary of the for
estry commissioner $1,500 a year in
stead of 1000, and get Clifford Pinchot,
the United States forestry commission
er, to send one of his young men out
here to take charge of the Kansas for
estry station. Then we will get some
results worth while.
1--WE also want legislation for better
roads. 1 believe that the best plan is
to make the county surveyor the high
way commissioner for each county, and
authorize a direct levy for road i'm
provement. Then let the county sur
veyor apportion this levy to different
districts and see that the work of road
is properly done. Out in
our part of the state we have found
that we can find at numerous places de
posits of clay, which are necessary to
make good roads. BY stripping the
sand from these clay beds, we have
abundant material for making good
hard roads through the sand hills.
Il am prepared to endorse the StubbS
through my paper and
so long as it carries out the
good roads reforms and forestry re-
forms and other policies for the good
of the state. am not going to fight
the Stubbs administration just on gen
l can consistently do so.
Il believe that ]. n. Dolley is the
most available man for speaker of the
house"
Robert NJ. LaFollette is sending out
TO many Republicans of Kansas a cir
,ular letter announcing that he will
soon begin the publication of a week
y paper, in support of government by
the people Senator LaFollette says in
this letter:
''I shall print the records of public
officials and political parties on vital
questions 1 shall discuss men and
measures impartially and fearlessly.
with the assistance of able writer's
and correspondents / will furnish
readers a summary of important news,
a digest of proceedings in congress. a
report of the progress made in the
struggle for self government in cities
and states and timely, well considered
and editorial discussion
upon economic, financial and social
questions.
Mrs. LaFollette will have a depart
ment in which education and the
home will be discussed from the wom-
ans standpoint"
The state board of cauvassers met
today in accordance with the law. to
the returns of the recent cleo
ton. The meeting was held at the Of
fee of the secretary of state.
VIII Pray for Zinc Tariff.
Joplin, Mo, Nov, 23.-Ministers of
twenty-five towns in the Kansas-Mis-