The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-02
WAS VERY BITTER
Historic Names Assaulted in
Socialist Debate.
Gallows for Caesar and Har-
riman a Hyena.
GRAHAM IN DEFENSE.
Stands for Henry George System
Against All Corners.
Large Crowd and Interesting
Talks at A. o. U. w. Hall.
GRAHAM IN DEFENSE.

IT have no defense to make for such
rnurderers as Alexander, Caesar, or
Napoleon, whose heads should nave
been covered with gallows caps instead
of decorated with imperial crowns, nor
for such public highwaymen as Could
Rockefeller or Hartman. who IKE
hyenas which cannot be tanned should
be kept behind bars, nor generally Tor
that class of people whose swollen
fortunes have been stolen from the peo-
pie in monopolizing the necessarles ana
cOnvenienceS of life.
That vitriolic attack on men who
have made history marked the ADDRESS
of Attorney A A. Graham at the A y
u W. hall last night when with MS
colleague, Dr. Thomas L. Brunk, the
legal practitioner took the affirmative
against Messrs. E. G. Corning ana isaac
Silberg in the discussion of the queS-
ton s'Resolved That social and indus
trial freedom and a more just, economic
and simple government can pest De at
tanned by the Henry George system OF
1udividualism rather than Dy the Carl
Marx system of socialism,.
Although there was no decision, nor
any committee appointed for that pur-
pose both the affirmative and the mega
tive brought out strong arguments in
support of their ideas of the subject in
controversy. Perhaps the strongest de-
fender of the socialistic cause was MT
Corning, who has given the suo1ect
dress language of the most argumenta-
tive character was displayed
Tax on Swollen Fortunes.
when fortunes become swollen
graduated Inheritance tax in a ratio
proportionate to their amount should
be the means of returning to the use
of the people those sums which are too
great for the supply of individual
needs" said Attorney Graham in
launching deeper into his address.
To Recall Unfaithful Officials.
when public officers. whether mu-
nicipal, state or national, are incom |
petent, corrupt, or disregard the will of
the people, and refuse to redeem the |
pledges on which they were elected, we
should have an easy, cheap and ex-
turning them out under the ban of
public disapproval, that, as just retri- |
button. they may continue their worth |
less lives in private disgrace.
1.-The people, in their collective ca |
pacity, as forming the government, !
should never delegate any prerogative |
beyond the power to use themselves, |
as occasion may arise, and we should, |
therefore, have the initiative and re- |
ferendum, because assemblies of all |
the people to make laws in our great |
nation as well as in our smaller d. |
visions called states, is impossible. |
This, I am glad to say. is fast becom- |
ing q fact. and will soon exist in every |
state in the union. with the exception, |
perhaps. of Rhode Island, which did |
not adopt a constitution until 1s41,
and is now owned as a chatte1 by one /
man, who, strange to say, is also gov
erning the whole nation, having at
his beck and call the legislative and |
executive departments.
These reforms would bring about
the remedies we seek, and would give
the proper scope to the individualism
we advocate, as we'll as check the ca
pacity of greed. as Wen also prevent
that general diffusion and dissipation
of power under which governments
are impossible, material advancement
unnecessary, and personal achieve
ments unheard of. the sociaIistic
state.
'Our present governmental diff
culties, however. are very great
we regard our city, our coun-
ty, our state, or the nation We are |
not now served anywhere along the
line by a set of officfaIs representing
either the socialistic or the individual
Idea of things as here portrayed nor
yet have they struck medium; they
are mostly incompetent, and all graft
ers.
Politics Makes Rogues.
Throw an honest man into the hop
Der of the mill of politics, and you Will
mostly grind out rogue. If his hon