The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-04
The War of Words Over the
High Taxes.
J.Simmons, Speaker 1907 House
of Representatives, in Ring.
GOES AFTER STUBBs
With Shovel, longs and a
Baseball Bat.
Recites History and Tells How
Stubs Asked for Committee.

:
John Simmons of Hutchinson, speak
er of the 1907 session of the legisla
ture, has left his mirth and his en-
ployments'' and has come to make hi:
bed with the political prophets and
brawlers in the arena. Mr.. Simmons
takes umbrage at the reference made by
Governor Stubs recently to the 1907
legislature and the "rabid antl-retorm
speaker of the house"
Mr. Simmons declares that he is
neither a Stubs nor Curtis man
and then goes on to give the history
1907 legislature, which shows that all
the important reform laws were passed
by that body.
His most vital point is made when
he tells how Representative Stupps'
after opposing his election as speaker,
comes to him and demands that he be
placed on a certain committee
Simmons refusal to grant the Law
renee mans requisition is the cause OF
the present governors denouncenent
of this same Simmons at this time, &C
cording to the ex-speaker.
Mr. Simmons letter to the press in
defense of himself and the 1907 house
of representatives is as follows;
Simmons to Stubbs.
ct saw in the different papers of
September 20 a communication from
Governor Stubs which seems to call
for a reply from me. 1t Is the nrst
time 1 have ever asked space IN the
papers and as I have retired to private
life 7 did not suppose I would be call
ed upon to break a long established
rule.
I'm the statement of Governor
Stubs, published September %, find
reference to the legislature of 1907
that is so unfair to the membership
of that legislature and so character
istic of Governor Stubbs that feel in
fairness to myself and the members
that 1 should make reply
Not Partisan.
"I have nothing to do with the con-
troversy between Governor Stubs
and Senator Curtis. If Curtis succeeds
in showing that the promises OF the
governor to give the state business
/ will be interested only as any other
Republican and citizen If Governor
Stubs can explain the remarkable
increase in taxes I Will have eXacf
political affiliations were never at any
time with either one of them.
But this is beside the point. The
governor says of the legislature of
1907 that it was strictly Curtis leg
jslature in every sense and that SEN
ator Fitzpatrick was leader of the
senate legislature and John Simmons.
rabid-anti-reformer and railroad at
torney, was speaker 5ofnthe mouse OF
representatives ands organized the
committees which practically con-
trolled the appropriations I have
had a good many critics in my time,
but Governor Stubs is the first one
that has descended to the criticism of
my administration as speaker How
ever, this does not concern me very
much. The thing that particularly
concerns me is practically the. charge
that the legislature was dominated by
myself and that it failed in its duty.
sI noticed in one of the governors
late epistles that he makes a very
broad challenge that no state in the |
union is getting more for its money |
than the state of Kansas This is an |
absolutely safe challenge because the /
whole matter would be a matter of |
opinion. 1 wish to make a challenge |
that can be verified or disproven and |
that is that this legislature of 1907
dominated as he contends in one |
house by Senator Fitzpatrick, Stan |
dard Oil attorney, (Which he was not |
at that time) and on the other side !
by myself, "a abid-anti-reformer and /
railroad attorney passed more good
laws along the lines of present reform
Ideas than any legislature that ever
met in the state of Kansas.
What 1907 Legislature Accomplished. |
ct do not intend to try to enumer-
ate them but mention the following
for example,:
i
mum rate on grain, empowering the
state railroad commission to intervene
IN the cases before the Interstate
commerce commission, the tax law,
to the grain inspection
law, and the pure food and drug act.
ITO this might be added the primary
election law which Governor Stubs re-
CARDS as a very beneficial law and
which was passed at the special ses-
sion under the same committees and
the same Nominations. I will not in
rude on your space to make a list COM
pairing this legislature with others, but
If Governor Stubs or any of his
friends doubt the truth of this asser-
lion they can very easily disprove it If
t is not true by reference to the statute
books.
cat the beginning of my term as
speaker I announced plainly that 1 re-
zarded it as the speakers business to
preside over the house and see that
every question had fair consideration
and that it was not any of the speak
sr's business to undertake to force
aw and 1 carried this declaration
through without single exception.
night say, however that I voted for
everyone of the so-called reform laws
including the primary election law but
he latter as I plainly stated I voted for
With the explanation that 1 did it be-
,ause a majority of the people seemed
% want it and 1t was fair to give it a
rial
Stubbs Fought for Only One Law.
passage of none of these laws except