The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-09


pay ten years ago under the old
| order. Because there are more in
! dividuals paying taxes and more
| property on which to pay taxes.
"And yet the machine fellows are
complaining of the high taxes. They
| are saying that reform doesn't pay
They point to 81 per cent gross in
crease of state taxes and grow black
down trodden tax ridden people and
let a 81 per cent increase in city
| taxes and a 81 per cent increase in
township taxes and 40 per cent in
crease in school taxes go unWept, I'M
honored and unsung.
Why They Are Kicking.
1.-The truth is that these fellows find
their means of support cut OF by the
increase in state taxes They used 10
ride free while the other fellows paid
three cents. Now we all pay two cents.
They used to boss the county conven-
tions elect the members of the legiSla-
ture and get the federal patronage
and now the people handle these things
The day of the fixer is past. The peo-
pie rule in Kansas now. And the same
old gang that fought every measure
which has put Kansas under the con-
troll Of the people. are now trying to
get control of the state to take 1t away
from the hands of the people. The
cry of high state taxes comes from the
state agent of the book trust, from the
attorney of the Standard Oil, from the
local attorneys Tor RAILROADS., from Iu0
played out politicians of every county
who find their occupations gone It's
the Same old crowd that used to run
Kansas under the convention system
for the corporations. And Charles Cur
tbs is that crowds natural leader and
appropriate spokesman.
ut is true that no one man is re-
sponsibIe for all these reforms. They
come from the people. The people have
Increased their city. county and state
taxes because it has paid them to do
SO. They have taken over self govern
ment through the primary, because it has
paid them to do so. But the machine
gang that desires to end self govern
ment in Kansas. believes that If it can
defeat w. r. Stubs it can accomplish
its ends. The machine ought to know
what it is talking about and the people
also should know what the machine is
trying to do.
A Stab at Curtis.
First OF all the machine is not try
ing to reduce taxes. If 1t was trying to
reduce taxes it would cry out against
and the 81 per cent of township taxes.
But there is no complaint about that
though it is much more than the state
taxes. The machine is trying to defeat
W. r. Stubs, because it believes that |
with his downfall the election of a |
United States senator by the railroads
can be accomplished and Curtis can go |
to Washington again to vote with
AlQT1cn
people. That is the reason why there is |
a fight on Stubs.
1.-The primary law must be amended !
to conform with the national conven-
ton in 1912. The machine and the rail-
roads hope to amend it so that they can
take the election of United States SEN
ator away from the people, and put il
in the hands of the railroads.
They know that Stubs will veto
any law giving the railroads power
over the people. They are willing to
take their chances with any one else.
Hence the beating the bushes for a
candidate-hence the
scalding tears over the state taxes and
the silence over the local taxes. More
over the citizens of Kansas should have
an opportunity to know exactly how
the matter stands.
Stubs on Ramparts of Reform.
1.-The defeat of Stubs will not re-
duce taxes in Kansas a penny. Taxes
are not controlled by the governor but
by the legislature, by the county COM
by the city council, by the
school boards and the township
trustees. But the defeat of Stubs will
enemies of self government in Kansas
can defeat the primary law by
and take the election of
out of the hands of the peo-
pie.
ANY man who defeats Stubs Will
De beho1den to the railroads, to the
machine, to the book trust, to the po-
itical fixers, and they are smart
enough not to choose a man who will
oe ungrateful to them. When they
ret a man he stands hitched. Stubs
friends do not claim that he is re-
ponsible for all the progress Kansas
las made. But his enemies clearly
how that they believe his defeat will
opple these reforms over. They are
lot brave enough to fight on the is
ues. They have got up a fake ISSUE | ,
nd are trying to fool the people on j
hat. i
What a fool a man makes of him I
elf when he thinks he is fooling the
'eople.' !