The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-16
KANSAS IN CoNGREss.

much activity as there was on the part
of two or three of insurgent candidates
for Republican congressional nominal
tions in several of the Kansas districts.
If there is, the newspapers generally
do not seem to be paying much at
tention to it, And if anything of i'm
portance were being done along these
lines the newspapers would be print
ing something about it. Perhaps the
insurgent candidates have discovered
that the sentiment among the Kansas
Republicans against the Taft admin
istration and the men in congress who
have been standing by it on all occa-
sions is not quite as strong as it was
But whether or not several of these
insurgent congressional candidates.
are falling by the wayside, the fact re-
mains that the Republicans of Kan
sas will be making something of
mistake if they indulge in a general
overhauling of their congressional del
egation in congress. Kansas, through
her present delegation in con-
gress, is looming UP once
more as an important factor in
the elaboration of the affairs of the
national government. The state is be-
coming the power it once was in ma
tional matters in those days of the
Big Four-Perkins, Peters, Hanback,
and Funston-in the house, and
Plumb and Ingalls, in the senate.
The one reason for this is that the
members of the Kansas delegation
now are not only able men for the
most part, but their continued service
in congress has fitted them with ex-
perience that has warranted their pro-
motion to the most important of COM
mittee assignments. Mr.. Calderhead.
with seven terms of service, has the
most important committee assignment
of the Kansas delegation, being on
the ways and means committee which
drew the tariff bill, and he was one
of the conferees on this bill. Mr.. Scott
is chairman of the important commit
tee on agriculture. Mr.. Campbell is
on the committee on banking and cur
rency which will play large part in
framing the necessary legislation,
soon to come to the front for reform
of the banking and currency laws of
the nation. Mr.. Miller is chairman of
elections committee, No. 2 of the
house. Mr.. Reeder is chairman of the
committee on irrigation and arid
lands, which handles the legislation
for one of the biggest of undertakings
that the government is now engaged
in. Mr.. Murdoch is on the committee
of postoffices and post roads where he
has done excellent service and where
his opportunities to do more work of
the same kind is large. Mr.. Madison
is on the insular affairs and the labor
committees and was appointed to the
special committee to make the Bal
linger-Pinchot investigation. Mr.. An
thony, the youngest member in length
of service in the delegation is a MEM
Der of the committee on military af-
fairs. Each of the delegation has as
signments on other committees. From
the ones named, though, it is appar-
ent that Kansas has potent voice in
the framing of legislation concerning
most of the prominent actiy lies of the
government. And the bulk of the leg
islative work in congress is done by
the committees.
It is ridiculous to argue that men
who might be sent to congress in the
places of the present Kansas represen-
LdllNeS WOOlQ get llAAIl6 AlAO bhO
committee assignments that are now
held by Kansas congressman. They
wouldn't even get them If the house
should take the committee appointing
power from the speaker and put it in
the hands of a committee on commit
tees of It's own choosing. Men of con-
gressional experience are needed for
such important committee work and
only such men will get the jobs re-
CARELESS of how committees may be
appointed
This is a matter that calls for the
sober thought of the voters of Kan
sas when primary day rolls around
even though some of the insurgents
for Kansas congressional honors have
attractive personalities and have done
few things at home here.