The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-29
SESSIONS FOR HARMONY.
Would Submit Initiative and Refer.
endum to PeODio

endum to People.
.'I hope that peace and harmony will
prevail at the Republican party council
meeting Tuesday and that Joe Dolley
will be chosen chairman of the Repub-
lican state committee said Chas. H.
Sessions upon his return today from a
three weeks fishing trip in Minnesota
From what 1 have gathered from the
papers the indications are that the Re
publicans will be able to adjust their
little differences and present a solid
front during the campaign. l am GER
tainly glad of that
Sessions thinks the Republicans. in
their platform, should go on record in
favor of Industrial accident compenSa-
ton for employees.
LAS it is now" said he, industrial
concerns insure against judgments for
accidents to employees Why not auth
orize them by law to insure their en-
ployees against accidents, instead. The
injured employee would then get some
| thing. Now he only gets about 70 per
cent of what the court awards him
judgment for. The rest is eaten up in
expenses of litigation, This plan has
been tried with success in. Germany
for some time.
THE initiative and referendum is
somewhat visionary but is nothing to
be scared about" said he. ''Just be-
cause it was a cardinal principle of
Populism years ago is no reason why
the Republicans should shy at it. The
Republicans have adopted about all the
issues the Pops used to advocate, with
out upsetting the government, and per-
haps we might as well take on one more
and test it out. OF course the people
turned down the initiative and refer
endum along with the Pops in two or
three campaigns and it was not even an
issue in the recent primary. 1t has
arisen from the ashes since August 2.
Whether Kansas people have changed
their minds on it since the days of
Populism is unknown because they have
not had a whack at 1t since Why
would it not be a good plan to simply
declare in favor of submitting the mat
ter to vote of the people and let them
say whether they want it or not. 1 be-
lieve in letting the people have their
way.
should be robbed of the right-to select
their own officials. This talk that one
man has more wisdom in selecting
public officials than all the people
combined, doesn't appeal to me. If
we are to have a short ballot-to take
away the right Of the people to select
their own servants-why not just elect
boss of Kansas and let him name
all the officials from United States
senator and governor down? The hort
ballot gets away from popular govern
ment and if the primary law is respon-
sible for the demand for a short bal
lot, the primary law should be
amended. Just scan the list in Kan
sas and you will find that twenty ap-
pointive officers go wrong to one cleo
tive officer. The record thus shows
that the wisdom of the people in elect
ing officials is superior to that of the
appointive power. I am willing to
trust the people.
1.-The advocates of the initiative and
referendum cannot consistently advo-
cate a short ballot. The initiative and
referendum lets the people vote on the
laws. Short ballot advocates don't
want to give the people a chance to
vote for officials to administer those
laws. If the people are to pass on the
laws they should also pass on the Off
Gals who administer those laws.
LAS for the recall, no candidate will
likely oppose it. 1 take it that every
public official wants to do his duty
and give the state the best service in
him. If he doesn't he ought to be
kicked out Of course the custer plan
would be just as effective and less ex-
pensive but it is immaterial to me
which is adopted-ary one or both.
Governor Stubs should receive a
| strong endorsement. His administra-
| ton has been free of scandal and con-
Quoted along sound business lines II
has been clean and decent and run
open and above board. 1t will be a
valuable asset for the Republicans to
rely upon during the campaign.
81 am also in favor of a hearty en-
dorsement of President Taft. l think
he has accomplished wonders under
most trying conditions