The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-01
POLITICAL GOSSIP.
Administration Leaders Worry
Over Referendum Planks.
May Result in Forcing Result
mission Vote.
SPEAKERSHIP FIGHT.
RObt. Stone Is the Only AvOwed
Candidate.
Conference Failed to Clarity the
Air.
SPEAKERSHIP FIGHT.

After placing the initiative and refer
endum planks in their platform the
administration leaders are beginning
now to worry little about this scheme
of advanced legislation. One principal
cause of the worry is the threat of the
liberal element of the state to get re-
submission before the people by means
of the initiative provision of the law.
A petition containing the names of s
per cent of the voters could be obtain
ed within a week after the law had
been enacted And this would doubt
less be done. Now the party leaders
want to increase the per cent neces-
sary to make petition legal from 8
TO 80 per cent. The last figure would
not prevent the re-submission petition
from going through. Resubmission
should have no terrors however for
the prohibitory amendment would be
endorsed by an increased majority.
1t is said that many of the holdover
senators do not favor the direct legis-
1ation plan, and it will find much op-
position in the house for that matter.
The recall law, which has also been
used as a campaign issue, is only ap-
plicable, 1t is said, to states where the
state officers serve four year. It's
benefits are doubtful in state like
Kansas where the two year terms ap-
ply to all state officers.
Right after the election there was a
lot of talk about the speaker of the
next house, and half dozen candi-
dates were announced. During the
past ten days little has been said or
written about the big fight that is
sure to take place at the Organization
Of the next legislature. Robert Stone
of Shawnee is the only candidate who
has announced himself for the place
and expressed his determination TO
a 1iG
Cowley is receptive candidate and
Cliff Matson of Sedgwfck and j w
Davis of Kiowa have not vet been
heard from except through their
friends. The conference of party lead
ers held in the governors OFFICE
Wednesday may have had to do with
the speakership contest. If so. it was
an effort to unite on Robert Stone
William Allen White, one of the con-
ferees. is Stone man, and he is sure
70 have presented his case to the ad-
mtnistration. If the conference did nor
deal with the speakership question.
then it overlooked one of the most i'm
portant problems in connection with
the next legislature. The insurgents
will not have majority over the Dem
ocrats and regulars in the next session
and If they want a speaker they will
have to resort to diplomacy rather
than the steam roller.
The Marysville Daily News is great
~ worked up over the pardon Of
James Dalton, life timer, from the
penitentiary by Governor Stubs. and
refers to the governors act in this
matter as a crime. According to the
News. Dalton was ian aIl-around
crook, burglar and murderer" Dal-
ton was sentenced from Marshall
county in 1902 for murder in the first
degree. In the story of the Dalton
crime given out at the time of his
parole, it was stated that Dalton for
love of a girl was showing her
brother the road to Nebraska The
News gives another version of the af-
fair as follows:
well, Dalton was riding a horse
stolen in Nebraska and a saddle stolen
from Bashford's store in Vermillion.
He was wearing a suit of clothes stolen
from Kern's store in Vermillion and a
pair of boots stolen from Hubbard's
store in Blue Rapids. He had five
guns strapped on him and a stick of
dynamite with cap and fuse laced up
inside his leggins. All for love- And
he is coming back to marry the girl!
Bah! Such rot!"