The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-24
John Dawson Tells Where He
Stands on Prohibition.
Pledges Himself to Enforcement
OF the Law.
REFS AND HELVERING
Debates Attracting Great Deal
of Attention in Fifth.
Senator Hodges Makes Speech
at Madison.

John Dawson, candidate for attorney
general, speaking to a small gathering
of local Republicans, made his position
clear in regard to the enforcement If
the prohibition law when he said:
Like all other public spirited citi-
zens the man who holds the attorney
generalship is entitled to his opinion as
to what laws we ought TO nave; an9
what changes and improvements should
be made in existing laws. Without
going into details, l am in sympathy
with the principal progressive ideas
now occupying the attention OF the
most thoughtful Republicans in KAN
sas and in the nation. But the attor-
ney generals chief concern is with the
l-ws we now have and with their en-
forcement without fear or favor; ami
this means the enforcement of the pre-
hibitory law. the enforcement of the
gambling law, the enforcement of the
antitrust law, the laws against derelict
and incompetent officials, as we'll as
tie enforcement of the laws against
horse stealing and other crimes of the
grosser sort.
ITO the faithful enforcement of Ill
the laws of the state stand committed
by my past official conduct and pledge
myself now as the candidate of a great
party-a party made great chiefly by
the deeds of those whom it entrusted
with authority and who taught respect
1Or law Dy us enforcement. nope TO
be elected. I want all the votes can
get, but no citizen should cast his vote
for me in the hope that 1 will lay
down on the enforcement of this, that
or the other law
The Rees- delivering debates in the
Fifth congressional district are attract
ing good deal of attention and draw
large crowds to the meetings. The Re-
publieans claim that Rees outclasses his
young opponent, while the Democrats
admire the speeches with which Helver-
ing pulverizes the pride of Assaria.
The tariff and Cannonism form the
basis of the arguments. Helvering ac-
cused Judge ReeS of talking differently
now from what he did in the primary
campaign. Judge Rees denies the allie
cation. Each propounds a lot of Ques-
lions to the other.
Helvering asks Judge Rees whom he
win support for speaker-Joe Cannon
or Champ Clark. Rees replies that he
will do everything he possibly can to
defeat Cannon at the Republican eau
Gus, but that if Cannon is the caucus
nominee, and the caucus is run on the
square, then he will vote for Cannon
on the floor of the house, rather than
Champ Clark.
Rees asks delivering if he believes
as Champ CLARK does, that this coun-
try should have absolute free trade,
and that the C'stOm houses should be
torn down. HelVerlng repIleS that ne
is in favor of free trade on the neces-
stiles Of life and a high tariff on lux
uries. Rees says that is practically
what the Republicans have advocated
all along and tells his opponent to join
the party that believes in that doctrine
delivering declares that he will vote for
Champ Clark for speaker, and Rees
counters with the proposition that
Champ Clark is just as bad as Cannon,
if not worse.
HeIverin~ wants to protect American
labor by restricting immigration To
this Rees replies that if immigration
is checked the Democrats will lose a
lot of votes. He declares that the for
eign element in all of the big towns
furnishes the Democrats their support
delivering gives a table showing that
while the wages in this country are
higher than in Great Britain, yet the
cost of livin~ in Great Britain is so
much less that it enables English work
men to save more money per week than
American workmen do. Rees denies
this, declares that no workmen on the
face of the earth get as good wages and
live as well as Americans. He also OBJ
serves that no American workmen are
going to Europe to better their own
conditions. If they could save more
money over there and live better he
says they would move and the fact that