The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-17
MR.. WHITE's TESTIMONY.

between interviews and testimony.
Nothing brings this out 50 clearly as the
recent interviews of David Leahy, pri-
vate secretary to the governor, and
William Allen White of the Emporia
Gazette, and the testimony Of the same
gentlemen before the senate Mr..
Leahy charged that crookedness was
rampant, but in his testimony the
"crookedness'' faded away into fun
faithfulness."
Mr. White followed Mr.. Leahy's weak
testimony by the remarkable state
ment that Dave Leahy everlastingly
made good; that while members may
be bribed with state money, the peo-
pie cannot be bribed so easily
Mr.. White thus gave his readers to
understand with Dave Leahy that
crookedness was rampant and that
bribery in the present legislature was
a common, prevalent crime.
Mr.. White in his testimony gives the
meaning of his words as exactly the
opposite.
His testimony in fact, if deprived of
his repartee and brilliant replies made
to the questions propounded by the
senators, would be humiIiating.
the writer of this article.
He seems to be sincere in his desire
for certain reforms and his integrity
is not to be questioned. but he some
times lets words run away with him.
The proceedings in this case show
that he certainly juggled with words
before he took the stand. His testi-
mony is conclusive that he and others
l. l,-T -. Ior1
guage when they make serious
charges. Much of Mr.. Whites testi-
mony in the face of what Leahy
charged and the endorsement given his
charges by Mr.. White. is astounding.
Here are a few quotations from the
remarkable testimony compared with
the two interviews which preceded it:
Later returns have put this esti-
ment thatano standpat senator would
go on the stand.
81 don't charge any man with dis
honesty" replying to a standpat SEN
ator.
st have prepared an editorial in
which l compliment your work. ~
''I have never believed that any
member of this body could be cor
rupted with money.
''I have never seen a senate of this
state where the personnel and integ-
rity of its senators were so high as in
this one"
eff I was in the legislature 1 might
be tempted myself to do the same
thing under similar conditions"
In his testimony Mr.. White admitted
the temptation in nefarious trading of
votes by members of the legislature.
Here is a reform which is needed and
which Mr.. White could urge rather
than excuse. The trades which are
made by members of a legislature are
shameful The state is defrauded.
They do not result in a member vot-
/ ing for a measure on its merits. Why
should a member from Lyon county,
If he were so disposed, vote for ar asy-
lum in Sedgwick county in exchange
for the member in Sedgwick county
| voting for an appropriation for an
1 other building for the state Normal
school? Trades of this nature are
politically dishonest.
How can the senate, which Mr..
White says is so high in its personnel
and integrity, go far out of the way in
matters of legislation.
! Things are not as bad as they are
| sometimes painted, even by the brill
1 -
artist Of Emporia.
Mr.. Whites defense of certain
/ charges that he had made were like
charges in a lawyers petition in court.
for his client, on the theory that he
would charge them and they might
prove to be true, was weak and I'M
worthy, and one Mr.. White would not
make except except thoughtlessly on
the spur of the moment. under stress
of examination, and without due care.
Based on the ordinary and general
ly accepted meaning of the English
language Mr.. White Joined with Mr.
Leahy in an attempt to besmirch the
senate. It was both unkind and I'M
just Mr.. White is naturally kind and
wants to be just, but he sometimes
permits language to drag him into the
ditch. His testimony is a retraction