The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-26
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Geo. Bunger Is Opposed to Jim
Crow Law
But Wabaunsee Man FaVOrs
Separate Schools.
HARRY M'MILLAN'S IDEA.
He Would Cut Useless Laws
and Jobs and Expenses.
Senator Gray of Osborne Is
New Man Worth Watching.

George G. Bunger. Democrat and
member of the legislature from Wa
baunsee county. is opposed to the en-
actment of a Jim Crow law in Kansas;
although the Eskridge man declares he
will vote for a just law segregating
the white and black school children and
will support a law prohibiting the in
termarriage OF the races. Bunger
made his first record in politics two
years ago when he defeated ]. n.
Dolley, chairman of the Republican
state central committee, for reelection
to the lower house.
In letter to the State Journal,
Bunger declares that a Kansas legis-
lature would be out of harmony with
Kansas history and Kansas traditions
should she pass a law similar to the
Jim Crow law in operation in southern
states. Bunger urges that the law would
arouse racial feeling In the state and
emphaticalIy denies the claim that the
bill would receive the almost solid sup
port of the Democratic members OF the
1913 legislature.
''If such a bill has been drafted ana
Is presented, candidly believe 1t will
meet with strong opposition at the
hands of the Democratic party, says
Bunger in discussing the Jim Crow en-
actment. Continuing he says:
why should such radical law az
like Kansas, the state of all states
that should be last to adopt such
radical race legislation. 1t was Kan
sas that struck the blow that nnaIy
ended in the freedom Of the colored
man and in many respects placed him
on an equality with the Caucasian. Is
there a state north of the Mason &
Dixon line that has taken such rad
ical step. Should Kansas do more ex-
perimenting and spend few more
20 40
thing little different from any other
northern state? Have we not had
enough new legislation during the last
four years? Why should any step be
taken that should give rise to a re-
avail akening of race sentiment IN the
s+atap There IS great reason to be-
lfeve that the Democrats who viii con-
troll both branches of the next legis-
IatI1re. will hesitate before voting for
the adoption of such measure.
"As to the segregation OF scnools. 1
am heartily in favor of the law. under
certain conditions. I candidly believe
that the children of both colors would
be bettered by such move, especially
the small towns with popuiatien OF
from 500 to 1000. Many OF the towns
with a population of 1000 or more nave
already established separate schools.
Runger also declares that he Will sup
mort Representative Herr's proposed Dill
prohibiting the intermarriage OF whites
and blacks.
I4arr,. Mcmillan. who succeeds Fred
Quincy in the state senate, VIII
come tn Topeka next month with
few we'll defined ideas or leglslauoh'
Mcmillan vows that he Will De
stickler for the fulhllment OF the Oein-
ocratic platform promises
"There is one promise that VIII
naste in my hat, paste on my desk ana
in every other place where IL VIII De
conspicuous," said Mcmillan In re-
cent interview.
THE new senator from the Ottawa
saline county district was asked Wnat
that promise was
IT'S the one," replied MCMILLAN In
which the Democrats recite, We be-
lieve we have too many laws, too many
officers, too much government, and too
high taxes. And we promise If given
the opportunity, to use the pruning
knife on these evils
And Mcmillan emphatically declares
he will work to reduce the states Tar
payroll to repeal a few Of the crazy
quilt laws and to cut down the taxes.
In the recent election, the defeat o.
Senator Quincy by Mcmillan was one
of a most severe shock to the Progress
sive leaders.
Harry Gray. who comes to the state
senate this winter from the Thirty
fourth district, is another of the Kan
sas Democrats who upset the dope
sheet in staunch Republican counties
Gray is another of the new men In
Kansas legislative affairs He comes
to. the senate to take the seat occupied
by r. T. Fowler, a Russell county
banker and stockman. Gray is a far
mer.
The new senator from the Thirty
fourth district has lived in Kansas 35
years. In 1877 he homesteaded on a
farm in Osborne county. For a num-
ber of years Gray has taken an active
interest in the political affairs of his
and congressional district.
When the Populist movement seized
Kansas in the early 9O's, Gray was on
the crest of the new wave of reform
It was when the Peoples party put
an entire ticket in the field in its
palmy days, that Gray was the nomi-
nee of the party to succeed William A
Reeder in congress. Reeder won.
On several occasions the Osborne
man has been elected to coun-
ty offices. In the recent primaries. he
was the Democratic nominee for state
senator from the district comprising
Lincoln, Osborne and Rus
sell counties. Gray made a most ac-
tive campaign and defeated d. L
the Republican nominee, in
three of the four counties Ruggles
carried Russell county.