The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-23
THE EVENING STORY
The Irregular Member.
(By Anne Hinrichsen. }

shook her head impatiently at the men
with her
Nobody listens to Ralston,'' scoffed
the representative of a metropolitan
paper.
81 do she retorted. He talks
WE'LL
He is an Irregular commented a
mem Der of the assembly, "a man who
votes according to his own convictions,
instead of obeying his party's Anan-
dates. He refuses to ODE ythe dictates
OF the party leaders. He will not make
alliances with the other party. No
party or faction can claim him. He
votes as he chooses, regardless of par
ty lines, and introduces all sorts of i'm
possible but highly meritoriouS bills.
Because he will not stand by either
party, neither party will stand by him.
He is making speech now in favor of
one of his bills, but nobody is listening
to him.
Mary Collins walked away from the
group of legislators and newspaper
men to a place near the irregular
| member.
| Accustomed from childhood to the
unwritten laws of legislative proceed
| ure, trained to detect and understand
| every condition and change in the
mental atmosphere of the Assembly,
she knew that Ralston was speaking
| to men whose ears were deaf to the
words of an irregular party man. The
| members were reading, writing or
! walking about. The presiding officer
| sat III his CIIdIT EdWnlI1S
ly. The pages clattered noisily around
| the speaking member.
Several times Ralston's eyes met
Marys. When he sat down, reward
| ed by the Indifferent silence of his
| fellow members he turned toward her.
| She smiled and nodded with emphatic
approval in the shake of her pretty
head. There was a flash of surprised
pleasure and gratitude in his eyes.
When the house adjourned she was
standing the entrance of Repre-
sentatives' hall. Your speech this
morning was a good one" she said.
When he smiled the firm-lipped,
austere legislator became a boyish
young man. ''You are the only person
who thought So he said whimsical
ly 1.-The members won't listen to me
and since never accomplish anything
you newspaper people pay no atten-
tion to me-
rs it impossible for you to act in
harmony with your party?"
Il despise the sort of legislation my
party is advocating. and won't work
with them. I don't enjoy being a
Pariah-an irregular is a Pariah-and
I'm awfully lonesome. But I'll stick to
my IDEALS
ideals are sometimes cold compan-
ions' said the girl bitterly. They had
left the state house and were walking
toward the hotel
''They are the man agreed. But
when we give them up we sacrifice the
best of ourselves; we give up all that
raises us above the common sordidness
of life.''
He pushed open the hotel door for
her In the lobby stood Grant Warren,
a leader of the house and a member of
the party to which Ralston belonged.
He came toward them, nodded to Rails
ton and spoke impatiently to Mary.
1--WE been waiting ages for you. Let's
go in to lunch.'
what do you see in that man to
like?" Warren asked when they were
in the dining room.
His ideals, I think" she answered |
absently.
The irregular was at the table not far
from them.
1.-The man has a lot of crazy notions. |
The political whirl is no place for him.
He will soon have a chance to redeem |
himself with his party. The franchise |
bill which was introduced a few weeks |
ago will soon be voted on. 1t is a party |
measure and we can pass it by ma |
jority of, one If all the members of our |
party vote for it. But Ralston will prob
ably refuse to support it. The loss of |
his vote will defeat the measure. If he |
stands by his party we shall forgive |
him his past misdemeanors. If he for
sakes US we shall throw him out of the |
party and out of the house,
'Shall you vote against the fran
chise bill?" Mary asked Ralston several
days later.
nave announced my Intention OIL
doing so. I can see nothing but
harm in it,
"You understand. do you not, that
your refusal to vote with your party
on this measure will cost you great
price?''
1T will probably cost me my seat
in the house. I was elected by so
small a majority that my opponent
is contesting my seat. Election con-
tests are decided by a committee of
the house. The committee is ruled
by men who favor the franchise bill.
1 have been told that my opponent,
who ran on the independent ticket,
has promised his vote to the men
who will unseat me and give him my
place. If I persist in my determine
ton to oppose the bill 1 shall prob
ably be unseated to make .oom for
man whose vote will pass he BILL
yet you persist in your determine
ticn?"
he regarded the question as super
fluous. 81 can't vote for a bill L
think is wrong I shall leave the
capital. I shall probably never see
you again. I love you very dearly"
he went on in a matter of fact tone
Warren. If you were free I'd do my
best to win you.
The next morning shortly after
the assembly convened Grant War
rem rose and asked for recognition.
Mr.. Speaker" he aid. las chair
man of the committee on election
contests 1 desire to report to the
house our decision in the case of
Jones VS.. Ra1ston. After a careful
of the evidence present
ed we have pronounced me election
of Mr.. Ralston an illegal one, and de- ,
clare that Mr.. Jones is the lawful ,
from Pike county"
Mr.. Ralston," announced the J
IL ~ A0r Ia Z