The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-11-29
POLITICAL GOSSIP.

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two-thirds vote in the senate. The
Democrats supported the measures, but
the burden was on the Republicans to
submit the proposed constitutional
amendments. This year the Demo
Gratis promise to give both the L ana
r. and the recall the necessary vote
to submit them to the people in the
1914 election.
There may be trouble for the Kansas
judiciary II the Democrat platform Is
observed with care and caution. In
the first place, the Democrats avow
there are too many district judges, that
many Of these Judges are making but
slight showing for their fat salary. And
so the Democratic legislature proposes
to re-district the state in regard to
judicial districts and to reduce the
nurnb Der of judges now employed to at
tend to the states legal troubles. That
isn't all. The Democrats have an in
born conviction that the Supreme court
should be removed from political
stigma. and proposes to devise a law
that will take Kansas Supreme courts
and Kansas Supreme judges out of
politics in the future.
OF course, the Democrats have about
the same number of pIanks regarding
labor laws and public safety devices as
have the Republicans. After viewing
these matters briefly, the Democratic
party council passed on. In conclusion,
they pledged themselves to support 4
law making it optional for a person to
work out or pay poll tax. They in
sfstently demanded the repeal of the in
heritance tax law, and will probably
give that matter early consideration.
In addition to these strictly party
promises, each legislator has in his own
mind a few laws which he believes viii
aid in the general moral uplift. There
he TIaa Of aT-ya
Of freak legislation. But the real fea-
ture of the approaching session is the
fact that the Democrats will have un-
disputed control and their course in the
legislature will probably be worth OBJ
serving.
1t is probable that William a. Ayers
of Wichita. will be a candidate to sue
coed Harry J. Bone, United States dis
tric+ attorney. Ayers is Sedgwtck
county Democrat and has the genuine
endorsement Of the lawyers in the
Eighth distri t. Senator Fred Rob
ertson of Rawlins, is also suggested
as a candidate to succeed Bone. Rob
ertson's geographical location is con-
sidered in his favor. as the big Sixth
district has been without recognition
in Democratic circles for several years.
Harry ]. Bone, present United
States district attorney, was reappoint-
ed for a four year term last winter
by President Taft. United States SEN
ator J. L. Bristow blocked that ap-
pointment in the senate for personal
reasons. Now Bone is holding what is
termed a recess appointment and the
confirmation of his appointment by
President Taft will be checked up to
the senate again this winter when it
reconvenes for the short term.
1t is an interesting question among Kan
sas politicians whether BTistow will con-
unue to block Bones appointment
whether he will accede to the presidents
preference and permit Bone to serve ar
oCher term. Bone was not only recon-
nended. by President Taft, but he WAS
endorsed in the highest terms both by the
department of Justice and by George "
W1ckersham, United States attorney gen.
eFal- On numerous occasions the depart
ment of justice sent Bone to other couz
TO handle difficult criminal cases and in
won the highest praise.
Now, should Bristow continue to nurSe
MS personal prejudice against Bone and
block his reappointment through the short
session, 1t would unquestionably mean tue
naming of a Democrat instead of a Re
publican to the position of United Stat -
district attorney in Kansas. It would
mean that BriStow would throw to the
state patronage to his party in order thai
he might eliminate Bone from the service
and Salve his personal grievances. 1t is
because of this situation that numerous
Democratic lawyers are hunting Bones
job. And it is because BristoW's personal
widely known in Kansas. that the action
of the senator from Sa1ina will be Oh
served with much interest by Kansas Re
pubilc3nS during the approaching session.
These Democratic aspirants for the office
of district attorney may be too prwvio IS
in their hopes and ambitions