The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-12

the taxes should have a dollars worth
in return. 1t means that extrava-
gance should cease. 1t means that,
under the pretense of reform, no pub
lie officer should expend public moneys
to advertise himself, and build up a
political machine, at the expense of his
constituents. 1t means that corpora
tons created by law should be sub
serVient to the demands of their crea-
tors, and graciously submit to all rea-
sonable regulation, or go out of bust
ness. 1t means that all legitimate bus
mess, little and big, should be protect
ed and fOStered commensurate with the
interests of the people. 1t means, as
recently said by Champ Clark, that
mo man is fit to be the law-giver for
a mighty people who yields to the de-
mands and solicitations of the few
who have access to his ear, and is for
getful of the vast multitude who may
never hear his voice or look into his
face
If the foregoing is a correct interpre-
tation of the term progressive" then
l am a progressive If, however, it
means that a few men, seeking office,
may, by improvident legislation, pile up
taxes each year, until the burden
amounts almost to confiscation, in Dr.
der that they may get and retain Off
cial power; if it means that every So
called reform measure increases the
burden of taxation; if it means official
conduct and maladministration in the
discharge of official duties which inn
pels the homeseeker to shun our sta.e,
and decrease our population; if it
means that our public officers, who are
paid large salaries, may leave their
posts of duty for days, weeks and
months, in an effort to secure re-elec-
ton or election to some other office, at
the expense of the people; if it means
deception, hypocrisy, and misrepresen-
20 ,se1r- h.
ple-then 1 am not a progressive
1 am in favor of a constitutional
amendment fixing the term of office of
governor and all other state officers at
four years, and making the incumbent
ineligible for reelection, or to become
a candidate for any other office during
the term of office for which he was
elected. Such a law would keep these
public servants in their offices discharg-
ing duties for which they are paid
large salaries wrung from the people by
taxation, instead of using the major
portion of their time, which belongs 20
the people, seeking reelection, or some
other Office, to which their vaulting
ambition may aspire. The entire time
of a public officer belongs as much %
the people who elect and pay him as
does the time of a farm laborer belong
to the farmer who employs him.
However, if elected to the senate, re-
CARELESS of my personal views, I Will
not support or vote for any law IT
measure which the people of my district
do not want.
1 will support and vote for any law
or measure which they desire. In other
words, if I go to the senate, it will be
as the servant of the people who send
me there, with the preconceived de-
termination on my part to give up the
trust if I find that I cannot subordi-
nate my personal views to the views
and wishes of those who call me 20
accept the trust
1 have reached that period in my life
where my chief ambition is to do what
ever I can to promote the interest and
welfare of my fellowmen. and especi-
ally those in the district who have al
ways been so kind and good to me.
In consenting to become a candidate
for the senate, assume that those VINO
signed the petitions and wrote the many
letters urging me to become a candi-
date were sincere and in earnest when
they pledged to me their votes and
their support. If those pledges are re-
deemed, as have no doubt they VIII
be, the result can easily be forecasted
and I will be given an opportunity to
demonstrate to the people of this dis
trict that their confidence has not been
misplaced.
B. P. WAGGENER.
Atchison, Kan, March II, 1912.