The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-02
They Regard Peoples Verdict
in November as Binding.
JAS. TROUTMAN TAKES STAND
Shawnee Member Regards His
Duty as Plain.
Carnahan of Clay and Bailey of
Brown Reply to G. G. League.

, ter that he will not only sufs1ort VII
liam H. Thompson for United states
senator, but that Thompson's qual1f-
cations are above dispute. Troutman
| signed Statement No. L. J. w: Car
nahan of Clay county republican
member of the house, and j. +. BalIey,
epresentative-elect from Brown
county, have also declared their in
tentions of giving Thompson their en-
tire support. Bailey is a Democrat
Judge Thompson was elected Unit
ed States senator last November by
twenty thousand majority. He carried
cry congressional district in the state
and had the largest vote ever given
Democrat in Kansas.
In an open letter Troutman de-
clares that the fight on Thompson is in
the Democratic ranks and that certain
Democratic bosses are trying to re
call" the Garden City jurist before
his election. The fact that the DEM
ocrats are divided in their support OF
Thompson has not affected Troutman
stand and the Republican member OF
the senate from Shawnee county Will
work and fight If necessary Tor
Thompson's election. Outlining his
views on the Thompson fight and MS
personal views as to the legal issues
surrounding Thompson's QUALIFICATIONS
Troutman said:
'.The supreme court of Wisconsin in.
So Wis sos, held that the question of
the qualifications of a congressman Is,
by the constitution of the Un1teo
States, vested exclusively in the house
of representatives.
In federal statutes, annotated, vol.
8, page 1872, is this text: The senate
of the United States is the exclusive
Judge of the election, return, and quail
fication of it's own members. whether
an election of a senator by the state
legislature is in conformity with such
regulations as are prescribed by con-
gress, or whether, for want of strict
conformity Herewith, it is illegal and
void, are questions which state court
has no jurisdiction to decide.
state constitutions and legislatures
have no power to prescribe quaihca-
tions for United States senators, and
state courts no jurisdiction to decide
controversies respecting such qual1hca-
tions If Judge Thompson is over 30
years old, has been a citizen of the
United States for more than nine years,
and is an inhabitant of the state of
Kansas, there is no legal impeachment
to his election. Legislators cannot go
back of the returns to analyze the
motive of the voters who supported
Mr.. Thompson. There seems to be a
preconcerted movement, by a faction
of the Democratic party, to recall
Judge Thompson before he is elected.
To aid in accomplishing this they rely
upon an obsolete and void section of
the Kansas constitution. The time and
attention of the legislature ought not
to be taken by such moot question.
Certainly no Republican member of the
will give encouragement to
this Democratic plan to nullify the law,
and defy the popular will. Let it be
understood in advance. that the cleo
ton of a United States senator, this
winter, is only a necessary legal for |
I1n will ha do
voted to real work.
JAMES A. TROUTMAN."
Last week J. w. Carnahan, member |
of the legislature from Clay county |
and a Republican, declared that he |
would support Thompson in the sena-
torial fight in the house and predicted
trouble at home for any member OF
either house who refused Thompson
his support.
his letter from the Good Gov |
eminent league, he viewed the con-
tents of the missive with suspicion
and refused to become party to the
theft of the senatorial toga from the
Garden City man. He then wrote this
letter to the League in Topeka:
yours of the 18th at hand and con-
tents noted. In reply will say signed
statement No. 1, agreeing to vote for
the candidate for United States sena- |
tor who received the largest number
of votes at the election Novem Der 5, |
and 1 meant just what said and shall
vote for w. H. Thompson, first, last
and all the time or until such time as
he shall release me. Every member
Of the legislature that were elected
November are il duty bound to sup |
| am, and if they do not they should |
not have the respect of a voter in their |
district.
"'Who are the members of this great |
Good Government league" Why not |
come out in the open and make your |
fight against the will of the people |
Will you please send me list of the |
members of this Good Government !
league who are devOting their time |
and money for the great state of Kan |
sas and the inhabitants thereof, so |
can judge what their motives are in |
trying to defeat Mr.. Thompson?
"Mr. Thompson is the choice of the |
people, but [ am satisfied he is not the |
choice of the CRATER.
Hoping to receive at least a par
tial list of the names of members of |
this great league, also the name of the |
president, secretary and treasurer,
yours respectfully,
~. F. BAILEY"
Edward Benson, of Colby, has been
appointed as private secretary to John
E.. Connelley, congressman-eIect from
he Sixth district Benson is an attor- ,
ley in Colby, Conneiley's home town,
and was formerly county attorney of
Thomas county. Several years ago he /
ived in Republic county, and main
aimed a law Office in BeIleville.
In the recent campaign Benson served
Is secretary of the Sixth district Demo-
ratio committee. AS reward for his
affective work during the campaign, he
vas Eamed as secretary by Connolley
the defeat of Congressman I.
D. Young, in the Sixth district.