The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-21
WAS FOUL PLAY BODY TO ATHENS THEY MADE Good
William Allen White Discusses
Work of Democrats.
Emporia Writer Sees Where
Pledges Were Fulfilled.

! Emporia, Kan, March 21.-William
Allen White. who is spending the win
ter in La Jolla, Calf, has written the
following signed editorial, under the
head, THE Dimmycrats,'' and it will
be published in this afternoons edition
of the Emporia Gazette:
No open-minded Kansan of any party
Socialist. Republican, Prohibitionist,
Democrat or Progressive, can fail to
realize that the Democratic legislature
/ has done excellent work in the session
passed are sound, wholesome and
needed. The Massachusetts, ballot law.
the school book publication law, the
amendment to the primary law, the
payment of convicts law, the white
slave law-and a dozen others of that
character are equal to the work of any
! legislature that ever assembled in
4 Kansas.
And this is as it should be. The work
of the recent Republican administra-
tons, under Hoch and Stubs, had
paved the way for great work. The
people of Kansas have proved them
selves thoroughgoing progressives. 1t
makes no vast difference which party
registers the progressive spirit of Kan
sas. And the party Progressives-the
Progressives with a large P. of whom
/ the writer is one-are just as pleased
at the good work of the recent Demo-
cratic legislature as they were with the
| four sessions preceding when the work
was done by Republicans. The chief
thing is to get the good laws passed
and effectively administered If it can
be done best by the Democrats. well
and good. The Progressive leaders
would much prefer to have the Demo-
Gratis hold the offices if the Democrats
/ will make good or the Republicans or
the Prohibitionists. 1t is not primarily
/ Of win a c
a matter of making Kansas good
state; it is a matter of getting just
laws, honestly enforced, that will make
| living conditions in Kansas approx
! mately just and equitable. 1t is mat
ter of putting Christian principles into
I state government. That is the chief
thing The Democrats have done well
not as well as they might have done
if they had redeemed all their pledges
which were merely the Progressive
pledges in another form. But every
honest forward-thinking citizen must
feel that the Democratic legislature just
adjourned has done first-Eate work and
| is entitled to the thanks of the people
for its sensible service.
1t may be noted in passing that it
appropriated half a million dollars
more than the Republican legislature
Just preceding it. That was right.
The Democrats honestly thought the
state was being extravagantly run.
When they came into power, they
found they were mistaken. They did
what honest men would do-they
made the necessary appropriations,
and faced the state like gentlemen
with an increased appropriation. The
| economy" ghost should be laid now
for several years. When a statesman
goes up and down the earth saying
how he is going to decrease Kansas
| state appropriations, tell him to re-
member that George Hodges did that
! in entire sincerity and found he was
| wrong. Appropriations may not be
| reduced and retain an effective state
| government. The appropriations may
be changed around a little-as the
| Democrats have done-cutting in one
place and raising in another place.
and never will be reduced in Kansas.
| This editorial is intended to call
| attention to the good things done by
the Democrats. The bad things they
did are not so important. They may
| be remedied. Notably, they are the
state board of educational control
| for which was appropriated more or
| less than $4,000 to do what half the
amount would do, if the work were
| left to an honorary board instead of
a salaried board. The folly of the sal
aried board will be proved in a year
or two. Another mistake was made in
not taxing the great fortunes of the
state by an inheritance taX-say, all
estates over $4,000 and all heirs ex-
| cepting widows. The failure of the
initiative and referendum was, of
| course, lamentable-but not of great
consequence. The initiative and ref
| erendum will come sooner or later
and will come wisely when it does
| come.
| In the meantime the income tax
amendment was a good thing, and at
a distance of 1900 miles from the
scene, it looks as though the recall
should have the support Of all good
citizens. Taken in a large way, look
ing broadly at the legislatures work,
! it can be said that the Democrats
proved the most cheerful thing that
has been proved in Kansas for q long
time-that the state is progressive,
and will express the progressive spirit,
no matter whether the Democrats, the
Republicans, the Progressives or the
| Socialists happen for the moment to
| be in control. The foundation was
laid by the passage of the primary
tenn in the state charitable and penal
institutions, and the various anti
graft measures secured during the
| two recent administrations.
There remains much more to be
done. The world is not finished yet
| The Progressive party has a mission
1t will keep its lights trimmed and
| burning. And when it wins it will
show the Democrats what real legis-
/ lature, can do. But, on the other hand,
it will have fine record to beat.