The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-29
Governor Hodges Commission
( Form Has Enemies.
Several Party Leaders Against
the Popular Plan.
Republican County Organs win
FIJI Vacancies.
Other Items of Political Inter.
est Over State.


There will be night to keep Gov
efnor Hodges' one house legislative
plan out Of the Democratic state plat
form next year. Many widely known
Kansas Democrats are openly opposed
to the Hodges reform and when the
administration followers attempt to
force the reform measure next year.
which it seems they will do the oppo-
0ition will jump on the Hodges pet with
both feet
The Hodges commission form Of leg
islature is about the only really and
truly new reform which has been mem
toned for a place in the party plat
forms next year. Governor Hodges
considered the matter Of such impor-
lance last winter that he sent q spe-
cial message to the legislature regard
ing the proposed constitutional amend
ment decreasing the size Of states
law making body and reducing the
legislature to one house or commits
sion form. Since that time the gov
ernor has made many speeches on the
subject, the reform has been freely dis
cussed In the newspapers and maya
zines and the Democratic governor
wants his pet theory Incorporated in
the 1914 platform.
But there are many Kansas Demo-
Gratis who do not follow Hodges in his
that the governor Is inconsistent in
advocating the initiative and refer
endum, giving added power to all the
people, and at the same time advo-
eating the enactment Of law by
smaller representative body.
Is Much Opposition.
That isn't all. Out in the short grass
section Of the state. in the western
counties where the population is small
and settlement Is sparse, the voters
fear that the new reform means the
defeat Of their long fight for repre-
And for that reason they are opposed to
For years the western Kansas coun-
ties fought to secure representa- ton
from each county in the house Of repre-
sentatives. Only a few years ago were
they successful in their efforts. Now
each of the 100 counties in the state
has a representative in the lower
branch Of the state legislature; and
only the more densely populated coun-
ties such as Wyandotte, Sedgwfck.
Shawnee, Leavenworth, Crawford and
a half dozen other counties have more
than one representative.
Putting the Hodges plan in active
operation would reduce the two house
state legislature of 165 members to a
one house commission plan with 16 or
20 members. In fact Governor Hodges
has at time intimated that he would
he willing to reduce the size Of the state
one expert law maker from each of the
eight congressional districts of the
state. and keeping the body in session
all Of the time. He has argued that
IS 40 SC per cent. of the law enacted
in an ordinary session 4 Kansas leg
islature is passed in the ten days pre-
ccding final adjournment and that dus
time is not given the members for con-
siieration of important matters. H.
has urged that a smaller and less cum
herscine body would secure better re-
suits and by beng In session through
give proper time and consideration tt
all bills affecting changes in state
laws.
There IL no question but that an en-.
dorsenent of the commission form o.
legislo ture will tie sought by Governor
Hodges when the party platform II
written by the Democrats next August
And 1t IL equally certain that such al
endorsement will be fought by many o
the party leaders in the state.
Reeves Will Run?
During a recent visit in Topeka
Judge A. b. Reeves Of Dodge City i
sSid to have confided to his friends tina
he would be a candidate for associate
Justice Of tine supreme court on tn
non-partisan judiciary ballot. Judg
Reeves is a Democrat. He is one Of tn
most powerful and influential of tn
Democratic workers in the Seventh
district and IL a lawyer of ~unusua
ability. Since the judiciary has bee
taken out of politics. it is very prob
able that Judge Reeves would poll
tremendous vote in the Seventh dis
trict II he finally decided to get in tn
race.
Will FIJI Vacancies.
Kansas will meet January "a to "A
vacancies in the county committee!
caused by the desertion Of members
the Progressive party. The reorgan
lied state committee will probably
called together in Topeka January ;
kansas day-to select a new stat
There are many holes in the Reput
lean county committees In Kansas ON
ing to the fact that numerous count
chairmen and precinct committeeme
rosigned last fall to join with the Pro
gressives in their fight ON the old RI
publican organization in this stat
Many of the committeeman who RI
signed have never returned to the part
and II is necessary to fill vacancies o
the state committee before q new stat
chairman can be elected. Secretar
Gaford has not announced a date for
meeting Of the state committee. but
IL believed that he win call the con
mittee together January 70 to elect
new state chairman to succeed ]. \
Dolley. who resigned to Join the Pr,
gressive forces.
Secretary of State Charles Session
has been the only candidate suggeste
for the Craftsmanship of the state con
mittee. Sessions IL not an active cal
didate for the place. but will take Il
Office II the committee should decide {
him for leader in the 1914 campaig
He IL regarded by leaders Of both ia,
lions as a logical man for state chat
man and his knowledge Il Kansas p,