The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-05
That Is, Working Days, Left to
1913 Session.
No Special Messages From
Governor.
GOV. HODGES new SYSTEM
1t Seems to Have Worked Well
With Lawmakers.
Endorse Gordon for Consul
General to Mexico.

With only five real working days
of the session remaining, it seems
| that Governor George II. Hodges is
to establish a record for having con-
| tented himself with one lone message
to the state legislature. At least
half dozen times Hodges has declined
to send special messages to the legis-
lature and when the session adjourns
| next week, it is probable that the
members will have received only the
one formal message from the chief
| executives office.
Under the former administrations,
the governor and the legislature were
never on the most social terms, al
though the political complexion of
the governor and the legislature has
been the same for the last 5 years.
But always in former years, the gov
ernor has found it necessary to use
the club in order to secure the en-
actment of measures in which the adj
ministration was particularly inter-
ested.
Bailey. Hoch and Stubbs all lost
sleep when the Legislature came to
town. Bailey sent several special
messages to the Legislature telling
them to get busy. Hoch kept his pri-
vate secretary running up and down
the state house steps from the gov
ate. He abused the legislature with
out stint or mercy when it declined
to pass the primary law, the two cent
fare bill, the maximum freight bill
and the oil refinery bill. In despera-
ton he called a special session to se-
cure the enactments his administration
had promised. AS for Stubbs, he was
never really popular with the Kansas
legislature and the fact didn't disturb
his mind bit. He exercised his con-
stitutional right to tell the lawmakers
what he thought of them on a dozen
different occasions and the people who
read these special messages let loose
another yell for the red haired execu-
tive.
Hodges Uses New System.
But Hodges has tried an entirely diff
feren+-systeH. There has been no
special message, no newspaper inter
views and no public disturbance when
some provision in the state platform
was mangled in the legislative cog
wheels. Hodges has just quietly called
the members Of his office. told them
what he wanted, started them safe'y
on the track again and usually got re-
suits.
When the initiative and referendum,
the recall the Massachusetts ballot
law, the fire marshal bill and other big
measures We're hanging in the balance
in the legislature, Hodges was urged
to tell the members to get busy but
he refused to crack the whip. Instead
a dozen members from the two houses
were called to the governors office and
in a few hours the administration poIi-
cies were on the track again. AS a re-
suit only one really big and important
platform pledge is unfilled-the initia-
tive and referendum.
Hodges has merely adopted = new
policy That is all. But it has seem
ingly brought results. with but a bare
majority in the senate and not suf-
ficient votes to put over a concurrent
resolution in the house, Hodges has had
unusual success. Not once has the ad-
miniStration call to arms issued from
the lips of the leaders that the Demo-
Gratis have not responded. And more
party policies were written into law in
80 days than in similar time in any
Kansas session in Is years
Possibly the absence Of the special
messages has had something to do with
it. At least Governor Hodges is in
clined to think so and many legislative
members who object to the use of the
administration lash. have agreed. The
consideration of bills ceases in both
houses next Tuesday. And it is hardly
probable that ins the five remaining
working days that Hodges will attempt
to interfere with the proceedings.
House members by a unanimous
vote adopted resolutions Tuesday night
endorsing w. w. Gordon for the ap-
pointrnent to the position of consul
general to the City of Mexico and
urging President Woodrow Wilson to
take Immediate steps looking to the
naming of Gordon to represent Uncle
Sans interests in the war zone. Both
Republican and Democratic house
members endorsed the Gordon resolu-
ton which was offered by Orr of
Atchison-
Gordon, who sits on the administra-
ton side of the house. is a decided
factor in the affairs of the Wyandotte
county Democrats. In this session of
the legislature he has made record
that will average up with the work OF
any of the new house members and ne
has likewise established himself
among the real fighters on the floor
of the house.
so, when Orr offered his resolution
endorsing Gordon and urging his ap-
pointment the Democrats and Repub-
licanS both boosted the movement
Robert Stone. Republican, and r. $:
Hendricks, Democrat, both seconded
the Orr motion to adopt the resolu-
ton. Gilman of Leavenworth, Re
publican, told of Gordons record as
a house member and for Is minutes
the house transacted no other busi-
ness than TO see that the Kansas City
Democrats record was properly told.
Copies of the Orr resolution will oe
sent at once to President Wilson, urg-
ing that he appoint Gordon as United
States consul general to the City of
Mexico.
The house Tuesday night passed the
Rlakely bill providing for the incor-
poration of provident loan associations.
enabling these corporations to loan
money to persons in need of pecuniary