The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-12

In view of the fact that the closing
session has seen the enactment into
law of a score of vitally important
measures, the short crop of new lead
ers might come as surprise. But
leaders develop only in battle. And
in this session there have been few
decisive battles. Possibly for that rea-
son the responsibility of the session
has rested on the workers in former
sessions.
Possibly no man in the present ses-
sion has won greater recognition than
has Speaker w. L. (1ronjaw) Brown.
When he was elected, there were pre-
dictions that he would be unable to
hold the house warriors and that the
Democrats would not respond to his
call. These predictions were buried
in the first two weeks of the session.
And there have been no post mortems.
AS a speaker Brown has been on the
job constantly. AS the whip for the
administration, he has possibly set a
new pace for Kansas speakers. Never
has Brown left the chair to take the
floor for an administration measure
that h has not brought results. New
er has Brown bound his followers in
a caucus that they have failed to de-
liver the goods on the following day.
And those are things required of q
real speaker.
AS for Orr of Atchison, he has car
ried the task of administration floor
leader. Some of the grist that has
just to Orr's liking and he has quietly
admitted as much. But he has taken
the floor and fought for the things
that the Democratic party in Kansas
promised the people in 1912. When
real trouble was on hand, Orr never
lodged nor ran. He walked up under
the guns and by fearless, shrewd and
cunning fighting he secured results
and won standing with the workers
on both sides of the house.
Among the Republicans, Brewster. of
Doniphan has been the star. Brewster's
knowledge of constitutional law gave
him natural opportunity to point out to
the minority the constitutional defects
in proposed legislation. And with the
assurance that Brewster gave the Re-
publicans he added to the uncertainty
and doubt of the Democrats. Time af-
ter time Brewster's shrewd fighting
has caused the Democrats to halt and
to falter and only the greatest efforts
of Brown and Orr have blocked a stam-
pede.
Then there is Robert Stone, of Shaw
nee. On Stone fell the responsibility
of minority floor leader-a difficult and
thankless job. Yet Stone has been on
hand every time there was trouble
Not only has Stone defended the ac-
tions of the minority and conducted a
leadership, but he has arraigned the
Democrats and made them defend their
own positions On the initiative and
rGTerGnOuIQ, oIOn6 IldQe IHe DSInOCTdLS
doubt even their own sincerity and on
the measures which drew the close
lines of partisanship, Stone was ever
present not only to hold in line his own
following, but help drive the Democrats
from their stand If possible.
With Stone and Brewster, there was
A. M Keene, of Bourbon county Keene
will go home this week with another
good legislative record to his credit. Not
only has Keene aided in the party
fights, but he has specialized on good
legislation. A score of times Keene has
forgotten party lines to help some
member repair really meritorious meas
ure that showed the ear marks of de-
fective drafting. And these aids that
the Fort Scott lawyer has extended to
the members have not only been warmly
appreciated. but have shown that the
Bourbon member has had foremost in
his mind the enactment of laws that
will survive the critical inspection of
the state supreme court.
But, speaking of leaders. these five
are all.