The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-04
Call for Is Per Cent of Voters
on Petitions.
DEMOCRATS GO ON RECORD
Vote Against Final Power of
the Courts.
Brilliant Speech by Senator
Price of Clark.

In a well managed and cleverly con-
Quoted fight before the senate this
morning the Republicans won the first
step in the amendment of the initiative
and referendum. Just before the body
took recess Senator Troutman, of
Shawnee, amended the resolution to
read that the petitions for the vote
on a certain law under the initiative
and referendum should be signed by
at least Is per cent of the legally quail
fed voters. The original administra-
ton measure supported by the Demo-
Gratis called for only per cent of the
voters on the petition.
The Troutman poke at the L and r.
came Immediately after brilliant and
impressive 30-minute speech by Sena-
tor Price. of Clark county. On roll
call it was found that Senator Meek,
of Nemaha, a Democrat, had deserted
his party beliefs despite rousing eau
enough to tie the ballot and Lieutenant
Governor ingalls, cast his vote approv-
ing the Troutman amendment An ap-
peal from the decision of the chair by
Bale Waggener called out another
VOte-but Meek stuck to his opinion
and the appeal was not sustained.
The Democrats, however, won the
coveted political position on the l. and
r. this morning They voted down a
Republican amendment reverting the
will of the people on laws back to the
courts and thus placed themselves on
record favoring the unadulterated ini-
tiative and referendum recommended
in the governors MESA ge and support
ing their contentious before the voters
in the campaign.
Caucuses Decide the DAY.
Caucuses by both the Democrats and
the Republicans decided the vote on
todays program. The Republicans
met last night and declared they
would not stand for the I. and r. as
offered by the administration forces
They thought the courts should have
power to decide on the constitutional
rights of bills passed by the vote of
the people. The Democrats harmon
lied this morning in secret session and
planned OF hang together on the bill
as it was. If the Republicans could
not be won over to the cause they
would grant amendments rather than
lose the resolution altogether.
The fight opened and a vote was
| taken. The Democrats went on rec
ord favoring the rights of the people,
in being the last resort on constltu-
tiona1 amendments. The Republicans
with the exception of the Progressi1es
stood against it.
Here is the vote:
For the amendment giving the
courts the right to declare law in
itiated by the people as unconstitu-
tional:
Carey, Denton. Lambertson, Logan.
Mahin, Overfield. Paulen, PauIey
Price of Clark. simpson, stavely, still
ings, Trott, Troutman, Wilson of
Washington, and Wolf
Against the amendment-in other
words, favoring the initiative and
referendum without modification:
Bowman, Carney. Davis, Gray
Kinds, Howe, Huffman, King. KinkeI
Klein, Malone. Mcmillan, Meek, Nighs-
wonger, Nixon. Price of Greenwood,
Joseph, and Wilson of Jefferson
Senator Price of Clark county led
the Republican forces against the
naked provisions of the initiative and
referendum: He was opposed by Sem
ator Mcmillan of Ottawa county
The Clark county senator duplicated
with additional argument, oratory and
logic, the speech he made a few days
ago against what he terms "the as
sault the courts of this country -
His speech lasted thirty minutes and
in his adroit and skilIful manner he
talked right past the platform prom
fses of a number of Democrats 1t is
admitted freely in the senate chamber
that many Democrats are afraid of the
initiative and referendum but they
have deadlier fears of their campaign
promises.
Price on the Amendment.
what this country needs'' said
Price. lis men who have courage to
stand up under their beliefs and not
shift their responsibility on the peo-
pie. This initiative and referendum
will make towards out of every man
in this chamber. 1t is a radical i'll
considered, illconceived law-it holds
all the principles of desperatism. It
has been instigated by politicians. by
magazines, by irresponsible newspa-
pers-all clamoring for popular favor.
1t is an obedience to sickly sentiment
lately aroused in this country and in
this state. Erratic, hysterical voters
under this law would have the consti-
tuition in their hands. We should place
our courts beyond the attacks of these
people"
Then Senator Price reminded the
senators that there are nearly enough
Socialists in Kansas to bring about a
change in the constitution-at least en-
danger it. He warned the Democrats
again of the solid Republican vote
which would hold up the amendment
| if it was attempted, and also the dan
ger of resubmission.
| Senator Mcmillan replied in a num-
! Der of well directed and apt replies to
| the arguments put up in the north side
| of the senate. He said the power of
| the government belonged to the people
and they had the right to express their
] sentiments. He quoted from history
the Bible and even brought in as argu-
ment a clipping from a Kansas City
newspaper concerning the proposed
articles revealing Kansas political cor
ruption by Cyrus Leland.
The vote on the final passage of the
constitutional amendment calling for
the initiative and referendum will be
| taken late this afternoon