The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-12
To Policies Of governor Cap.
per, Says Jouett Shouse.
WORK AND NOT POLITICS"
That's the Majority Program
in Topeka This Winter.
Belief That Senate Will Pass
1. and r. After All.

really sincere in his campaign pledges
he will have no opposition from 2
Democratic senate in making good MS
promises. That is the belief Of Senator
Jouett Shouse of Kinsley. Democratic
district.
The Edwards county senator does
not believe that the Democratic sem
ate will come to Topeka in January to
play politics or to embarrass the new
administration. However, Senator
Shouse declares that the senate will
stand firm in its convictions and will
probably refuse to yield on any meas
ure for which it stood two years ago.
Il do not pretend to speak for the
senate, but in my judgment Mr.. Cap
per will find the senate willing to aid
him in the enactment of good laws
just as soon as he shows to the SEN
ate that he is acting in good faith in
the things which he advocated in the
recent campaign" said Senator Shouse.
1T is quite probable that the senate
may desire to test Mr.. Capper's sim
cerity in a few things: but l do not
| think that body or any member Of it
has any desire to block the work of the
new administration or in any way in
jure the business interests Of the
state.'
| Just how the Democratic senate
may test Mr.. Capper's sincerity" the
senator from Edwards county did not
explain. Possibly 1t may be in his
stand for reforms and welfare laws.
possibly 1t may be regarding his stand
Tor the civil service against the dis
charge Of faithful employees through
the vicious spoils system possibly it
may be in the matter of appropriations.
1t might have been anyone or none OF
those things. Senator Shouse only said
that the upper house, in his judgment.
desired to know that Mr.. Capper meant
just what he said in the recent CAM
paign-and Mr.. Capper said a great
many things, both through his papers
and his public utterances on the
stump.
Didn't Play Politics.
THE senate of two years ago was
a harmonious body" said the western
Kansas senator. I'VE didn't play pol
itics. We worked. We will work
even better next winter because Of
our acquaintance. We understand
each other and there will be more
team work than in 1913. And a look
through the records Of 1913. will find
a great many Democrats voting with
Republicans and a great many Repub-
licans voting with the Democrats. I
think the senate stands just where It
stood two years ago. In my judg-
ment it will not back up on any of
the laws 1t enacted, nor will indivfd-
ual members vote for measures which
they fought.
"Take the initiative and referendum
for example. Senator Price of Clark
has deep rooted. honest convictions
about that measure. He has been
against it, always; and will probably
be against it this winter. But every
member of the senate knows he is
honest and they have the highest re-
spect for his sincerity. No one ever
thought of charging Senator Price
with playing politics in the 1918 ses-
sion, although he is a Republican and
was a member of the minority in that
session. 1t is no more just or fair
to cha ge that the Democrats will
play politics next winter, II some one
doesn't try to play politics with the
Democrats OF the senate.
II think the senate will pass the
initiative and referendum again. But
it will be the same initiative and ref
last session.
1t is probable that before the new
legislative session. which convenes
Monday, January IL, the Democratic
members of the upper house will be
called to Topeka for a conference. A
conference of Republican members is
also probable and administration
members of both houses may get to-
gether for general discussion some
time in December. No date for a
caucus, however, has been announced
bv leaders of either Dartv