Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1914-05-15

the enactment Of laws. Should one Ct
the Democratic members resign and
a Republican be elected in his stesd
the vote Of the Senate would be Ii
between the two parties, and thus the
Democratic party would be deprived
Of the opportunity to enact the laws
desired by the people and to carry oc
the promises which It will make the
people in its party platform.
1T also happens that the Th'r'y-
eighth Senatorial disI It which is my
privilege to represent, is strongly
Republican district. It embraces
eighteen Of these big west m Kansas
counties and nearly all Of them are
Republican counties under normal
conditions. The Republican majority
in the district is considerably over
three thousand and l have the hcncr
to be the only Democrat that has
ever been elect d to pr mt this
district in the State Senate. | was
extremely fortunate in being able to
overcome this big Republican major
ity and had to run more than fifteen
hundred votes ahead of the Goverucr
to do it. The credit for the victory
belongs to the splendid county chair
men in the different counties in the
district who pulled off their coats and
went to work with such vim and en-
ergy that they overcame almost in
superable odds.
FOLLOWING the request of the Gov
ernor, had lettsrs from number of
the Democrats in the state snate,
from many leaders in different Sc
tons CT the state and from quite
number Of the msn most prom.lnst
in Seventh District politics, all If
them strongly urging that l should
reconsider my first determine tcn a. d
should not resign from the senEta.
/ finally decided that the proper
thing to do would be to consult the
eighteen county chaSrmen who are
the heads Of the organization in t. is
senatorial district. AS l said a while
ago, the credit for my cleo Zen be-
longs to these men, and it Therefore
seemed to me fair to be govern by
Their wishes as to the COURSE | should
pursue. wrote 10 each OF t EN-, out.
Endlg the conditions, and requested
that they consult with tire GemOcrct C
leaders of their respective CoGnti
and give me, at as early a date as
possible, their opinions.
Il have had replies from sixteen If
the eighteen. Each of them says that
he voices the sentiment Of his county
and all are unanimous in urging that
l continue to serve the district as
state senator in the next legislature.
The expressed wish ct these m n
embodies very sacred Obligation to
me In difference to their
request, regardless CT my own person
al position Of senator from the Thirty
eighth District IN the next session of
the Kansas legislature.
The constitution of the state
makes the following provision: II
any person, after his election to the
legislature, be elected to congr IS, or
elected or appointed to any office
under the United States, his accep-
lance thereof shall vacate his seat
THE acceptance or the office CT
congressman does not take place I'm,
til one qualities as a member Of con-
gress by taking the oath of office. If
| am fortunate to be elected to con.
gress from this district, l would not |
be eligible to take the oath of Office |
until the fourth day Of next March |
By that time 1t is probable that the
most Of the legislature work viii be |
accomplished and 1t is altogether
possible that the leg 'slature may have
adjourned. However, Should It be
still in session and should there he
pending important measures so that
each member ought to remain at his
post. could very easily postpone the
date OF acceptance Of the office of
congressman for two or three weeks
and complete my work as legisla-
tor. This is the position taken by
every lawyer with whom l have cen,
suited and l have gotten the written
opinions Of some Of the best lawyers
IN the state. They also assure me
that the oath Of office as a member
Of congress can be taken Just as well
before a justice Of the peace in Kan
sas as at the capitol at Wat ingtcn.
Now, as to any possible conf ct