The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-05
THE NATIoN,s FATTIERs.

l
| THE NATIONS FATHERS.
| Surely there was not much serious
consideration given to the recent
declaration of Judson King, executive
secretary Of the National Popular Gov
eminent League. that the constitution
Of the United States was framed by
| 'grafters." who enriched Themselves
thereby to the tune OF some $4,000. 600
1t was probably generally accepted ~
an effort on the part Of a hitherto OBJ
scure gentleman to obtain q little
! notoriety But an exceedingly COM
plete and patriotic refutation OF such
charges as Mr.. King makes comes to
this paper from J. B. Haney. of Rus
sell. Kan. who writes as follows:
There appeared in one Of your daily
issues Of last week in the telegraphic
column a declaration by Judson King.
executive secretary of the National
Popular Government League. which be-
cause Of its tendency to encourage in
the minds Of those who are anarchis-
tically inclined, the idea that all gov
eminent is graft. should not be per-
mitted to pass unchallenged: That the
men who drafted our constitution were
grafters who made profit Of 80. o00, 900
through the writing Of that historic
document
This statement OF King demon
strates to what extreme limit one who
is mounted upon a monomaniacal hobby
will go and brands the organization
which he represents as gilded de-
fusion. Washington-'Father of his
country. first in the hearts of his coun-
trymen,' a CRATER. Franklin, who freed
America; poured a copious stream of
knowledge throughout Europe; the sage
to whom two worlds lay claim, q
CRATER. Our revolutionary sires graft
ers, and King in this twentieth century
their accuser. Save the mark!
las a matter of fact the men
who drafted the constitution had
nothing whatever to do with TX
ing the value Of the national Sc
curities-and If they had 1t was
q wise and honorable measure. The
convention which formulated the con-
stitution in 1887 was presided over by
George Washington; BENJAMIN Frank
lin suggested the plan and Gouveneur
Morris gave it its linguistic simplicity.
September %, 1889. congress voted to
submit through the legislatures OF the
several states the constitution to vote
of the people for ratification which was
contaminated in 1888. In 1883 WASH
fneton was inaugurated and Alexander
Hamilton was by him appointed the
first secretary Of the treasury.
.In 1880 Hamilton made to congress q
renort ON the public credit in which he
proposed to fund at par the debt OF
about s54 .OO0, 900, which the new govern
ment had assumed as the successor o.
the old confederation, insisting tnat
to secure the credit Of the government
at home and abroad on q SOUND anu
basis these securities should
he maid in full to those who legally nelo
them. Which plan was adopted by con-
gress and a bill passed to put 1t into ex-
ecution. which bill was approved oy
president WASHINGTON with his Official
signature. -.
$50 that taking all Of the facts as they
are historically presented under intel
,;rent consideration, it will appear that
II there was any possible sempiance OF
graft in the formation and initial
process Of this government Alexander
Hamilton, first secretary Of the treas
urv. and George Washington. first pres
;dent. because Of the official position
thew held. were wholly responsible ana
the chief offenders.
"such conclusions being unthinkable'
we can but regard King and his or
as censpicuously prominent
IN the category Of malevolent conspira-