The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1917-03-16
REPRESENTATIVE
FARMER AT HOME
Legislature Adjourned And The
Members Return To Their
Homes

Hon. A. A. Farmer, who represent
ed Seward county in the State Legis-
lature, has returned home. and his Of
flee is a busy place. Every hour in
the day there is a crowd present to
hear the news direct from the Cap
itol, and Mr.. Farmer seems to enjoy
handing out what information is de-
sired.
1t is the general opinion that Mr..
Farmer made good record. In the
matter of the railroad lobby to repeal
the law allowing townships to vote
terminal bonds, Mr.. Farmer had a
hard fight. A number of railroads
had their attorneys on the ground to
see that the law was repealed, but by
dilligent work Mr.. Farmer spoiled
their plans, for which Seward county
owes him vote of thanks.
Mr. Farmer is not wholly in love
with the present method of making
laws. He is of the opinion that any
bill which has strong backing could
be passed, be it right or wrong. He
cites an instance in the bill designed
to strike at the I. w. w. nuisance.
The bill was introduced and at first
glance looked good, but study of
the operation of the law soon con-
WINGED Mr.. Farmer that it would be a
vicious law. The bill specified that
where a man was offered work at a
reasonable wage, should he refuse to
accept, he should be subject to ar
rest for yagrancy. Apparently this
is all right, but suppose that man
who should be skilled mechanic in
some particular line should be Of
fered job as common laborer at
a wage paid that class of workmen.
He would not dare to refuse because
he would be subject to arrest and
punishment. Mr.. Farmer said that
he could do nothing but vote against
the bill
In the matter of the mothers PEN
siSn Mr.. Farmer says was room for
much argument, The law originally
proposed would have made it possi-
BILE for persons to come into the state
from everywhere and take advantage
Of law allowing from $25 to $40 per
month for their support, and that 1t
would be possible to bankrupt some
of the smaller counties, especially
those close to the state line as in the
case of Seward county.
Mr.. Farmer was noted throughout
the session for his consistent vote Of
mo-" Whenever the matter was not
debated and no time allowed to study
it's merits, Mr.. Farmer took advant-
age of the doubt and voted against It..
and The Democrat is of the opinion
that had other members followed his
example there would be fewer poor
laws on the statute BOOKS
His description of the closing hours
of the session is enough to disgust one
who has the interest ftne people at
heart. According to Mr.. Farmer the
bills were read so fast that the mem
bers could scarcely follow them.
When the reading was finished they
were dumped with bunch Of twenty
or<thirty and passed on bulk roll call
regardless of their merit. He says
there was so much confusion that 1t
was absolutely possible to get any
intelligent consideration of these
measures and all one could do was
vote "yes,' or no." and he voted
"no," but everything carried anyway.
Mr.. Farmer is taking the blunt of
lot of good natured jesting regard
ing his vote on the Bone Dry bill. He
voted for the measure at first and it
passed the House. When the Senate
took 1t up they found small error
and sent it back to have 1t corrected.
The matter was settled all but the
vote and just as this was being taken
Mr.. Farmer stepped into the build
ing. Some one yelled here's Farmer
and his name was called for a vote.
81 don't know what you're voting on,
said Mr.. Farmer, "but I've been vot-
ing mo" on everything didn't know
anything about so I'll vote mo" on
this" He did not learn anything
about the matter until some one
showed him the newspaper account OF
his having voted against the Bone
Dry bill, and now he says he is in
Dad on all sides.
The Democrat feels safe in saying
that Seward county never had bet
ter representative at Topeka than
Mr.. Farmer, even il he did vote
against making it death penalty to
steal chicken, as some Of the poul-
try men wanted. i
G. r. Hickman Of Tyrone was In
kho otfx, a.. h,,es.. aoo uyna~~..1~.