The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-14
COT A BAD START
House Had To Back Up Several
Times Today.
Then Machinery Was Cleared
and 1t Went Full Speed.
ON RUM WITH BOTH FEET
Republican Organization Is
Voted in Power, 100 to IA.
LambertsOn Urges Short Ses-
Sion-HitS at Delays.
ON RUM WITH BOTH FEET

The house got away to an awkward
start today, but finished strong. 1t
was over enthusiasm on the part of
individual members, more than the
excitement surrounding the opening
ceremonies which caused the house to
back up several times and make a new
start.
Zeal to put Demon Booze out of
business at the first possible moment
caused a lot of ardent oratory before
the resolution by Shannon of Wilson.
All the oratory was spilled before the
resolution reached the reading clerk.
Then the senate messaged that it had
already taken action.
Made Several New Starts.
Some one recalled that the house
would expedite business by adopting
the senate resolution. So the house
made a new start. Then it was re-
membered that Speaker Lambertson
and the entire organization hadn't
been sworn. Business was suspended
until a supreme court justice could be
found. Another start was made. The
resolution was being read when it was
recalled that the house had forgotten
to adopt rules. That matter was dis
posed of-at least temporarily. The
clerk started to read. Another mem
Der mentioned that possibly the meas
ure should be read a first and second
time. Done. Then the house howled
AYE" in adoption of the resolution.
A
son directed another change. The res
olution required a roll call. The roll
was called. Every one voted in the
affirmative and now Kansas is square
u on record favoring bone dry ma
ton.
G. o p. Organization In.
All of the Republican organization
was voted into power-106 to IA. 1t
was nearly , o'clock when a message
was sent to the senate notifying the
upper house that the lower Legislative
body was ready for business. Another
message goes to Governor Allen.
Speaker Lambertsons speech was
short and emphatic. He appealed to
the members to introduce only meas
ures of importance and to adjourn as
early as possible. He said there were
sixty farmer members of the house.
They want to go home and attend to
the cows and the pigs and the chick
ems. Useless legislation, he said, de-
layed adjournment and tied up i'm
portant business.
K. NJ. Geddes of Butler was tenn
porary chairman of the organization.
A. P. Burdick of Atchison was tenn
porary chief clerk and D. c. Sullivan
of Grant. Democrat, was assistant tenn
porary chief clerk. These men stayed
on the job until the formal organiza-
ton was put in power.
Woman Takes Oath
Endres of Leavenworth offered the
resolution for the seating of members
L. ]. Pettijohn. secretary of state pre-
sided and called the lists of new mem
bers to be sworn in at the MONDAY ses-
sion. Justice Porter administered the
oath.
When Mrs. Minnie Grinstead of
Seward, the first woman member of
the Kansas legislature, took her oath
she was presented with a large bou-
quet- The flowers came from the w
c. T. U. and the Good Government
club of Topeka.
The work of selecting house en-
ployes will begin late this afternoon
Speaker Lahhbertson has announced
the appointment of w. S. Gibbons of
Meade as chairman of the committee
on emplOyeS