The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-24
HOUSE HAPPENINGS
Short Stories From Kansas Repre-
sentative Hal.

Governor Aliens special message to
legislature for drastic antitrust legis-
lation. bore quick results After two
hour fight in the judiciary committee,
the Barrier bill was reported with
recommendations that it be passed
Opposition to the bill urged that pow
er be extended the county attorneys
to conduct Investigations instead of to
the attorney general. 1t was also
urged that copies of oral testimony be
transcribed and that copies be provid-
ed witnesses called in inquis4tion con-
corning combinations and agreements
in price fixing. AL of the proposed
amendments were voted down. The
bill was reported by the unanimous
vote Of the committee.
Fathers of two Of the house mem
bers who last week voted for the reso-
luton ratifying national prohibition,
voted for the first anti liquor law ever
passed by a Kansas legislature. These
men were fathers of Lacey NJ. Simp-
son of Mcpherson county and Charles
Mosher of Ford county. They were
members of the legislature when Kan
sas first went "dry''-many months
before the passing of the drug store
saloon and the free and unlimited
shipment of liquor for personal use.
Representative Gibbons of Meade
county has been one of the busiest
appointed to the Craftsmanship of the
house employees committee during the
opening hours of the session. To an
outsider. that looks like a mighty fine
assignment. But it meant more hard
work, as we'll as judgment and deter
mination, than any of the early legis-
lative assignments-both for Gibbons
and members of his committee. But
the work of that committee is practi-
cally ended-with good record. Now
III 1t, 10 H.
Dor committee-one of the committees
to draw some of the really big bills
in the house hopper. Gibbons also
holds assignments on several other
committees. He is an insurance man
in Meade, but was formerly employed
on Wichita newspapers and retains his
union membership. Just at this stage
of the legislative game. Gibbons looks
like one of the new men with real
class.
johnson of Norton IS a right busy
man. He is serving his second term
as a house member and has served
eight years as mayor of Norton. In
addition to his activities in politics,
Johnson looks after big grain bust
ness in his home town. During the
last several days a number of real in
sistent demands have come from Nor
ton that johnson again serve as mayor.
NEWS lIOHl 4NOIlOH IdluSE llulCdleS
johnson will be renominated and re-
elected without opposition-if he
doesn't hurry home to enjoin the &C
tivities of the men behind his boom.
who's the man with the deep
bass voice and the Nearer My-God-to
Thee expression?" asked one of the
visiting newspaper men at the press
table, as the visitor pointed out
Showalter of Thomas. The house was
singing Throw Out the Life Line"
under direction of John Bright, chap
lain.
That's Showalter of Thomas" was
the reply.
20 f:Preacher?"
9 Nope Auctioneer'
But you might make the mistake,
too. Showaiter sings with the fervor
of an old time circuit rider. Showalter
is sworn enemy of freak legisla-
ton, votes no when in doubt and is
really one of the real seven day in the
week Republicans in the Sixth district
delegation. He was a member of the
house in the sessions of 1911 and 1915
Four years ago he was at the head of
the big claims and accounts COM
mittee.