The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-31
House Fails To Check the
Martin Amendment.
Test Vote, 55 to As, This After
noon Shows Lost Power.
ROLL CALL NOT PERMITTED
But ii Opposition Stands Pat
Goodbye Convention.
Members BOlSheyik Charges
Defeat Administration.

Defeat of Governor Aliens program
for a constitutional convention in Kan
sas was practically assured this after
noon when the house committee of the
whole failed to register enough votes
against the Martin amendment to in
sure passage of the resolution on final
roll call The real test came on the
motion limiting the power of the con-
vention If the Martin strength holds
on final roll call the resolution is.
beaten
ON the Martin test vote. no roll call
was permitted under rules of the
house A standing vote gave the fol-
lowing result: For the Martin amend
ment As. against %. A total of 50
votes are necessary to pass the resolu-
tion on final roll call-2S more than
was registered against the amendment
Bitter feeling over the floor privi-
leges of members opened new VEN
of II uouble in the house shortly after
the house reconvened. Speaker Lam
bertson objected from the floor to an
extension of time for Carlton, of
Bourbon county. Democrat, when he
had spoken ten minutes in support OF
the Martin amendment Extra time
had been extended - Freeman, OF
NVyandotte, Republican, but few
minutes earlier when he opposed the
amendment.
Martin Is Pccved.
Martin. as mover of the amendment,
sought to extend ten minutes of his
closing time to Carlton. He was ruled
out of order. Then trouble started
Il ask you in good faith and to pre-
serve the good will of this house that
the gentleman from Bourbon be al
lowed to complete his speech said
Martin in addressing the chair
In answer" said Lambertson, Il
will say that L will not yield another
minute"
Then l want to serve notice"
shouted Martin. that if the technical
rules of the house are to be followed,
that 1 know enough rules TO force you
To listen to me ten days If necessary.
| can compel you to do it-rules or no
rules l have a right under the con-
stftution and if you attempt to throttle
one member of this house. l tell you
now, if you don't hear me, will tie up
this fiftv-day session. and if necessary
will keep you here until 1 drop dead"
Carrlton'S time was not extended,
although Miles Mulroy, minority lead
err pleaded for a minority hearing.
This afternoon battle was to de-
eide the issue IN the HOuSS- II NdS
practically admitted that Martin could
not carry his amendment limiting the
powers of a convention. But the hope
of the Martin supporters lay in their
ability to organize sufficient strength
to beat the resolution on final pass
age. All of the forty minutes of ora
tory on the measure this morning
came from friends of the resolution
Speaker Lambertson, Brown of Doug
las and RnudsOn of Rawlins.
Lieut.. Col. Frank L. Travis dropped
2 bomb in the constitutional conven-
ton as he concluded a speech before
the house members under a special in
vitation. Colonel Travis urged the
legislature to carefully scrutiniZe all
proposed enactments. If anything
seemed to smack of Socialism, the re-
turned soldier appealed to the legisla-
ture to jump on such program with
both t.
speaker Pleads for Resolution.
Speaker Lambertson asked support
Of the resolution in order that the
legislature might carry out Governor
Aliens program and recognize the de-
mands of the state executive. His ap-
peal was addressed to the Republican
members of the house. Brown as
serted that the people of Kansas could
he trusted not to make mistakes in
drafting a new charter.
Knudson's demand for new con-
stitution was based on a desire for
internal improvements which would
permit the state to buck the packers.
the millerS and the other interests
which disturb Kansas marketing con-
ditions. None of the heavy artillery
Of the convention opposition was turn
ed loose during the morning session.
At 11:40 the house recessed until 1
o'clock
Both friends and enemies made a
final struggle for votes during the
noon hour. Both sides were confident
the expression on the Martin resolution
would determine the strength of the
resolution on final roll call
Speaker Lamhertson demanded en-
forcement of the rule limiting indi-
Vidual speeches in committee of the
whole to ten minutes. The rule was
expected to speed this afternoons s
final decision
Failed to Advance Plan
Two hours of the hottest sort of de-
bate in the house Thursday afternoon
failed to move the constitutional con-
Vention resolution ahead a single inch
A motion by Martin of Reno to limit
the powers of the convention stood
still in its tracks when the house arose
from committee of the whole. The
efforts of administratio members TO
reach q final decision brought no re-
suits.
Backed by Geddes of Butler. Martin
made an assault on the general plan
of a convention that apparently
caused many of the friends of the
measure to hesitate. An attempt to
bring test vote on the Martin
amendment. however, failed There
member to secure adoption of his mo-
ton. His fight was to drive eDOuph