The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-17
SENATE IS TAME
Little Partisan Feeling Evident
Among Members.
All "FactiOns" Are Adverse to
Radical Legislation.

Apparently the old order has
changed. On the surface there is not
the slightest indication that the Kan
sas senate knows there is a Demo-
cratic or a Republican party. A skin
slant shows no evidence that there is
either Old Progressive or Old Stand
patter in the organization. Every
wheel in it's machinery is running
without undue friction and every
member seems to be in harmony with
every other member. But surface in
dications can not always be trusted
too far and if you get under the skin
little ways you will find that the
present Kansas senate is just about as
much afire as the ma jority of its pred
ecessorS have been.
1t is true there has been a strained
effort to keep politics and party prin-
ciples in the background. The Demo-
Gratis have desired to get thru local
| antagonizing the Republican majority
| On the majority side the progressive
element has been very careful to hoist
no red flags and the conservative ele-
| ments nave done nothing more drastic
than to watch with an ever active eagle
| eye.
| Watch Radical Legislation.
| But just the same there are differ
| ences of opinion and if the occasion
arises they will be dragged out and
placed on display without hesitation.
| Among the Democrats as well as
among the Republicans there are
| members who are afraid that radical
| legislation is going to be attempted
and these watchers are braced to OPP
pose it with all their force and power
Among the Republicans there are a
few who have not forgotten the odor-
ferrous remarks Governor Allen once
made about the Grand Old Party
They too are ready to step into the
front line trenches if the occasion
arises, but they are determined to dc
everything possible to preserve har-
mony.
There may be one or two Demo
Gratis who would welcome a drawing
| of party lines at the expense of al
legislation the Democrats are seeking
and there may be a few Republicans
who would like to do things to cause
a return to old prejuuIces that once
| divided the party. But so far moth
ing has been done openly by either.
Promises Proud Record.
And the indications are that moth
ing will be done. The shank end OF
the session is drawing near and it will
take nothing short of a. bolt out of a
clear sky to cause a rumpus now
| Even last week when the Republicans
| were passing a resolution to ask con-
gress to be economical and careful
| there was not even ruffle when
Doerr, Democrat, requested that the
same thing be asked of the new con-
gress which will take office in March
The Democrats voted for the resolu-
! ton as at stood, applying only to thei1
own congress, and then the Republi-
cans graciously amended the resolu-
ton to apply to the. Republican con-
| gress that is soon to be.
| Indeed, it seems that the rhododen-
1 drons. will continue to bloom in the
heart of the hills, that the feudists
4 will continue too busy with the work
a in hand to take up their guns and theil
old disputes and that when old JasoT
fans the March air in the state house
Corridors with his coat tail for the las
time the 1919 session of the Kansa:
senate will be closed with a record the
whole state can be proud of.