The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29
In State Politics
PICK STAR CAST
Kansas Legislators Ready To
Begin Winter Drama.
Folks Back Home To See Snake
Dances.
LINES IN PLAY ARE WRITTEN
Fred Trigg In Prelude and Prin-
eipal Act.
Finds 100000 Slush Fund To
Buy Votes.
LINES IN PLAY ARE WRITTEN
By A. L. sHULTz.

The folks out home will probably
see a-lOt OF snake dances during the
next few months. They are to be told
one day that the cruel, heartless cor
porations have the IegisIatuye by the
neck and are about 10 destroy the
state Another day Dave Mulvane viii
be ground into sausage meat in the
legislative mill All the horrible de-
tails except the funeral date will be
printed This is the legislative ses-
sion when the boss and the gang rule
politician and the corrupt manipulation
- 20 be abroad in the land.
With the new session just wee bit
around the corner, this looks like the
best "coor Pauline" melOdrama in
some years. The settings have been
placed and the lines are written for
one OF those distressing scenes when
the folks out Always from Topeka will
scarce dare go TO bed lest someone
corrupt their representatives. and steal
the copper off the state house roof
Then just as the villain almost escapes
the state will he saved by a compe-
tent cast of hand picked saviors who
hive carefully rehearsed their parts
Began Last Spring.
Away along last spring members Ct
the al-st2r cast began rehearstnG
their Lew triumph That was just
about the time that Kansas went
back ten years and elected MuIvane
national committeeman. n good many
Kansans were quietly given to under
stand that Mulvanes election would
cost Harding this state. The fact that
Harding carried the state by the big
Eest majority ever given candidate
Goesr' c disturb carrying out OF the re-
malnder OF the program tho.
Just about election time the state
was warned again. It was told that
corrupt nterests-baCked by the rail-
roads. the trusts and Mulvane-would
seek TO destroy the primary OF course
no one had proposed a bill to repeal
The primary law But the lines were
in rhe play ard certainly no one could
expect p Missouri newspaper with a
desire 20 manage Kansas affairs to
give heed To- such small detail Any
way. the state didn't 90 stark mad and
seek TO recall its public men Maybe
the state didn't care very much
whether something happened to the
primary.
No Response in Kansas.
Tho u-tIe scene in which Eliza
crossed the ice t0-save- her pet child
THE sacred rimary-reaIIy didn't Gre
ATE just the response that was expect
ed The scene was saved by the en-
thusiastic work OF the trap drummer,
no ia the previous scene had dOu-
LIed as "a Topeka correspondent.
Now after a little prelude Kansas is
% see the big emotional act itself
The scene was written by Fred TrigE
and he is himself cast as a star in the
play. assisted by Judge Clyde NJ Reed.
William Allen White. Richard J. Hop
llius. and a cast of equally competent
kansans- Trigs appears both in the
prelude and principal act.
Tricg Is in the Play.
In the prelude Trigg is just counting
t-e money real paper stage money.
1t mas been brought II by the interests
they win appear as the various and
suudry villains mentioned during the
winter Irigg has Just found the slush
fund-S20Q. 900 OF it. The fund is to
Dc used 10 buy votes for and against
bills and 70 hire professional lobbyists.
Trigss sensational discovery came
thru a visit 20 the governors office
IL seems. When the governor himself
returned from a trip TO Detroit, he
WASH able TO pick up a cold trail and
knew nothing about it. This may dis
qualify the governor for q major part
in tho cast
But T. won't stop the show
Ine all-star cast has already made
clear the purpose OF this fund. It Is
To destroy the primary. defeat Cover
nor Aliens program take away the
rtEhts II the poor working gou. beat
she compensation law and destroy
rights which were so ably protected
by the public utilities commission and
industrial court when the gas COM
pany wanted higher rates.
Almost every day folks out in the
state will be able to see the villains
carrying away the loot. They will go
20 bed with pictures Of corruption
lists sruffiug thousand dollar bills in
. the pockets OF their IegisIa tors.
To save Kansas.
But in the end the state IS 10 be
saved. Maybe the star cast will re-
draft the lines of the play and drive
the Erafters off the state house lawn
before the legislature comes TO town.
But that will destroy the fine china X
- To De staged late this winter. The eli
max comes when Dave duivane's ma
chine IS smashed when the corporate