The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-14
CLOUDS COMING UP
New Battle Is Brewing in the
Kansas House.
Flushed With Highway Show
ing, Members Are Confident.
To FIGHT FARM TENANTRY
Plan May Come Under the Guns
Early Next Week.
"HOld Down Appropriations"
Seems To Be WatchwOrd.
BY A. L. SHULTZ.

There is another big battle brewing
in the house. Flushed with the sue
cess of Thursday showing in the Lam
bertson resolution to block state AID
for highway building. the house farm
ers propose to put a crimp in the Iarll
tenantry program. The farm p4dh
may come under the guns next "eeh'
Thursday night the happiest gain
ering of farmer legislators seen III 10
peka in many years aimed at the Gus
pidcrs and drew their chairs near tne
National hotel radiators as they tdlheo
Of their fight on the road program
They had collected sixty votes IN al
unorganized fight on a dominant sec
ton of Governor Aliens program ana
had virtually tied up any state alo
project for the session. The JOY OF the
members from the rural districts was
not shared by the administration
forces Following the roll call sew
eral members of the house were called
to Governor Aliens office to explain
to the governor and Judge CLYDE M.
Reed just why they had supported the
Lambertson resolution.
Conferences on Fight.
Now new interest is aroused In
house proceedings with the report that
q battle is to be waged on the farm
loan project Just the manner in
which the fight is to be started has
not been stated. 1t is known, tho, that
several informal conferences have
been held and that a move will be
made in a few days to block any use
of state funds thru enactments under
the new constitutional provision.
The fight is not exactly on an ad-
ministration or anti-admiuistration
basis, altho the effect of the drive is
decidedly destructive to the more i'm
portant policies outlined in Governor
Aliens message. The battle line is
formed very largely by farmer mem
bers of the house who oppose heavy
appropriations at this session. They
will seek to block use of state funds
for either permanent highways or the
farm tenantry program for period of
two years. They swung into line read
lily when w. z. Lambertson, former
speaker and author of the anti-high-
way resolution, declared the farmer
was compelled to sell two sacks OF
corn to buy one sack of cement. Lam
bertson was elected speaker two years
ago as an administration candidate.
State interest in legislative affairs
probably will be centered in the
houses course during the next week
or ten days. If the lower legislative
body succeeds in enrolling as much
strength in opposition to the farm
home plan as it did against the road
project. both policies will be clearly
wiped from the calendar for the re-
mafnder of the session. Regardless of
any course which the senate might
take. the house would be able to block
final action.
Under the rules the roads and high
ways committee may hold a resolution
five days. AT the end of the five leg
islatiVe days Lambertson proposes to
force a report. This action will again
hiring the issue on the floor of the
house and the Brown county member
has declared that he will then be able
to enroll a safe majority for his reso-
luton
Administration forces as well as
members of the highway lobby are
confident they will be able to change
enough votes to save the road program.
tho they aCmit surprise at strength
bohind the Lambertson plan