The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-03-09
Head of Taxpayers League Out
lines the Platform.
viii Go Into Politics TO Fight
High Taxes.
DEMAND LESS STATE EXPENSE
Out to Save Kansas Two Mil
lion Dollars.
Most of Delegates in Attend
ance Are Farmers.

'TSfOre business and less politics
was the demand OF the taxpayers
league as outlined in the speech by
DR.. J. T. Faulkner OF Lansing. tenta-
tive president of the organization.
when he told league members of pur-
poses of the meeting at the opening
session today in representative hall.
The league is going into politics to
fight high taxes. DR.. Faulkner urged
conservative. sane action which would
not cripple needed departments and
established institutions.
There wasn't a leg for the third
party movement to stand on in to-
days meeting. The league may carry
a lot Of trouble to candidates But
IL doesn't propose to wander off with
new party scheme.
Ask Lower State Expense.
Demands that the state cut its ex-
pense account two million dollars a
year were made today by speakers
league It was also urged that the
state take vacation in the matter of
new buildings and hard surfaced
roads. Most of the delegates in the
convention are farmers They repre-
sent both dominant parties-many of
the delegates being men who for
years have been prominent in state
affairs Nonpartisan league radical
AAA4DlA Ad0OE LOllQWGTH are also IN the
convention. They are apparently a
small minority.
He Urges Conservatism.
President Faulkner urged sane or
ganization of the league movement |
Unless We are conservative and |
work for principle rather than in |
dividuals and isms. we will be class
Of has-beens in a few months" de |
clared DR.. Faulkner.
Our organization knows no class
and no politics." said the tentative
president as he swung heavily on the
third party idea. The only outstand-
ing fact OF which the taxpayer of /
Kansas is sure today is that he is pay
ing too much taxes. But this is no !
time for radical action. No plan to
cripple institutions or to block the
progress of Kansas will get the ear
of the state. We must think and work
constructively to cut out that which
is unnecessary and keep that which is
needed. We cant do it in a day or a
week. But we can do it and We must
demand more business and less poll
tics
No Partisan Politics
I'VE must not engage in partisan
politics. We are not after anyone's
scalp. Nor are we here to boost any
ones political aspirations. Our only
interest in the individual candidate is
MS interest in helping pull the tax
payer out of the hole"
Mayor Herbert J. Corwine welcomed
the league delegates to Topeka. Rep
resentative halls main floor was
crowded and many people were stand
ing when the meeting started There
was half dozen women in the audi
ence.
s.These are tight times and you
should let the public officials know
it." said the mayor. If you do moth
ing more than inject the spirit of econ
omy into public service, this will be a
profita bic convention"
Clash Over Committees.
There was a sharp clash on the
floor when A. E. Delaney of Leona,
former state senator from Doniphan
county, publican-presented a
motion for the president to name
standing committees J. A Mahur1n
OF Coffey county-DemOcrat and for
mer legislator-objected. Following
brief debate the convention voted TO
hold conferences for selection OF com
mfttee members-the president to
name one member at large for each
committee It was the only row OF the
opening session
Tentative organization plans pro-
vfded that the league should remain
free from partisan Identification or
aIignments. Under its terms the
league will direct its activities thru a
steering committee and provide slate
Of candidates both in the primaries
plan was submitted to the committee
on rules and order of business
w III. Kcmpcr Speaks.
Demands for many changes in poll
cies of state government were made
in a speech during the afternoon ses-
sion by w H. Kemper of Topeka. Z
His talk was the first speech indicat-
ing radicalism. kemper asserted that
two million dollars a year could be
saved the state thru retrenchments-
He proposed to reduce expense of ,
the industrial court from $12O.OO0 to
$4,000 a year His plan called for
three judges TO serve not more than
ten days every three months and re-
ceived $40 a day each for time actu- ]
alIv employed. He advocated reduc- {
lion of the state highway committee
membership from three commission
ers to one and cutting off jobs of four
teen engineers. He said a saving OF
S25. 900 a year could be made in the {
To Abolish Bond.
Kemper asserted that the public
utilities commissions work could be
(Continued on Page Four