Abilene weekly reflector., 1922-07-20

q DOlNGS IN KANSAS POLITICS 4
q Special Reflector Correspon-
q dence From A. L. ShuItx


q & & & & & & & q 4 q & &
Topeka, July 13.-Kansas polt
cal dopsters grin broadly these day
when they anticipate the rare sho,
at the Republican party council
certain candidates with strange per
sonal platforms win party nomina
tions, II some of these persona
planks should be dragged before tn
party platform builders the even
would be well worth special tril
to Topeka In August.
The present pre-primary cam
paign has developed more strang'
policies than veteran party warrior,
have inspected In many days
Everyone who wants a nominate
seemingly has a brand new formuls
for working over the present sys'
TEN Of government. Then, too, a
lot Of personal platforms are moi
questions Of party principle at all
They are hobby horses Of the vote
chasers. But some Of these Ques-
tions may be lined right up in front
Of the resolutions committee Of the
council. In which case there will be
enough plain and assorted trouble
to pave the bad place half mile.
Since the primary came no enc
thinks Of running for anything
without dusting off the office type
writer and giving the reporters a
few views on the question OF patch
ing up the government Sometimes
the views are entirely out OF tune
with everything the grand and
glorious party spent years fighting
and bleeding for. Often the poll
cies are personal whim and fOibles.
Generally the candidate himself
loses the platform the day after the
votes are counted.
None the less 1t is thrilling and
inspiring game. 1t has made the
individual vote hunter stand ont
more prominently than the party
under whose banner he is running.
In the Wild scramble there has be-
come a sudden craze to file on
every whim and fancy that isn't
nailed down. If half of the things
In the campaign are
adopted by the party council the
state platform will fur
nish keen competition for any of
the old fashioned patch quilts at
the county fairs.
Start wit hthe case Of neat, at
tractive, clever Miss Pattigrew.
Just imagine the Republicans writ
ing her light wine and beer plank
rs a party policy. Ghosts Of Carrie
Nation would be back to haunt the
state for hundred years.
Then just presume that the Re
publican voters nominate Lizzie
Wooster for another term and that
Miss Pettigrey is nominated COVER
ness. 1t would be necessary to call
he police squads In from the shop
to patrol the state house
Until the two women settled the
,igaret, talcum powder and lip stick
luestiOns. Miss Pettigrew wants a
,tate platform declaring for each
md every one. Miss Wooster wants
everyone who thinks of nicotine or
,eauty shop things sent to Jail.
There is a lot Of comedy, also, In
he mental picture Of Tom McNeal
efore the resolutions committee |
With his plank to reduce the size Of
he legislature. When Governor
lodges was in the state house he
nee sold the Saturday Evening Post
fine story about his one house
,gislatuve plan. The Kansas press
papers Of Senator Cap j.,
bOss-hoOted the idea
ut of the state Some Of the fel- q
,ws with long memories are dis
Dsed to recall that McNeal loaned u
s own typewriter for the hOOting. g
Out in the farmer districts the q
an for a smaller legislative body
ISN'T gone over strongly. The b
ansas Unionist, official Farmers II
Mon publication, heaves brick o,
the plan and wants chance to N
,pear before the committee on the n
bject. CT
Nor should the industrial court Is
,ue be forgotten. That is one OF st
0 solemn, serious matters. Both in
cNeal and Fred W. Knapp want 81
3 law repealed. II
ly
Maybe you favor the labor court
v. Maybe you don't. One thing
right certain, tho. There isn't a
ance that the next party council Pl
II write a platform plank for re- Ju
Al of the law Nor Is there ser pl
IS prospect that the next legisla- tn
q will wipe out the act. 1t may m,
We a considerable overhauling. 10
v one of dozen things may hap sh
to take the court from under any mt
b of political influence and inter of
encG. is
ize
Most Of the dope seems to point an
the fact that the Republican plat Tho
m will ask to give the law fair fac
/. The legislature may recon- for
date the court with the utilities
mission. 1t may make its mem
J appointive by the supreme
rt as recommended by Presiding to
ge Huggins. So In the scramble the
personal platforms there is The Is
,pect of several candidates who Int
a., -. -nnn m, ,,nIinl.l, In cas