The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-03-06
DIG OUT RADICALS
State Tax Leaguers Want More
Dignity Shown.
As Organization Stands, 1t
Doesn't Look Good.
POLISH UP THE APPEARANCES
Effort to Make Topeka COnVen-
ton a Real Issue.
Taxpayers After City Halls,
Court and State House.
BY A. L. sHULTZ.

Kansas tax leaguers will give the
state house crowd cold chills and fe-
yer flashes when they hold their state
convention in Topeka next week
Seven hundred irate farmers and bust
ness men are coming to the meeting
according to reports, and the first
united move to push the tax question
to the front in the campaign will be
made by promoters. There VIII be no
move TO organize a third party. The
league workers plan to permit leaders
of the dominant party to explode their
bombs.
1t is likely that more than half of
the counties in the state will send del
egations to the meeting. Organiza-
lions have been formed in more than
sixty counties. it is claimed
Too much activity in league matters
recently by prominent Democrats and
Ia Dor agitators have had a tendency
to give the league movement an odor
OF tripe. Some of the smart leaders
OF the league campaign realize TINS
situation There are many Repubn-
cans as well as Democrats in the tax
protest. The fact that the Democrats
apparently took over management of
league affairs in several counties
seems to have given some concern. As
= result of this object lesson it is
rather probable that the Topeka
meeting may be polished up and given
something of a nonpartisan setting
There are likely 70 be some I'M
pleasant days for the men in power in
the state house and court houses if
the league meeting in Topeka gets
away to a good start. Most of the
protest against the prescribed brands
of government in Kansas have had
omething to do with the operating
expense The league got under way
last fall when a So per cent increase
in state taxes was announced. Condi-
lions didn't improve much when it
was explained that the general direct
tax in the state increased more than
eight million dollars in 1921 as COM
pared with 1920 expenses. Forty per
cent OF the entire increase went to
state department costs.
Court House Crowd Up.
Out in a number of the Kansas
counties the court house crowd has
been called on the carpet TO explain.
Local leagues have asked for state
ments from the mayor and town coun-
ellis or commissions Now there is
likely 70 be a cal Tor the fellows. in I
the state house
The league may develop into a real
factor in the state campaign Reports
which have come into Topeka lately /
indicated the leaders would take up
their task in a sane, conservative man
ner. They plan to sidetrack the wild
eyed radicals in the state convention I
here next Thursday and put real clear I
headed leadership at the helm. Maybe (
they will do It, too. In which event l
the TAX pEODlern VIII stand out as the I
most important thing in state politics
this year.
Governor Allen has insisted that the /
industrial court should be the big issue /
of the year He will try to force it to
the front and may succeed in a con- |
siderable measure il he enters the /
running for a third term.
On the other hand Mister Farmer |
and Mister Business Man are to be /
considered. Their war profits have /
faded. prices have sagged. the things
they have TO sell are going for less
But the cost Of running the court /
house, the city hall and the state housed
is going up Maybe the farmer and (
the business man who come. to To-
peka to start the state tax uprising
next Thursday will really have a voice /
in deciding the campaign issues