... meets GOP stronghold
Until mid-January when the 1969 Kansas Legislature convened, Sen. Glee Smith Jr., R-Larned, president pro tem of
Glee S. Smith
the Senate, was considered a possible Republican candidate for governor in 1970.
He had been mentioned early in 1968 before he decided to seek re-election as senator rather than run for governor. But, many have criticized the Republican legislative leadership during the 1969 session—particularly in the Senate—and Smith has been taking much of the blame, deservedly or not.
Those who oppose him say he vacillated in his leadership of the Senate, trying too much to play for political advantage in 1970.
Smith, of course, disputes such statements saying, "I was somewhat discouraged about the way the early part of the Senate
May 7 1969 KANSAN 17
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In an interview, Smith spoke casually but in generalities about the predominant trends and attitudes during the past legislative session.
session went, but in the final analysis I think we came out with what was good for all Kansans."
Legislative trends
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Serving his fourth term in the Senate, Smith said he had observed a traditional tendency to act conservatively. But, he added that this year the legislature has tended to be more liberal.
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The organization of the legislature, he commented, has been improving every year as legislators have succeeded in instituting methods of speeding up the processes of the legislature.
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"We have moved faster than in the years past, therefore some have understood the legislators to be more liberal this year than they really are," he added.
More specifically, Smith revealed his feelings towards legislation related to colleges and universities -an area in which his concern has been notable.
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He said the percentage growth in salaries for Kansas colleges and universities has been higher than the national average in the past few years, even though the range may be lower.
"I want to see Kansas maintain a good position relative to schools in all other states, but our main concern should be to provide service to the students," he said.
The president pro tem named two major characteristics of the 1969 session: 1) a growing awareness and social concern and 2) a shift of emphasis from rural to urban due to the new reapportionment.
Smith predicted greater improvements in education and greater concern for welfare in future sessions of the legislature.
"Education is the most important subject we deal with, and welfare is fast becoming one of our greatest responsibilities," he said.
In the 1968 party platform under which Smith ran for office, the Republicans openly condemned the present Democratic Governor of Kansas.
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The platform continued, "We condemn his failure to provide a balanced budget, his stifling the highway program, and his complete lack of concern for education . . . We deplore his replacement of practical state achievements with political self-seeking."
Yet the Republican-dominated Senate and House spent more time in the 1969 session locking horns with the Democratic Governor than passing the proposed mandates.
For example, the Republican party proposed solutions to the problems of education and the
burdens on the property tax payers. They acknowledged a responsibility to improve the educational opportunities of the youth of the state and a responsibility to aid in the education of the young people.
Accordingly, the Republican legislature passed measures which did greatly aid education. But they passed 29 million dollars worth of legislation for which they could not back the appropriation.
Smith himself admitted that the legislature needed to "study where and how they could raise more revenue."
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