The Iola register., 1890-05-02
GOV. HumrHREr.s RECORD.
Clay Center Dispatch,

was recommended to the executive
council by tine Farmers' Alliance presi
dents for appointment as railroad com
missioner but the publication of whose
record caused his defeat for the coveted
position, has made savage onslaught
on Gov. l.. U. Humphrey, in an "oper
letter" to The advocate, an alliance
paper published at Topeka. The othel
parts of his article do not merit even
passing notice, but to the concluding
portion we wish to direct attention
He says:
8. You would pose as the farmers
friend, even after four per cent month
had been exacted from them. You re
member that was the regular rate
charged the poor settlers who had te
borrow money to enter their land al
the historic land office at Independence
and that you soon became successful
banker, Is easily accounted for, and
that accounts for your becoming gov.
ernOr of the experimentation state o
Kansas"
The plain inference of Mr.. Maxson's
charge is that the governor has become
a wealthy banker by extOrting foul
per cent q month from down trodden
and oppressed borrowers. The writer
lived at Independence during the time
referred to by Maxson, when he was
register of the land office, and fol
many years afterwards, and is thor.
oughly familiar with the record and
history of Gov. Humphrey and knows
the charge to be vicious and infamous,
and utterly without foundation. He
has never been recognized as a man of
wealth or az a banker, but has always
been looked up to as a modest and
model citizen-a forcible and able
newspaper editor and successful law
yer. At the time referred to by Max
son, in the early seventies, he was a
briefiess barrister and editorial writer
on the South Kansas Tribune, of which
he owned a one-third share. For
years after this his income afforded
him only the most meagre support,
and when he wanted to establish a
home, and link with his fortunes those
of the modest little lady who has since
so richly endowed his life, he found it
necessary to borrow $500 at three per
cent month, from friend, Capt. Ma
son of Independence, to finish a cheap
but comfortable little house at the out
skirts of town, where lots were low
priced, and in which he continued to
live economically for nearly sixteen
years. He even bought his furniture
on time, and it was several years be-
fore his surplus earnings permitted
him to cancel those early obligations.
There has never been a day since,
when he has not been borrower and
paying interest.
To be sure he built up fairly re-
munerative law practice, and by hard
work, economic management and ju-
dicious investment in farm lands, prin-
cipally, he has been able to accumu-
late eight or ten thousand dollars
worth of property; but he never loaned
dollar in his life at usurious interest.
Until five or six years ago he was new.
er connected in any manner with a
bank; but at that time some friends
were organizing the Commercial State
bank, and having an opportunity to
sell three or four thousand dollars
worth of real estate to advantage, he
subscribed for that amount of stock.
Though number of shareholders had
several times the amount of stock own
ed by him, the name of L. L. Humph-
rey stood as the synonym of honor and
integrity in the county, and the bank
insisted on making use of it by elect
ing him president. He never transact
ed an iota of business for the bank ev-
en- to changing five dollar bill be.
hind the counter, and never received
a cent of remuneration for his services.
At the last meeting of the stockhold-
ers he declined a reelection, and is
now not even a director. 1t may be
said regarding the bank with which
he was connected, that ten or twelve
per cent is as high interest az its Gus
toners were ever asked to pay.
He never had dollar in his life that
he did not earn. No man i'm Kansas
is more thoroughly familiar with the
bitter struggle against poverty and ad-
versity than he is. His father died
when he was nine years old, from
which date he has rustled with the
world unaided and single handed,
supporting ali the while and to this
day, an aged mother. While he has
achieved moderate success, his SYM
pathy is only stronger for those who
have been less fortunate i'm the con-
test; and during all his life no man
or woman, black or white, ever ap-
preached this kind hearted man in
distress, that he did not extend aid to
the extent of his means. And no
struggling, ambitious boy or young
man ever sought his aid or advice who
did not receive sympathetic and time
ly assistance. as the writer can most
cheerfully testify.
The record of Gov. Humphrey as an
honest, hard-working and industrious
editor, lawyer and statesman, and a
model citizen, stands, and will contin-
ne TO stand unimpeached.