The advocate., 1890-12-31
WHAT WERE THE IssUEs7


Bm.-I having been sOcalled republican for
twenty-five years, and having been volunteer
soldier and lost my lott foot during the war; but
having IN silence been carrying my grievances,
and having hOpeleasly hoped for better and more
lust legislation toward the soldier and the work
ing men IN goneral but having looked with dis
trust 10 now organizations and lOnged Tor better
ment, have Joined the Farmers Alliance, with
the hope that our way may be opened for re-
form. You speak 700 much Of the Mckinley Dill
being the cause OF the lato Kansas election 1
differ with you on that. The Mckinley bill was
not old enough and not known enough 70 have
much 10 do with tho farmer vote. think there
are Thousands OF farmers who voted as dld.
They voted the alliance ticket straight because
they felt they had 10 do something 10 break the
chain or aristOcracy which they themselves had
voted carelessly around their neCls. But you must
not ubllate too fast for what have you 10 say for
your soldier friend In your PLATFORM Are you
going 10 advocate that 10 takes too much money
out OF the treasury 10 pay che soldiers dues2
How about tho service penslon2 DO you agree
with the mOnopOllsts that II will pauperize tho
country 10 give u service pensiOn2 1 call This
only giving ms the interest on deprecated money
received IN service, and the bOndhOlder got
more than his lawful interest, II you wish TO
continue as the friend OF reform you must giye
us light upon this subject, for thls done, and sat
islactohy, you will gain instead Of lose follow
ers But your retCenCe on this subject makes
the suspicion strong with the cry raised against
our party, that ls that II is part Of the south
ern or rebel democracy. Your character must
be plain and straight In all, 80 therefore show
your colOrs to tho world that you are neither
rebel nor yankee, but an advocate OF Just aud
honest principles. Hoping my few lines may
nnd corresponding feeling In your heart re-
main yours respectfully Il. W. BAUM
Caldwell Kan.
We fear our correspondent has not
read The ADVOCATE or studied the
platform Of the peoples party as
closely as he should have done in Or
der to act and vote intelligently for
the interests Of 80 much importance
TO him. We believe il will trouble
him TO find where The ADVOCATE has
spoken of the Mckinley bill as the
cause of the political change in Kan
sas. We do not believe this heresy,
and have never 80 expressed our
selves. We believe reform OF our
tariff Legislation is necessary, but that
this is not one of the most important
questions to be settled.
If our friend will turn to the plat
form of the peoples party adopted at
our state convention, and upon which
we stood during the campaign and
still stand to-day, he will find the fol-
lowing as one Of it's planks:
We favor a service pension TO every union SOL
der and sailor, and we believe justice demands
that the deprecated currency in which they
we're paid should be made good, and as full and
complete faith kept with the soldiers as with the
bOndhOlders, and that ex.prsOners Of war bere
munerated for the time served In prison.
Our correspondent is like many
others, He has not read enough, and
he has jumped at conclusion with
out informing himself Of the facts
about which he has undertaken to
write, Does he want any better pen
sion doctrine than that embraced in
the above plank OF our party plat
form7