The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-01-28
THE KANSAS LEGIsLATURE.
Interesting Study of Pure Democracy at Close
Range.

Interesting Study Of Pure Democracy at Close
Range.
Springfield Republican tMug}
The fruits of that revolution in Kansas
politics which has brought the people to
the front in o delightfully."- picturesque man.
ner. like Katisha's shoulder blade. are
worth going miles to see. Every one OF our
Kansas exchanges teens with the remark
able doings of the Alliance members of the
new Legislature. Students of social and
political institutions should not fail to
study this example of pure Democracy at
short range. If the present Kansas House
of Representatives could be kept intact for
the Chicago worlds fair. visitors from
political life of which We ave reason TO be
the proudest-the people at the helm of
state.
But before placing them on exhibition
much might be done In the way of sticking
up" and in narrowing the ideas ofthe lead
ers as to the ans of the work which in
their opinion devolves upon them. Con-
gressman-elect Jerry Simpson took mp . bill
OF fare at q Topeka hotel the other day.
sas City Star, and looked at it a long time.
bring me some chicken SOUP" he said
finally. Then he turned TO o friend and re-
marked: When | get to Washington l
propose to look over the records, and If
French bill in American hotels i will take
q hand in it myself. No man can get what
he wants to eat when il is around. 1t is in
the interests of the hotel-keeper instead of
PRODUCES such legislation in the next
Congress he will startle the country.
although he has recently been anticipated
in this great reform by another whose DO
sitiOn in human affairs 10 really august.
We refer to Emperor William of Germany,
whose b~anishment of the French menu In
the interests of the German Language and
the Fatherland was widely commented
upon. Before Mr.. Simpson engages IN q
national work involving so many dificul-
influence at home and have the Alliance
members put on a little more style. The
Topeka aristocracy seem to be greatly
mortified these days. There is Sam Wood.
branch. 1t is said that Mr.. Wood has not
combed his hair in thirty years. This is
probably an outrageous lie, but where there
is so much spoke there is generally a little
fire; and if MI. Simpson would kindly look
after Mr.. Woods hair. nothing would be
lost to popular government.
That the Alliance members do not patron
ize the great hotels is not to their .discredit
in q prohibition State, but that they
shout board at poor hotels, simply
circle with putting OF" is on the other
and not to their credit. If they actually
huddle together and sleep three in q bed
and board at fifteen-cent ~restaurants,
SIMPLY UcCduec lucy ucciu IL luCOu6l6teut
with true democracy to do otherwise, they
err somewhat in their conception of the
duties and privileges of government by the
people. 1t is said that it required an Alli-
ance caucus to compel many member to
discard their flannel shirts in favor of the
preferred apparel of Eastern civilization,
but this may be dismissed as q flamboyant
falsehood. But the caucus idea is q
good one and it its use could dis
pei the notion apparently prevailing
that q good Democrat f'Democrat"
being used in its original sense) should
never wash his face or comb his hair. the
promised defeat of Senator Ingalls, would
lose half it's terrors. In truth, one may sus-
pect that the Senator himself is unwit-
tingly responsible to q certain extent for
this neglige air of the Alliance members.
They hate anything that is Ingallsy. and it
is Ingallsy, n not at all discreditable, to
dress well. $.a
!. The Alliance party should not be worried.
however, by the great storm Of ridicnle
which their opponents have inoited. The
great test of their organization will be the
kind of government they give and the use
they make of their power. Good clothes
and bills of fare are really extrinsic factors
in the situation. although. like everything
else, they DO have some place in politics.