The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-10-19
CALLS IT A MYTH.
Mrs. Leases Opinion Of Southern
Chiyalry
Special Correspondence ofthe Chicago Inter-oceaI

MrS. Mary 4. Lease, the hauSd
woman. who has during the present pc
litical campaign become such a conspic
uous figure, owing to her courageou
attitude and the mastery manner wit
which she has been doing campaigl
work in the interest of the People
party, passed through st. Louis las
evening on her way to Terre Haute t
join General and Mrs. Weaver. Sh
was at the Union depot, awaiting chang
of trains for two hours or more, an,
your correspondent was fortunate
enough to see her and talk with her
Mrs. Lease is a woman of remarkabl
strength of character, and the first char
| acteristic that strikes one on being pre-
sented to her is her indomitable will ant
apparent determination to go through
with anything she undertakes to do
She Is cautious and careful
woman. almost to the desre'
OF being suspicious; but once
convinced that she is to be fairly treated
or that the person with whom she is il
conversation is as honest of purpose a.
herself, her manner becomes as franz
and as free as that of a child-almost t.
the extent of becoming contiding.
Mrs. Lease has but recently returned
from the south, having just taken 6
brief rest of two days at her home ir
Wichita, Kan. Endeavoring in some
degree to recover from the effects of the
ordeal through which she passed IN the
southern states--an ordeal which, from
her own statements, must have been
terrible indeed.
When first approached she was reluc.
tant to talk for publication, as she said
the southern press had treated both her
and General Weaver with uufairness,
and the southern correspondents had
sent broadcast such untruthfui reports
OF her doings and sayings, that she had
come almost TO dread a newspaper man.
She said there were many things she
would like TO see printed in the
great cause Of truth and justice,
but she was especially anxious
to be convinced that what
she said would be printed just as she
said 1t. While IN this hesitating state of
mind she was asked if Senator PETER
had spoken truthfully when he declared
that General Weaver was a coward and
hurriedly left the south because he was
afraid to face the righteous Indignation
of the people.
SHE CHAMPIONS GENERAL WEAVER.
This question served as a match to
kindie the flame of the 1ady's wrath.
Her indignation well nigh got the better
OF her caution, but not sufficiently so as
for one minute to cloud the clearness of
thought or in the least impede the quick
ness of perception that are her most
noticeable mental characteristics.
"No" she said, with emphasis. "He
did not speak truthfully, and he knows
1t. General Weaver is not a coward
fear did not drive him out of the south.
He Is courageous man; a brave, bold
man, daring man, between whom and
the skulking paltroon PETER there can
be no comparison"
This answer served as an opening, and
the correspondent was emboldened to
seek further information concerning this
remarkable woman's experiences in the
south. in order to lead up to the de-
sired object, the question was asked:
Mrs. Lease, under what circum-
stances did you enter upon the campaign
work in the south, were you employed
by the Peoples party to go with General
Weaver"
Il was" she replied. "About July 81
received instructions from our chair
man to cancel all previous dates, and be
prepared 10 accompany General Weaver
and party during the campaign. These
were followed by others
from headquarters, and obeyed?'
Mrs. Lease here seemed suddenly to
arouse to the fact that she had striking
story to tell, and by her manner, evinced
a willingness 10 tell it. So the CORE
spondent ventured further question:
"Did you or General Weaver in your
public addresses or private conversation,
or by your action or conduct, say or do
calculated to arouse antagon-
lsm?'
Most emphatically, no."
Mrs. Lease arose from her seat and
took few steps up and down the room
in a manner that in a weaker woman
would be called nervousness; but in her it
was but the evidence of agitation, born
of her realizing sense of the wrongs
in flicted upon her. AS she pronounced
herself up to her full height, almost six
feet, and squarely faced tie queStioner.
There was honest indignation IN her
voice and IN her every action, and it
bIazed from her eyes in look that
burned like living fire as she raised her
cinched fist and closed her firm mouth
with snap.
'Did anything on your part in any
way justify the discourteous treatment
accorded you?"
mo, sir; We both spoke in the belief
that all true reforms must come from
he higher impulses of the heart. We
appealed to their sense OF justice; their
owe for home, and the fraternity that
should prevail among all meE. General
Weaver, particularly, always spoke with
such ChrAtian kindness that it moved
many to tears. think it would be i'm
possible for him to speak harshly to or
If any one"
1.-The reports sent from various places
n the south have been somewhat con-
Are not some If not all OF
hese reports exaggerated
Indeed they were not. On the con-
rary, all the reports sent out or printed
n the southern cities were mild, in
act were coiored, as compared with the
eality.".
1t was evident that Mrs. Lease was
warming up" as it We're, and she was
" this time almost as willing TO tell her !
tory as the correspondent was 10 write |
t. She settled herself in her chair. and |
sked that some Of her previous an
wers might be read TO her that she /
night pass upon their correctness. Then |!
he looked as though ready for the next |
question. 1t was;
"Where did the first trouble take |
'lace."
"Our first trouble was at Waycross.
Mrs. Lease, please give me in detail |
full account of your experiences.
The lady hesitateo for a minute, then /
aid:
THE FIRST OUTRAGE