The Portland daily press., 1893-04-07
THE KANSAS poPULIsTs.

The more returns received from the
municipal elections in Kansas the more
complete does the overthrow of the
Populists appear. In many cities and
towns, some of them their old time
strongholds, they have been beaten three
to one. Wichita, the home of the Popu-
list governor Llewelling, repudiates them
by an overwhelming majority. The
peoples answer to the challenge of the
Populist legislators has been speedy.
and of kind to leave no doubt of their
opinion.
1t is exceedingly fortunate for the
State that the expression has been SO de-
cisive. frightened by the wild doc
trines of the Populists, which seemed to
have taken firm root in that State, capt.
talists and investors were giving Kansas
a wide berth, and the State was rapidly
declining in wealth and fast approach
ing period of financial distress. Had
the Populists been able to pass such
measures through the legislature this
winter, as they desired, the State would
have been brought to the verge of finan-
cial ruin, industry would have been par
alyzed and progress arrested for many
years to come. Luckily, as it has turned
out, the opportunity was presented for
the Populists to exhibit themselves in
their true colors, and to convince the
people that they were nothing better
than anarchists and revolutionists.
After this exhibition it was certain that
their career would be short. unless the
people of the State had lost their faith
in law and were ready to drift into anar-
chy. That happily proves not to have
been the case. Deceived they were for
time, but when they discovered whittier
the Populists's doctrines tended they
quickly and effectually repudiated them.
SCORING FOR THE CoLLECroRsHIP.
At Wednesday nights demonstration
in honor of Warden Harper and Mayor
Ingraham both the candidates for the
collectorship were present and both
scored, The Hon. William Ell. Clifford
got the first start, but his performance
On the whole appeared to be rather fee
BILE. 1t was quite evident that Mr.. Cliff
ford had not fully prepared himself for
the occasion, not fully realizing it's i'm
portance and the opportunity it afforded
to boom his candidacy. His speech con-
tanned no panegyric of Harper or Ingra-
ham. Indeed his reference to the Ward
One affair as a ''disagreeable' episode
must have constituted positive affront
to the former gentleman, which will very
likely be resented by a withdrawal of
MI. Harper's Influence in his behalf.
There was an air of levity, too, about
Mr.. Clifford's remarks which showed
that he did not fully appreciate the au-
gust auspices under which the Democ-
racy had assembled. Perhaps he did
not know that the eyes of the great Har-
Der were upon him. However, no mat
ter what the reason, it is clear that Mr.
Clifford did not perceptibly advance his
collectorship boom. He marked time
majestically, but did not get ahead per-
ceptlbly.
Quite the opposite was the case with
the Hon. Melvin 2. Frank. There was a
solemnity of demeanor about him which
showed that he fully realized that the
occasion was momentous one. He
knew, he must have known, that Tom
Harper was looking at him. and as he
unrolled his manuscript and began to
''view with alarm and point with
pride'' it was evident to all who were
watching the two rivals that the Hon.
Melvin P. Frank had increased his lead
over his handsome competitor His
resolutions were masterpiece of adroit-