The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-29
So the Governor Oiled His Guillotine
and Removed Her from the State
Board of Charities.
PRETTY POPULIST QUARREL
That May Split the 'Middle-of-the-
Road" Party i'm Kansas.
Mary Announces She Will ''Saw Wood"
and Wait-Statements from the
Governor and Mrs. Lease.

TOPEKA, Kan, Dec. 2S.-The Populist
camp was this afternoon thrown into the
widest excitement by the act of Governor
Lewelling in removing Mrs. Mary Z. Lease
from the State Board of Charities This
was done after a long conference with his
associate State officers and leaders of the
Peoples party. and also, no doubt, in antici-
patton Of the war which Mrs. Lease was pre-
pairing to declare against the State admins
tration. To a reporter Governor Lewelllng
said:
II do not want TO say much about It I
want you to be careful to quote me- cor
rectly. 1 have removed Mrs. Lease in the
interest Of harmony and good government.
There seems 10 he some lack of harmony in
the charitable institutions of the State and
considerable trouble in the board. We con-
cluded Mrs. Leases removal was the REM
edy, and 1 accordingly removed her. That's
all 1 have to say about it this afternoon
Don't you think you have stirred up @
row?'
Maybe have, but guess there will be
no great trouble grow out of it,
Mrs. Lease who was up to o'clock, head
of the State Board of Charities was in the
city to-day to confer with the Populist
leaders about the recent election of George
L. Tauber to be steward of the Deaf and
Dumb Asylum at Oiathe. by the votes of
NJ. A. Householder and w. S. Waite the
Republican members Of the board. Either
he goes, or / CO." Mrs. Lease said to a re-
porter, and she stamped her foot to enpha-
size the assertion. This was before her re-
nnoval was announced. at is a question of
principle with me. First / am a Populist of
the 'middle-of-the-rOad sort, and do not be-
ieve in appointing Democrats to office.
Next, good Populists have been ignored,
and, lastly, 1 am opposed TO Tauber because
he was appointed to secure the beer-drink-
ing element of the State for the Peoples
party next year 1 am not that kind of
Populist. do not believe in compromising
with wrong in any shape or form. 1t is
certain that Tauber will have to be retired,
or I shall quit the board
The removal of Mrs. Lease was thought
Of to-day. Yesterday there was no talk
of it in the Statehouse in Populist cir
cles anywhere. 1t is not believed the re-
rhoval was wholly caused by the row in
the board, for that has been of long stand
ing. and was open and notorious That
somebody had to so has been
known for some months. for Mrs.
Lease, on the one side, and Mr.
could never work harmoniously, but 1t was
not intended to let it be Mrs Lease until
this morning, when intelligence was
brought to the Governor that Mrs. Lease
had not buried the hatchet. but was get
ting ready to make another assault
through the newspapers upon the admin
istration She. in conversation with we'll
known Populist, within the past forty-eight
tad he
the terms of peace made for her with the
Governor. She said Governor Lewelling
and the entire Statehouse crowd ought to
be turned down., and that she was load
ed with letters and other documents that
would make the turn down." She said
she proposed to go after the Governor on
account of good many misdemeanors,
and especially on account of the appoint
ment of Artz and Todd. When this reached
ton of removing her and, instead of let
ting out Householder and Waite. he let out
Mrs Lease The removal means that the
challenge to battle. The contest will be
full OF fire and interest.
Mrs. Lease takes her removal like a
trained politician. She said to a reporter:
Yes; L have been officially informed of
my decapitation. l had a hint of what was
coming, but Governor Lewelling ought to
have told you the reason. 1t because
L went to him yesterday noon and made
demand upon hm-not request, mind
you-that at the expiration of the term of
j. r. Kennedy, q Populist editor of Wilson
county, be appointed. / knew that with Mr..
Kennedy on the board could run the
institutions in g. businesS-like way and get
rid OF the political schemes to which the
board now resorts. But the Governor seems
TO like that way of administering State
charities. 1t is not month ago he came
TO us with a demand that we remove Car
ter from the superintendency OF the deaf
and dumb asylum. 1 said to him that he
had no right to make such demand; that
we, the board, We're responsible for our ap
pointments, and the party could not af
ford TO have such an institution as the deaf
and dumb asylum mixed up in small pol
iticS. But the majority OF the board did
the Governors bidding, and now they are
trying to find a way to reinstate Carter.
can stand il / can. l will saw wood and
wait. as the politicians say. l am no poll
tician, but you may congratulate Governor
Lewelling upon downing the best friend
and most sympathetic and cordial worker
the Peoples party has in the State of Kan
sas."
Mrs. Lease said it was rather early 10
talk about State nominations, but present
signs pointed to dwellings nomination.
Mrs. Lease was asked by an Associated
Press reporter tonight if her removal would
n split in the party. She reiterated
the statement made In Topeka q month ago
that the present administration would be
terview," declared Mrs. Lease vehemently,
land every charge preferred by me will be
substantiated at the proper time The old
crowd must go. / went into this fight for
principle and I cannot and will not toll
ministration, en- administration more cor
rupt than any Republican administration
that ever disgraced Kansas. Governor Le-
yelling seems to make appointments to
further his own political ends, regardless
of consequences. When he finds an aD-
pointee whom he can't use he deposes him"