Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-04-06
KANSAS sTALWARTs.

KANSAS STALWARTS.
They Present q Memorial to President
CIeveIand-The Situation in Kansas.
,Messrs. David Overmeyer, W. NJ.
Mitchell and J. B. Crouch, committee
in behalf of the straight-out democratic
state central committee recently Wis
tied Washington to protest against the
recognition of the fusion democrats of
Kansas to the exclusion of the straight
out or anti-fusion democrats. They set
forth their claims in an address to
President Cleveland. from which the
following is extracted:
The political situation in Kansas is phenom-
email lack OF time and space forbids an ex-
PLANTATION at this time of the causes which from
the organization of the state have contributed
to this unusual condition Suffice it to say that
In the campaign of 1892 there was no democratic
ticket, either state or electoral. in Kansas, the
democratic state convention, though called to
nominate a democratic state ticket, failing to
do so. There was controversy in that con
vention over the question of indorsing the
Weaver electoral ticket, and out of q vote of
nearly $40 delegates, only q votes were cast
against the Endorsement Of the electoral ticket:
but under the lead and upon the motion of the
present United States senator, John Martin,
the state ticket which had been nominated at
Wichita by the so-called peoples party was
adopted
Democrats who took the stump-and they
were comparatively few could not speak in
praise of the democratic candidate for presi
dent, nor in advocacy OF democratic measures
represented by Mr.. Cleveland. for fear of anger
ing their allies, rather, their masters, who
were shouting for Weaver and disparaging in
unmeasured terms the democratic party and
the reforms represented by the democratic can
didate for the presidency.
Democrats who desired to support the state
ticket could not speak of the candidates there
on as democrats. because, first they were not
democrats for, although some of them were
to secure the peoples party nominal alton, was
compelled to renounce his allegiance to the
democratic party and to declare himself in a
complete and explicit manner in favor of the
platform of the peoples part, which contained
declarations in favor of the sub-treasury
scheme, fiat money, government ownership OF
railroads, public resumption OF franchises and
in favor of a general movement toward the doc
trine of prohibition female suffrage and state
socialism
1t was impossible for democrats to elect mem.
bers Of the legislature because democratic
nominees running upon democratic platforms
would have been IN direct antagoniSm to the
populist campaign, and also in direct opposition
to the express policy of the gentleman who nov
represents Kansas in the United States senate.
The result was that only two state senators
were elected who claimed to be democrats, an6
one OF these was, in fact, populist while the
other was pledged TO favor the measures advo-
cat ted by The populists and to go into the popu-
list caucus Only three representatives were
elected who claimed to be democrats therefore
the legislature was practically republican anG
populist, the democracy party being wholly
eliminated from the political complexion OF
that body
If there had been five or six democratic SEN
atorS and fifteen or twenty democratic repre-
sentatives as there could have been: or if the
democrats had had even two three state Of
ficers the lawless and revolutionary proceed
fngs which occurred at the capital during the
winter would not have occurred, and our state
would have been spared the humiliation that
has been heaped on If. very small number
of democratic officials would have cons tituted a
balance of power.
AS it was, however. the populists hndins
themselves defeated in the lower house OF the
legislature, as shown by the canvass of the re
turns by the state canvassing board, resolved
to resort TO revolution to gain control OF tina,
body they Already had u pronounced major
ity in the senate.
The history is here given of the fight
for supremacy in the lower house of the
Legislature and the claim of the popu-
lists that they had elected majority OF
that body, which the address declares
revolutionary, and continues:
In addition 10 ali this. the appropriation by
the legislature FOR the adjutant-generarS de-
partmeFt is 5000, just twice what it has been
heretofore, the house being forced to agree by
the thr eats of the popuisu senate to defeat all
appropria tons The populist senate demanded
s51 ,UoJ thus showing a de terniul ton to organ
ize an use the militia on scale of activity
never before known in the history of the state.
We think this means something. Judge Martin
and Gov. Click pretend to think that it means
nothing. Furthermore, it is an open and motto
rious fact that the militia is being reorganized
from top 70 bot tom, that Percy Daniels, the
present ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS has been ap-
pointed by the chief executive of the state as
malor-general OF the militia 1t is also true that
military organizations of secret and oath
bound character are being or raIiiZed by the
popuiiStS under the personal supervision Of the
popuiist acknowledgement, who travels over the
state dressed in full uniform and wearing the
insignia OF his Office
There Can be but one obje IN all this viz ::
To hold the litical power of the state if need
be- by force OF arms We protest against the
fedeG al patronage of the state being given to
men who indorse or tolerate these designs. who
favor = cooperation of The democratic party OF
our state with men entertain these iaten-
tons. or to men who are not willing to publicly
declare their purpose TO work for the upbuild-
ing of the democratic party in Kansas as a
separate organlZ Lt1on, not ONLY because the
democracy OF Kansas cannot afford to disgrace
itself by further utilization with or countenance
of this revolutionary element, but also because
democratic principle is opposed TO the ideas of
the peoples party aS respects national issues,
and is equally opposed to the populist upon the
leading issues in the state, viz: Prohibition
women suffrage, state guarantee of private
loans, removal OF the state capital and MANY
other issues raised by this party that are
calculated to greatly retard the material in
terests of our state and 20 discredit the demo-
cratic party OF Kansas.
If Senator Martin will give public and une-
QuiyOcal expresSIOn to u purpose to sever all
further relations with the populist party, and
that he Will not attempt to control the federal
patronage in the interest of those who are in
favor OF keeping up an alliance agreement
OF CO operation with the party and its leaders
that have shown themselves 50 menacIng to the
interests of our state ana that he will use his
best efforts TO restore the pa -ty in Kansas to
It's once proud position of army of lJ5,OJJ
votes and his determination to maintain the
party as a separate and Independent organiZa-
ton, tree from al entangling alliances wit
other lartirS ali cont:OvcrSf will be ended so
far as we are concerned
Leaders who disparage efforts of party organ
1zation, use tier influence 10 secure the with
orawal OF democra TIC nominees and who stand
eists OF the peoples party in Kansas cannot
be esteemed democrats who are faithful TO
democratic principle and who are working in
the in terest of the demo tic party Tine pub
lie utleranceS OF the men W no took an aC tive
part with The poputfsts IN the late campaign in
kanS -. the editorials of many newspapers
iGen flied with that nbina ion clmpai0n. the
lnau2 urai address of the popu.iit governor, The
pre-. urinary .roc-edtngS OF the populist house,
and tt,e att, mpted legislation OF the popuiis {
senate. ali iu attest the foregoing state
ments. and in verific-.tion OF which We invite a
most searching inyesugaL on consistent with
federal .sdniniSt ration