Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-02-25
Mestern 8aasas H'otla.
OFFICIAL PAPER OF TREG0 COUNTY.
SATURDAY, FEB. 25, 1893.

tnat the pOpuIlSCS cldluleu anu dIe
still claiming, their course is with
out precedent and without iustifica-
ton. As citizens we may know
that one Of our number has COM
mitted crime; the proofs are am
pie and the testimony indisputable;
but the law has prescribed a method
by which his guilt may be estab-
lished. The defendant is entitled
to trial by jury and before court
of competent jurisdiction. The pro-
cedure is defined and regulated by
statute and no law abiding citizen
will seek to uphold or justify mob
or lynch law. Admitting that
every contest filed by the populists
had merit, and should have been de-
cided in favor of the contestant, and
their course remains entirely indie
feasible and inexcusable for the
reason that those facts must be es-
tablished before the proper tribunal.
To those who have gone so far as to
Justify force and ignore all legal tri-
bunaIs we have nothing to say.
Their position is revolutionary and
reasonable and argument with
them would be like casting pearl
before swine. All law and preced-
ent unite upon the proposition that
certificate is at least prima facie
evidence of election and must pre-
vail until court Of competent jur-
isdiction decides that the holder is
not legally entitled to it by reason
of fraud or otherwise. The house
, of representatives is the sole judge
or tribunal before which election
contests may be decided. And yet
the populist house of only So men,
bers holding certificates-less than
a quorum-claimed the right to Or
ganize and did organize-as they
allege. Their claim was that GER
tain members of the republican
house - although holding certif-
cates-had no right to assist in the
organization. Was that claim
made in good faith? Then upon
what does the populist house fix its
legality? The names of ten men
holding no certificates and who had
not been declared elected by any,
body or by any tribunal were in
serted on the roll and by this means
they obtained majority. No. fell
low citizen, legislatures are not ere
ated in that manner. Therefore,
we repeat that, admitting every
thing that the populists have ever
claimed, their house Of representa-
tives is a nonentitv-a blank-so
far as passing laws is concerned.
That the populist leaders knew it is
evident from the exertions that they
have made to keep the question out
of the courts. They resorted to
every device-even refrained from
passing an appropriation bill to pay
the per diem and mileage of its
members-so that the legality Of
their organization could not be de-
cided upon. They claimed that the
courts were partisan. That the SUI
preme court could not be depended
upon to do justice. But did they
not know that those sentiments
were revolutionary? Did they not
know that the moment that courts
are set aside-the laws disregarded
and force substituted that we are
absolutely without a government
and that revolution prevails? Will
somebody please define ''revolu-
tion?" But again. we will admit for
the argument, that the supreme
court is partisan. What could the
populists gain by deferring deci-
sion. The present court must and
will decide these questions. It holds
for two years without change and it
is the last resort. Would it not |
have been much better to have de-
cided these questions six weeks ago?
The legislature costs the state 81, 900
per day, and if the decision is in
favor of the republican house that
entire amount will be wasted. Be
sides the immense expense incurred
in the 'war" would all have been