Western Kansas world., 1893-03-18
About Railroad Passes and
BIackmailers.
~ p R.N., in KaDsa. Newspaper Union.

IF. p. Baker in Kansas Newspaper Union
Some time ago I received a letter
from 9 friend, the editor of populist
paper, asking me to see the general
1essenger agent of the A., T. 4 S. f. 4.
and ascertain why he did not get his
regular quarterly pass this year. II it
was because he was publishing popu-
list paper, he had nothing to say; but
he presumed it was through some over
sight.
/ Immediately called upon Mr.. Simp-
son. the genial gentleman who repre-
sents the general passengsr department
of the A.. T. & S. F. r. r. SO far as
newspaper advertising and transporta-
ton is concerned.
When / laid the matter before MIR.
Simpson he said ''Your friend knows
well the reason that he has not got
transportation this year. No paper on
our line has been refused transportation
on account of its politics. But we have
come to the conclusion that a paper
which willfulIy, msliciously and con-
stantly lies about us and misrepresents
us will hereafter not be furnished trans
portar;on: and your friend in his paper
has done this. He has published and
reiterated the statement made by Jerry
Simpson at the time of the inaugural OF
Governor Lewelling that 1.-The A. L. &
ST r. r. had been running the state
through the republican party for
years"
want to say that have known
something, at least, about the inside
workings Of the republican party for the
last twenty five years, and I can say
without fear CT successful contradiction
that the man who says that the corpor-
atiors meaning the railroads have run
the republican party, is either an imbe-
cile or demagogue. presume tnat
the corporations bave had to pay money
to blackmailers to keep them from
bringing forward measures that would
40 affect their interests as virtually TO
drive them into bankruptcy. L do not
know this, but I presume it is true, for
the reason that I do know that the city
of Topeka, citizens of Topeka, the insur-
ance agents of the state, and various
other private and public interests have
for wears been forced to pay certain
men money to keep them f1om dong
injury TO their interests. Who, that
has beer around the state capitol for
the last twenty-five years, does not
know thai measures have been brought
in. that bills have been introduced, to
crinple various interests and municipal
tiles for The sole purpose OF beng paid
money to finally assist in their defeat.
The men who have done this have be-
Ionged to al parties, and no one party
ia responsible for all OF their doings. l.
know it to be fact that good many
nublic men who have been the black
mailers OF attempted blackmailers in the
cases referred to have been left out by
the republican party because of their
notorietv as blackmailers and men who
were not fit to be trusted in public po-
sitions. / know farther that many OF
the leaders in the popu!ist party to-day
are the men who were left out by the
republican party as stated above. 10
DENY this is to deny what is patent to
all men. You could have seen them
around the capitol during this session
of the legislature, hanging around the
governor and other state officers and
members OF the legislature.
| will cite one instance out of hun
dred that could be cited. L do this
without giving any name. An old
friend came into my office one day, and
knowing that he had always been re-
publican. although in some instances
rather an unsavory one, 1 began to talk
with him about politics. He stopped
me by saying, "Mr. Baker, l am pop
MIST now. / could not stand the repub'
lican party any longer; it is controlled
bv corporations and they are running
the state"
I said to him: "You can talk that
kind of stuff on the stump, but do moi
talk it to me. You know, my friend
that I know that you, as a member o.
the legislature and filling important po
litical positions, have been blackmailine
the railroads for a great number o
wears. You know that 1 know that yor
used to get on the railroad COMMITTEES
for the very purpose of blackmailine
the railroads. You know that L know
that you were defeated for the nomlna
tion for state senator four years agt
because Of that very unsavory reputa
tion that you have. You have gon'
where l expected you would; wher
most men of your character go-lnt'
the so-cslled reform party"