People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-01-27
THE SITUATION.
The Legislative situation at Topeka-Ab-
surdity OF the Partisan Press Reports.

The Legislative situation at Topeka-Ab-
surdity OF the Partisan Press Reports.
There has been great deal of talk
during the past week about anarchy
and lawlessnesS The associated press
has been utilized to its fullest capacity
in spreading infammatory reports of
the proceedings of the populist legisla-
ture. Those who see nothing except
from republican sources would be led
to infer that every peoples party man
in the city, and especially every men,
Der of the legislature, is walking ar
senal, and that the lives Of republicans
are everywhere in danger Publicmeet-
ings have been held in this city and in
other cities in the state, and have
been addressed by railroad and corpor-
alton attorneys with view of manu-
featuring public sentiment, based upon
one-sided appeals to prejudice rather
than fact These public addresses, the
editorial columns of republican papers
and the associated press dispatches all
aim to convey the impression to the
public that the governor, the peoples
party members of the legislature and
the senate, are proceeding in violation
of law, and regardless of the rights
of republican, members, to defeat the
will of the people as expressed at the
polls
On our side, in opposition to all these
means of reaching the people we have
only few weekly papers The advan-
tage, so far as these facilities for manu-
featuring public sentiment are con-
cerned, are all with the opposition. So
far as facts and the everlasting princi-
Piles Of eternal justice are concerned,
the advantages are with us, and though
we are behind the opposition in point
OF time in reaching the ears of the peo-
pie, we shall get there" just the same.
Let it be understood, then, that every
unlawful and unwarranted act thus far
has been committed by the republican
party. Going back no farther than the
day when the house assembled for or
ganization, the republican contingent
objected to the time-honored custom
that the secretary of state should occu-
py the chair until temporary chair
man should be elected. Would they
have done this if Bill Higgins had re-
manned secretary of state? Certainly
not Their objection was purely par
tisan one, and Mr.. Osborn very properly
left the house, and left the members to
effect temporary organization among
themselves
AT this juncture Mr.. Semple advanced
to the stand for the purpose of placing
in nomination candidate for temporary
chairman Mr.. Cubbison, on the repub-
llcan side, at once advanced to the front
and nominated temporary chairman
OF the republican members. He being
elected by that side of the house, they
proceeded to effect a permanent organ
izAtion without any regard to the
presence of peoples party represent
atives. This being done the peoples party
representatives proceeded to effect an
organization of their side of the house,
and the question at once became one of
right between the two houses In this
contention the week since our last issue
has been consumed In all the dis
patches, editorials and public addresses,
republicans have proceeded upon the
supposition that certificates of the late
partisan canvassing board are prima
facie evidence of election. In other
words, that the house must accept
the certificates of Bill Higgins as the
only evidence of election, regard
less OF the votes cast for the opposing
candidates In this all the presidents
established by their own party are
against them and not solitary one in
their favor. An opinion based I'D
on an examination of one side, and
the discussion of that side being char
acterlzed by the bitterness that has dis
tinguished it thus far, cannot be a fair
or an unbiased one.
With regard to threats and anarch.
lStic utteranccs and proceedings on the
part OF the popul:sts, the reports are
all manufactured with an eye to the
main purpose. No person has displayed
any firearms or other weapons thus far
except Bill Higgins, republican ex-
secretary OF state, when a deputy ap-
pointed by the Acknowledgement to
take charge of one of the doors of the
house OF representatives attempted to
discharge the duty assigned him.
There are no dynamite bombs in the
hands of populists, and nothing but
lawful measures are proposed to be en-
ployed in securing the right of the peo-
pie as expressed at the polls.
In view of the vast ADVANTAGES DOS
sessed by the enemy in the way of
spreading their anfammatorv litera.
ture, we ask that the people maintain
their equanimity, wait until they see
all sides, and then form their Judgment
calmly, candidly and dispassionatelv.
There is just one other consideration
to which we desire to call the attention
OF the people. The governor and the
senate have recognized the house or.
ganized by the populist members as
the legal house of representatives.
This being the case, the repub-
hcan 'rump house" is in rebel.
lion against the legally constituted
authorities of the state. If they believe
that their cause is just, their only legal
and justifable course is to disband their
organization and appeal to the people
at the polls for justification of their
acts Any other course is anarchy on
their part On this issue we are ready
to go into the next campaign. Topeka