People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-03-10
KEPT BEFORE THE PEOPLE.
Facts that Voters Should not Forget.

the Republican party should retire
from power in Kansas.
Backed by the corporations and Of
fcehOlders the Republicans mana
gers used every means in their power
to defeat the will of the majority.
The corporations made special eff
fort to protect themselves by saving
one branch Of the legislature.
Seeing that they had been defeated
they kept up the old political cry of
"claim everything" long after they
knew they had been honestly defeat
ed.
This was done purpOsely to throw
dust in the eyes Of the people" while
disreputlble, unprircipled politicians,
lead by Anarchist Bill Higgins. were
working every scheme known to cor
rupt politics in reversing the will of
the majority on the choice Of repre-
Sentatiyes.
By their influence with the can
vassing boards they secured certif-
Gates for enough Of their candidates
to give them a majority, as they
claimed, in the lower branch Of the
legislature.
These movements were exposed and
showed up at the time, but fairness
and honesty had no charms for these
political OItcastS and official pap
suckers.
The state canvaSSing board was ap-
pealed to but turned deaf ear to all
pleas for square deal, and unbluSh-
ingly carried out the program of the
corporation funkieS and political par
aSites, going so far as to decide QueS-
tiOns exactly counter in order to ia
yOr their side.
The supreme court was appealed to
but either 'had no Jurisdiction" or
could not compel canyassing board
to do its sworn and honest duty
still further carrying out the damn
able conspiracy of the ringsters and
corporation hirelings.
The legislature met and these
Schemers were on hand determined
to carry their point at any cost with
out regard to law, precedence or COM
mon honor and fairness.
Their case being desperate, they ig-
nored an Old-established precedent and
refused to recognize the secretary of
state as temporary presiding officer in
the organization of the house, and a
struggle for supremacy at once began
between the peoples representatives
and the corporations tools.
Working under the Instructions of
old, reckless and unprincipled leaders
the Republican side carried out a pre-
arranged plan of organizing the house.
entirely ignoring the presence and
wish of the POpuliSt members.
The POpulists knowing that they
had fairly and honestly elected a ma
jority of that body and having posi-
tive proof that the results in several
cases Ind been deliberately reversed,
also organized a house and were duIy
recognized by the governor, state Off
GERS and senate as the legal house.
They proceeded to business. elected
senator and state printer and passed
about all the measures promised the
people.
They Investigated the election
cases and showed by undisputable
proofs that a certificate had been is
sued to resident of Oklahoma terri.
tory, that the majority of one men,
ber was deliberately given BY the
county clerk to his Republican oppo-
nent; that in Seyeral,caSes the honest
result of the election had been falsi-
lied In favor the Republicans and
that certificates had been issued 70
several federal office holders who
were ineligible to an election. show
ing concluSively that the claimed Re-
publican majority was a fraud and a
SWlndle on the voters of thsstate.
Still the Republicans, backed and
encouraged with money and the influ-
ence of the corporations, refused to
ubmit and kept u the fight evident
ly on purpose to defeat promised and
needed legislation.
knowing that they had partisan
courts at their backs that could be
depended upon, the Republicans used
every endeavOr to raise a row and
get the matter in the courts. know
ing they would be sustained in their
course without regard to law. prece-
dent and former court decisions.
WiththiS view they caused the ar,
rest of the chief clerk of the Populist
house, which was vigorously resisted
and precipitated the row they had
learly intended.
Seeing the danger of mob violence
the governor appealed to the sheriff
to preserve order. but being one of
the braSs-collared gentry he refused