The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-03-29

WASHINGTON, March % The memorial
presented to President Cleveland by Hon
David Overmyer of Topeka, in behalf o
the stalwart cause is as follows:
1.-THE political situation In Ksnsas is
phenomenal The lack of time and space
forbIds an explanation at this time of the
causes which from the organization Of the
Dtate 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 nc
controversy in that convention over the
question of indorsing the Weaver cleo
toral ticket, and out OF vote Of nearly
500 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 sena-
tor, John Martin. the state ticket which
had been nominated at Wichita by the So
called Peoples party was adopted.
This, however, was not accomplished
until after long and acrimonious debate,
aud when the vote was finally taken it
was carried by very narrow majority.
This action of the convention resulted in
great dissatisfaction among Democrats,
and but for the fact that it was a presi-
by that convention would have been dis.
astrously defeated. This action of the
convention prevented any distinctiyely
Democratic campaign.
Democrats who took the stump-and
they were comparatively few-could not
speak in praise of the Democratic candi-
date for president, nor in advocacy Of
Democratic measures presented by Mr..
Cleveland, for fear of angering their allies.
or rather their masters, who were shout
ing for Weaver and dispara2ing in un-
measured terms the Democratic party and
the reforms represented by the Democratic
candidate for the presidency.
Democrats who desired to support the
state ticket could not speak of the candi-
dates thereon as Democrats, because, first,
they were not Democrats: for, although
some Of them were former Democrats,
every one Of. them, in order to secure the
Peoples party nomination, was com pelled
TO renource his allegiance to the Demo-
cratic party aud to declare himself in
complete and explicit manner in favor of
The platform of the Peoples party, which
contained declarations in favor OF the
sub-treasury scheme, fat money, govern
ment ownership OF railroads, public re-
sumption of franchises, and in favor of
general movement toward the doctrines of
prohibition, female suffrage and state
socialism.
1T was impossible for Democrats to
elect members of the legislature, because
Democratic nominees running upon Dem
ocratic platforms would have been in di-
rect antagonism to the populst campaign,
and also in direct opposition to the express
policy Of the gentleman who now repre-
eents Kansas in the United States senate.
The result was that only two state sena-
tors were elected who claimed to be Dem
0crats, and one of these was, in fact, a
populist. while ths other was pledged to
favor the measures advocated by the pop
ulists and to go into the 2opulist caucus.
Only three representatives were elected
who claimed to be Democrats; therefore
the legislature was practically Republican
and popuiist. the Democracy u party
being wholly elimin ated from the politi-
cal complexion of that BODY.
IF there had been five or six Democratic
senators and fifteen or twenty Democratic
representatives, as there could have been,
or If the Democratic had had even TWO or
three state officers the lswless and revolu-
tionary proceedings 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 upon It. A very small number of
Democratic officials would have coustitUt-
ed balance of power.
AS II was, however, the populists, find.
Ing themselves defeated in the lower house
OF the legislature, RS shown by the canvass
of the returns by the state canvassing
board, resolved TO resort to revolution 10
gain control of that body, as they already
had pronounced Majority in the senate. |
Their first proposition was that as the
constitution provided that each house |
shall be the Judge of the election returns !
and qualifications of its members, there
fore the certificate Of election provided by |
statute and issued to those shown by the |
returns to be elected thereto was a thing |
~ el..
between the people and the peoples elect |
by "a. statute which is the special abhor- |
renee OF populist partisans. When asked |
who should constitute the house for the |
purpose OF organization, they answered:
The members elected When asked how /
mat matter should be determined, they |
answered: We know who were elected -
Although the constitution of the state
likes the maximVm number of members of |
tile legislature at lbs, and although rhe
state Is divided 10y law into l25 districts.
each of which is entitled to one member
and one vote, from the first moment of
organization to the final adjournment, yet
these reyolutionists who had ten contest
ing members demanded that these be al
lowed TO participate in the organization
OF the house. or that the ten certified and
sitting members be not allowed to partici-
pate That is 70 say that the house in
stead OF being organized by 125 men should
&c ohSShiNco pl clkHST Lao or liO men, IN
other words. ten districts should have two
votes each In the organization of the
house.
Because these demands were not ac-
eeded 10 the populists attempted to organ
ize a separate and distinct house of repre-
sentatives. and In support of their revolu-
uonary action the governor called out the
militia OF the state and threatened TO over
throw the legally organized house by
iorce OF arms he gave an order TO that
eneot, and would have actually caused
pioodshed had the commanding officer
poeyed his orders and had he not been
nnaliy deferred from his purpose by fear.
ms popuiist governor, who undertook to
90 THIS revolutionary act, now draws his
salary from an appropriation made by the
very house he attempted TO disperse at the
point Of the bsyonet.
4n aeoition 10 all this, the appropria-
tion by the legislature for the adiutan,
generals departments is SO, ,oOo, Just twice
what It has been heretofore the house be-
Ing forced TO agree by the threats of The
popullst senate to defeat all appronris-
atlons The populist senate demapded
to1, 600. thus showing determination 70
organize and use the militia on a scale az
activity never before known in the history
of the state. We think this means soma,
thing. Judge Martin and Governor CiI:ck
pretend 10 think that it means nothing.
furthermore. il is an open aud notorious
tHct that the militia is being reorysn!zed