People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-07-07
A Review of the Facts.

reward lOr his laD0fS.
A Review of the Facts.
EDITOR NOICE:-On the 10th of
last month the citizens of Conway
Springs held a picnic in Levi He'd
rick'S grove. By a slight mistake
there was no speaking IN the forenoon
and by the time dinner was over, it
was two o'clock. Mr.. KieS. of Wich-
ita, was the first speaker, who deliv-
cred an elegant address. 1t being a
little late, | only made a short talk
on the action of the late legislature
on railroad legislation. As | had not
time to touch on the late Topeka re-
bellion, promised to write for Jour
readers what | intended to say 20
them on that occasion, providing you
will give the same space in your valu-
able paper. Here goes:
Now friend reader, you are aware
for several years past the industrial
classes Of this state by and through
oppression, combines and class legis-
latiOn, have been forced to study po-
litical economy for self protection.
For years we, as a class, have been
hypnotized, politically speaking. We
were made to believe that we should
have nothing whatever to do with
great political questions pertaining
to finance, government, railroads, etc.
Our duty, according to the bosses,
was to let them plan and arrange
everything and meekly allow us to
walk up to the polls and vote her
straight. As long as we did this and
whooped her up for the g. 0. p'S and
asked no questions, we were lauded
to the skies as honorable, intelligent,
loyal and Industrious citizens, but
just as soon as We commence to read.
study and think for ourselves, post
ourselves upon questions of govern
ment, debate these questions, look
up the records of our legislators,
search the congressional record, or in
other words, peep behind the pOlit-
ical curtains and by and through
such information assert our opinions
and vote for our interests, we find
these same bosses, papsuckers, hypno-
Tiers, designers and hirelings hold
ing up their hauds in horror, crying
anarchy, communism, flatism, social
ism, crankS, repudiatUrs, dislOyal and
calling us a lazy, ignorant outfit.
Why? Because they realized that we
were on to their nefariOuS schemes
and could not be used as clay in the
pOtter'S hands any longer. They
knew we would vote for our interests
and our interest is not theirs; they
also thought by this abuse and mis-
representation, this farmers political
school" might be broken up, etc. We
have learned that we, the people, are
the government, in US is vested all
power and we should know how to use
this power for our freedom and enjoy
ment. This power is vested in a SIM
pie ballot, how necessary it is to cast
it properly. Under our form of gov
ernment we elect our representatives
and officers and by so doing we dele
gate our power to them.
We say by this action that we will
submit to and obey the laws passed
by these men, which is right. Our
duty as good citizens is, we should
know the meaning, kind and effect of
the legislation promised by the plat
forms of the political parties, before
We cast our ballot. We should not
vote for party name as we have done
for years. Principle and self interest
should control any sensible man, in
stead of partisan prejudice. The leg
islatiOn passed by these men forms
all the cog wheels and machinery of
this great government Of ours and if
these laws are not in the interest OF
the many or prove TO be in the inter-
est Of the classes and not the masses,
it is the fault Of the masses not at
tending to their political duties as
the classes have. The laws OF our
country, both state and national, are
either the veal or woe, the prosperity
or adversity of the many. l am glad
the industrial classes of this country
are realizing this status in the polit-
ical arena. / feel that the people OF