Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-05-06
Must Stop Pandering to Dem
agOgy.

mittee or the Republican League was
called in to consult as to the best man
ner of getting republican literature
before the people of the state.
Before I was called upon there had
been considerable talk among the mem
fers of the committee as to the amount
CO money needed to carry out It's plans
and how it should be raised. After
was through giving my views on the
subject as L was expected to, I asked
the privilege of saying word on the
money question, and it was granted. I
said to them in substance that I thought
the amount required of Shawnee county
could be raised in one hour if there was
any assurance that the party at the
next election would go into it on an
honest platform and not try to meet the
popullsts in their cry against corpora
tons; that we have got to go into the
contest on platform of honesty and
fair dealings with capital and labor, and
not on one that the demagogues might
construe into howl against corpora
lions and capital This talk of mine,
together with the last article that I
wrote and published il this paper, has
reached thousands of people over the
state, and in every instance that can
hear of has struck a chord which shows
that my views coincide with the better
element of our party all over the state.
One gentleman who stands among the
highest in the state says in a. letter to
me:
"For twenty years 7 have been dis
gruntled with the course certain leaders
of the republican party have taken in
this state. It has been scramble with
them to pander to the demagogues of
their color. You were the only editor
in the state in 1878 who had the cour-
age to make an open fight against
greenbackism, and you did it SO ably
that the backbone of that craze was
broken. A great party ought to lead
the people. not follow them; great
leader ought to. dictate the policy of his
party, and not be constantly trimming
his sails to secure votes. I am with
you heart and mind in your proposition
that We must come out square on an
honest platform and bold outspoken
declaration in favor of an honest pay
ment of debts and just protection of
all property. L would rather that the
state government should be wholly
under the control of populists than to
have such trucking as was done last
winter"
The writer of the above is mistaken
as to my being alone in denouncing the
greenback craze. Hon. T. Dwight
Thacher, then editor of the Lawrence
Journal, and Hon. Albert Griffin, then
editor of the Manhattan Nationalist,
stood squarely with me in that fight.
Another gentleman prominent in the
state, prominent as a journalist and
prominent as a good citizen, writes me
as follows:
"Your article strikes a responsive |
chord in my breast. Like you, am
tired of the fellows who are everlasting
ly catering to ignorance and vicious
ness. Some do it for popularity and |
some do it for Doodle, so that it is |
through demagogy or villaiuy, and in
either case it is dangerous to all prop |
erty rights and to government"
I see in pretended interview with a
prominent republican that he has been
as stating that corporations
had fixed Governor Lewelling SO that
be will probably not call an extra ses-
session of the legislature!" This is rank
aemagogism and catering for the votes
Of the ignorant and vicious. I do not
believe myself that Governor Lewelling
could be ''fxed" in the manner this gen.
;leman stated, but I think I know that
5he corporations are not fixing any,
body at the present, and have not been
'or long time. I am well aware, as I
nave stated before, that men of all par
les during the last session of the legis-
ATTIRE put themselves in position to
De ''fxed'' to stop bad legislation, but
according to my informa-
ion, fixed" nobody and did not spend
! dollar; and doubt if they ever do it
again, if they have before.
Another gentleman writing me says:
81 think your views are eminently
ound and that there must be a reaction
rom this absurd prejudice against cor
,orations, without which, as you say,
Kansas would still be wilderness, as
indeed would be almost the entire coun-
~. An individual may come into
ity, county or state and set up his
get all the advantage of a
handsome profit from furnishing service
II material to the public at his own
rice, regulated, of course. by the
Iatursl laws of trade and competition.
lie is protected in the control of his
by the state and has the very
,reat advantage of being able to CON I