The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1893-09-13

NAANA ENSENN
eide this case, would loyal man, with a
knowledge of these infamous, treacherous acts
and conduct ON the part Of his own party, &C
into the hall of representatives and vote fol
one Of the very men directly interested in this
! scheme Of robbery for clerk of the house,
/ Would you do it? Would any loyal man do iti
Now, then, again: Brother Powers can't plead
/ ignorance. He writes down here to Winfield
(see how slick he does itl to some Of the fel
lows to boost him up. "Send me some tele
grams; l need propping up; send me some
kilograms to stay with the Douglass house
The kilograms are sent aud some nOnentity
fellow signs W. P. Hackneys name to one. Mr.
Hackney got on to it, and he wrote Brother
Powers letter. 1t is holy terror; have got
a copy Of it. and am going to read it, Zap
plause.l How did get this letter? Voice in
the audience: "You stole it") No, sir; didn't
steal 1t, am honest; the only difference be-
tween George Washington and me Is that
George couldn't tell lie-I can, but won't
How did l get this? In conversation with
Brother Powers here few months ago, on the
steps in front Of my Office, asked him II he
hadn't got letter from Mr. Hackney. He said
yes. l asked him to show it to me. "Oh, it is
personal property" he says II can't do 1t with
out Mr.. Hackney's consent" II get an order
from Mr.. Hackney for copy of that letter
will you let me have it? Certainly, but 1t IL
personal property; it is private matter, and
1 can't do it without Mr. Hackney's permis'
sion" So goes to Bill. l says, l want you to
raise your right hand and look heavenward
and tell me the truth. Did you write F. &
Powers letter while he was at Topeka last
winter? He has admitted you wrote him a
letter. and is willing 1 shall read the letter
provided you will give me an order so to do.
Bill says: II will not only do that; l will give
you copy of it myself [Applause.l Here is
the letter; it Is in Mr.. Hackneys handwriting
and Powers won't say it is not true copy,
This is the way it reads:
WINFIELD, KAs., February 2, 1893
/ Hon. F. G. POlUerS Topeka, KdS.:
DEAR SIR am just informed that tele-
grams have been sent you with my name
! signed to them since you have been in Topeka.
l hasten to inform you | have not sent tele-
gram to you or anybody else In Topeka For
reasons satisfactory to myself, some Of which
you are familiar with have a suspicion that
the action OF the canv assing board was not
free from taint of fraud, and have no sympa-
thy with the fight that is being made by the
republican party under the leadership OF Geo
L. Douglass, and know that the corporate in
terest of this state Is dominating the manage
ment Of the republican party in this contest In
their own interest. believe the quickest way
to return confidence in the republican policy
is to let the people have what they want, and
you and both know that the voice OF the peo.
pie Is almost unanimous in favor OF railroad
legislation; and you and both know that they
ment as now constituted. And your interest
and that Of our party will be subserved by let
ting the Populists have their way, and my
judgment is that you have made all Of the sac
rihces that you can afford to make; and II |
was in your place, | would save my political
bacon by breaking with the republican caucus
and combine. Such action on your part will
be to the interest Of your constituents, and OF
the whole people OF the state Of Kansas.
w. p. HACKNEY.
Let me comment on this letter briefly
"Winield, Kas February 2, 1S93." That is about
the time that the trouble was beginning up
there at Topeka. "Honorable," Great God AL
mighty, listen to that. Honorable F. &. Pow
ers, Topeka, Kas., Dear Sir:-I am just informed
that kilograms have been sent you with my
name signed to them since you have been in
Topeka. l hasten to inform you that have
not sent any telegram to you or anybody else
in Topeka" That sounds like Bill, doesn't it?
"For reasons"-Now, mark his language; this
was never expected to be made public at the
time 1t was written; Bill expected that the
loyalty Of the man Powers would stimulate
the man to raise himself out Of the mire and
be man, as Cowley county wanted him
TO be.
"For reasons satisfactory to myself, some Of
which you are familiar with, have a suspic-
ion that the action Of the canyassing board
was not free from taint Of fraud, and have no
sympathy with the fight that is being made
by the republican party under the leadership
of G. L. Douglass, and know that the corpo-
q. ac...l ~