The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1893-09-13
The Speech in Which Ben s, Henderson
Exposes a Republican Plot,
He Uses Republicans as Witnesses to Con-
denim Themselves es-TOuChes Up the
Chief Justice and Makes
a Strong Case,


nent republican politicians made by Ben
S. Henderson in a speech at Winfield
August 10. Since then the speech has
been transcribed from the stenogrsphic
notes, and that part Of it referring to the
attempted felony is given below. In the
beginning Of the speech, Mr.. Henderson
made some personal reference to men
who had threateningly dared him to
make the charges, and then plunged into
the main subject. He said:
Now, remember what say Of these fellows;
if it is not true, will have laid myself liable
to prosecution for libel, the punishment for
which is not exceeding twelve months in the
county jail and fine of $1,000 haven't got
the $1,000, dead sure, and would hate awful
bad to lay twelve months, or even one months
in the county Jail; but If l willfully tell q
falsehood here to-day, in other words, what
the Courier calls "lie"-that Is the word be-
lieve-I dare either one of the men whose
names l shall mention to go to the county at
torney and file a complaint against me for
libel. mean just what l say.
Before l touch upon that question, let me
touch little upon the question Of our state
politics, and about the socalled rebellious
house up there that you have heard so much
about. am not here to-day for the purpose of
apologizing for what is called the Dunsmore
house. l shall never enter upon the stump in
Kansas to offer any apologies for what those
men did. ! say this, however, that majority,
or in other words, that every man who was
member of the so-called DunsmOre house was
elected by vote Of the people Of the various
legislative districts in which they resided;
but l further declare that the Canvassing
board, which was republican from head to
foot, save and except the attorney general land
he was driven out Of the room as it were), have
wilfully and deliberately, in their canvass,
stolen from the Populists the certificates that
under the law of justice, and the law Of Al
mighty God, and the law of right were ours.
And declare further that the so-called Doug
lass house relied for their standing upon that
canvass, and never once was avoice uttered in
defense of the proposition that their men were
elected, If you will examine the records, you
will find that in every instance where an
utterance was made upon that subject. they
simply said: "FrOm the canvass, we have
majority" Another thing. This sO-called Doug
lass house, when these men entered the hall Of
representatives of the state of Kansas, after
their caucus in which they decided upon the
election of Geo. L. Douglass as speaker. Mr..
Douglass, not as patriotic men have done here
tofore in Kansas, takes gavel, rams 1T down
into his overcoat pocket and marches into the
hall of representatives with the determination
of being speaker of that body.
Another thing, my republican friends, Iwant
you to remember; l want you to take it home
with you and digest it if you can. The Duns-
more house, by legislation in harmony with
the senate, and approved by the governor Of
the state of Kansas, for the first time in the
history Of the state, carried out the principles
of that platform by enacting those principles
into law. [Applause.l
Did the Douglass house do that? No sir. We
had man there from this county, q good-look-
ingman; he said he was going to be down here
"a voice in the crowd,"He is here'), an elegant
gentleman. Mr.. F. G. Powers Is the man to
whom refer. MI Powers went up there. Let
us call Mr. Powers up here and make witness
out Of him for little while.
Brother Powers, when you went to Topeka
did you know anything about these fellows
down here in Cowley county attempting to
steal 300 votes? Yes, knsw it. Brother Pow
ers, did you have any conversation with the
republican state central committee in Topeka,
or any member thereof, concerning an attempt
on the part Of the republican party Of Kansas
to steal 1900 votes? Yes, did; but dOr't crowd
me Brother Powers, you have stood on the
streets of Winfield since the close Of the legis-
lature, and at every opportunity you have
taken pains to declare yourself as a loyal man