Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-16
POLITICS IN KANSAS.
An Attempt to Clearly Mark the
Party Lines.
PROHIBITION AND WOMAN SUFFRAGE
Two Issues That Split the RepubIi
can Vote.
DEMOCRATS REORGANIZING.

special Dlspatch TO The Evening Star.
TOPEKA, Kan. Dec. 18.-The politics Of
recent disastrous defeat of the populists in
the county elections has caused a stam-
pede among the leaders, and they are un-
able to agree as to the course to be pur-
sred in the future. Many of them advise
the abandonment Of the existing organiza-
ton for the purpose of forming a new party
with a one-plank platform-the free and un-
limited coinage Of silver at the ratio OF
10 to 1. They believe that such O party
would take into its membership all popu-
lists and the wings of the republican and
democratic parties which favor free coin
age. If that combination were possible the
proposed new party would indeed be formid-
able in Kansas, but a great many populists
oppose the scheme. believing they can yet
rally on the old peoples party platform and
score another victory.
On local state issues, too, the populists
are divided into innumerable factions, each
charging their reverses to the other. With
these conditions existing 1t does not seem
possible that the populists will be able to
make very strong campaign next year.
But II harmony and unison are lacking in
the peoples party they are also wanting
in the republican and democratic parties.
With prohibition and woman suffrage as
live issues there is little prospect OF the
republicans getting together. The anti-pro-
hibition republicans in 1870 bolted the ticket
to the number of II, wv and voted for Chas.
Robinson, the democratic nominee for gov
ernor, because the republican platform de-
clared in favor Of prohibition. They Will
do this next year in still greater numbers
should prohibition again be made test OF
republicanism, as now seems certain.
On the other hand, should the convention
adopt the Iowa plan and fail to adopt q
declaration in favor of prohibition, the radi-
cal wing of the party will bolt and go over
to the straight prohibitionsts, as they have
already threatened to do, and that TO 4O.OOO
strong. Woman suffrage may be kept out
OF the platform, but If it is Incorporated, II
will form new complications. 1t would seem
that the republican party of Kansas IL be-
tween two fires and is liable to be scorched,
no matter which way IL turns.
On state issues the democratic party IL a
unit. Its members are unanimous in their
opposition to both woman suffrage and pro-
hibition. On party policy or expediency
they are divided. Many of them favor any
combination with any other party which will
promise defeat to the republicans, while
another wing, composed of those who stand
by President Cleveland and his administra-
ton, insist that the party should act inde-
pendently and make a straightforward fight
regardless OF the chances of success. This
wing is steadily gaining In strength, and
there is little doubt that by the time the
campaign opens, 1t will embrace all the
democrats in the state. The democratic
organization Is badly demoralized. The
chairman of the state committee, w. &.
Jones. abandoned the recent local campaign
In Kansas and spent all his time as an Office
broker In Washington. For this, and the
further reason that the democrats fused
with the populists in 1872, II has virtually
lost its Identity and must be completely re-
organized again, which work is now in the
hands of a number of leaders, who intend
to GUST Jones and the old committee and
put the party management In other hands.
With very little work the party can be raj
lied and put in good shape for the coming
campaign. Everything considered. the dem
ocrats are in much better shape to make
pronounced gains than either republicans
or populists are to hold their own.
An analysis of the vote Of recent years
demonstrates this fact. The total vote poll
ed at last months election was 5000 less
than the vote of 1902. Estimating that the
exodus from Western Kansas caused by
crop failure and the opening of the Chero-
kee Strip took 25,000 votes out of the state,
interest In the campaign and did not 60 to
the polls.
There is good reason for believing that
two-thirds or three-fourths OF these 60000
voters We're democrats. They felt that
there was little at stake for them this year.
In many counties they had no tickets and
in others they realized that they were
hopelessly in the minority. and made no
stances democrats, approaching the fact
that their own ticket could not win. voted
with either the republicans or populists.
When the campaign is opened next year,
all of the stay-at-home democrats, the fu-
sionists and straight-outs will be in line in
one compact organization ready to enlist re-
cruits from the anti-prohibition and anti
woman suffrage republicans, as well as from
disorganized populist forces.
While ii does not seem possible that a
straight democratic ticket can win in Kan
sas next year. still there are good politicians
who believe that such a result is more than
possible as the outcome of the unsettled
chaotic condition which now exists. David
Overmyer, a well-known lawyer OF Topeka,
Is already conceded the democratic nomina-
ton for governor. and his friends say he
can be elected and Kansas redeemed II the
national committee will help him. In 1885,
10000 democratic votes were polled in
Kansas. In 1890 Charles Robinson, the
democratic candidate for governor, received
$1,000 votes. about $4,000 less than the
populist candidate, and 80 900 less than the
republican candidate. 1t would require but
slight change to swell Robinson's vote
into a plurality. Many democrats believe
that party can win In Kansas next year,
while republicans Of course. laugh at the
idea
A IMMATURE REPUBLIC.