St. Paul daily globe., 1893-12-30
MRS. LEASE SEEKS GORE.

w EGS. II "a - II Sc shS GO(E.
Kansas, like many of the Central and
South American states, is i'll chronic
state OF eruption. Whether the state
government is nominally In control of
Democrats or Republicans, Pooulists or
Prchibitionlsts, there is invariably 4
row Oh hand that keeps the people of
the state in constant ferment, and by
turns amuSeS, interests or disgusts the
people of the rest of the country. The
black republic of Hayti occasionally
enjoys brief intervals of peace; the
crank state of Kansas is never at rest.
Its long-haired men and Short-haired
women are never at a loss to find some
thing to fight and quarrel about. If
they fail to disagree on one point they
will succeed on another, and as long as
the contention is fast and furious they
exist in state of beatitude.
Mrs. Mary Ellen Lease has for several
years been a tecund cause of disputes.
She began her political career as a
champion of woman'S enfranchisement,
and ber addresses contributed not a
little towards securing for the weaker
sex those political rights which the
strong-minded so ardentIy craved. This
issue determined. Mrs. Lease became
an apostle of Populism. She made many
speeches-a at $50 a speech-in advocacy
of the cause and the candidates Of the
party Itcarried the election. and Mrs.
Lease demanded her reward. more pre-
cious than gold or siiver-an Office. She
got it. The governor she had helped to
elect named her as a member of the
state board of charities. Here she pro-
ceeded to raise good deal of hades on
her watch. Things didn't go to suit
her. There were two Republicans, two
Populists and one Democrat on
the board, and the various state
institutions were managed by appointees
of preceding Republican boards. She
demanded the heads of the latter, to the
end that the Offices might be given to
people of approved loyalty to the Popu-
list cause. They refused 10 resign, and
the governor could not remove them in
the absence of legal cause. But Mrs.
Lease would not be satisfied. She de-
manded that cause be created-insisted
that opposition to her wishes was cause
sufficient for the removals-and gave
the governor no peace by day, nor rest
by night, by reason of her importuni-
ties. At last the governor grew weary.
He came to the conclusion that Mrs.
Lease was a shrew, and that by giving
her an appointment he had become
welded to her in esSe, if not i'll posse.
With one bold stroke he issued all
edict Of enforcement, and Mrs. Lease is
no longer All officeholder of the state of
Kansas.
But this does not end the disturbance.
ContrariwiSe, it looks as if it were but
the beginning of hostilities. Mrs. Lease
Swears-and when woman swears look
ont for fun-that she will have the gov
ernor's scalp to dangle at her belt. and
that right speedily. She will not peace
ably surrender her Office, but will go to
the courts to sustain her, and, falling
in that. will appeal to the court Of final
resort--the people for vindication and
her salary.
Before throwing down the gauge Of
battle to Mrs. Lease, Gov. Lewelling
ought to have recalled Byron's declara-
ton that 'Hell hath no fury like woman
scorned." He will realize that the poet
was posted before he gets through with
Mrs. Lease. Her dander Is up; her
war-palnt is on; ber war cry is already
echoing and re-eehoing over the
barrens and cornfelds of the Sun
flower state. She cries for blood,
and, like Gov. Waite, Of Colo
RADIO, she doesn't care if she
has to wade through the san
culinary fluid up to her horses
bride. And when Mrs. Lease says a
thing she means it. She carries quiver
full of sharp-pointed arrows, and each
arrow is barbed aud poisoned. When they
strike they hurt, and hurt badly. Her
tongue is sharp aud bitter. and she will
use it without mercy. The poor gov
ernor will no doubt wish that he were
once more friendless, pennilesS tramp
in the streets of Chicago, instead of the
governor of the crank commonwealth of
| Kansas, before she has done with mis-
! castigation.
Butthe people.a as we'll as the governor,
| will suffer. For the diatribes of Mrs.
| Lease will be published and read. They
will no doubt be enjoyed by some who
delight to witness the torture of their
fellows-men who in youth were prone
to impale flies upon pins-but in the
mass of the people they will only excite
a feeling of WEAKNESS and disgust. But
there is no hope that this cup of bitter.
ness will pass from US. We will be
| compelled to drain it to the dregs, nc
matter how much we may revolt against
it. For Mrs. Lease is On the war-path
and will make Kansas howl and heI
| governor squlrm.