The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-07-14

TOPEKA. July 1S.-It is settled that Mrs
Lease will not work for the Populist state
ticket this year. That was decided yester-
day when she made her speech here and
ignored Lsweliing and all the candidates
on the ticket with him.
Mrs. Lease is recognized as the most in
iuential single person among the Popalists
and her support of the ticket was a thug
greatly TO be desired by the Populists
Much as they deride her in public, they
fear her and realize that her inactivity will
be costly.
The passing of the Gle" between Mrs.
Lease and Mrs. Diggs at the demonstra-
tiOn here yesterday, is not without its part
in the trouble. Mrs. Diggs is AN admins
tration follower, and Mrs. Lease uudsT-
stands it. and hates both Mrs. Digs and
the administration in consequence.
Yesterday when Governor W ate had
spouted his dry address at the crowd. Mrs.
Digs took up the Pullman strike aud
after speaking at some length proposed a
collection for the strikers.
Mrs. Lease had sat quietly all through
the speechifyiug aud when cries were
made for her from all sides, though not on
the program, she arose ana made for the
front Fred Close saw her coming and
be said that the administration had MIS-
used her IN any way.
Mrs. Lease. too. devoted herself to the
discussion of the Pullman strike, but
finally swung around upon Kansas mat
ters with statement that produced ex-
element and wonder and CONSERVATION
among the Popullst leaders.
Il rejoice to find that certain individu.
ais. who at one time knew nothing outside
of one little Ism, prohibition, and one who
tslegrapbed over the wires that the PeO-
pies party was dead aud that the governor
was "A traitor, are now IN the Peoples
party"
Little Mrs. Diggs sprang excitedly TO
the side of Mrs. Lease and reaching her
hand out over the railing TO the crowd,
shouted eXcltedly: That's lie, that's a
lie"
Mrs. Lease lowered over her slight
figure AMI said calmly. though with EN-
phasis: II have the floor. Iwould like to
see any one undertake 10 keep Mrs. Lease
from talking to the people of Kansas
They would have too great contract on
their hands. bigger one than George NJ.
Pullman has"
a voice-"Keep from personalities
then"
U1Rble to obtain a hearing. Mrs. Diggs
retired gracefully and sat down again IN
the rear of the stage.
Mrs. Lease continued and referred to
the present situation OF the laboring men
OF this country at length, saying that she
had recently been close to the doors of
death aud had at that time cOnsecrSted her
life, should 1t he spared TO her, 10 the
Cause of labor. Her remarks were greeted
with great applause. though at no time
did she say anything In support OF the
present administration or mention their
names in any way. On every side were
inquiries, "Why don't she commit her
self?" But from start 20 finish she avoided
references to Lewellin2.
This is no time for personal wrangleS,"
she said "Thi, is no time fer any woman
10 stand upon this platform and brand an
other as a liar in the see of this great au
dienCe. If | could touch the heart of that
sc-called reform woman with pity for the
conditions which this day confront this
people-but we must stop wrangling aud
personalities"
Mrs. Lease again went to work on the
Pullman strike, and It looked as If the
trouble was over, when a man In tue audi
euce asked the questions:
rs it true. Mrs. Lsase, that you have
gone over TO the PROM bltion partJP
81 want TO say 10 You hat 40 far as the
suppression of the liquor traffic is con-
Cerned | am an ahOhtlOnist. But l
de-pise women who call Othsrs- liars. Now
if there IS anything else you want to ask,
fire away"
In conclusion she announced that she
was a Populist and that she challenged
David Overmyer to meet her in debate
upon the woman's suffrage question.