The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-06-13
HAMLIN GARLAND HERE.

One of the Most Brilliant Literary Men
in the Country Visits Us.
Hamlin Garland, the we'll known nov
elist and single tax advocate arrived in
Topeka this morning.
He Is a handsome man and wears
neatly trimmed full beard His eyes are
piercing in their brilliance and he talks
with fluent eloquence.
He sat near the front of the stage of
the Populist convention and manifested
deep interest in the suffrage fight
"YOu can see where / staud,'' said he
to JOURNAL reporter; "My sympathies
are with this movement and that is why
/ am here. This suffrage sentiment is
en0rmo1s-it is immense 1t puts the
party on the line upon which it always
stood.
"The fact that Miss Anthony, Miss
Shaw and Mrs. Johns came forward and
put on Populist badges is important and
will have far reaching effect
"The thinking people of the east will
now know that the Populists Of Kansas
are consistent Here they are rough and
unkempt with hands hardened by toll,
but after alI-they are the people,"
"What is the condition of the suffrage
question in the east?"
"The thinking men and women in the
east are in favor of the movement You
would be surprised to see that the fash
ionable women of the cities are in favor
of the movement and are doing what
they can for it
"It would have been death-a terrible
stain on the Peoples party if they had
defeated this resolution today" con-
tinued Mr.. Garland with enthusiasm.
would not have addressed this cOnven-
ton if they had When a reform party
enters the field and wins, it is in
danger. There is no trouble go long
as they stand no chance of electing their
ticket, but when they win they are apt
to fall under the infiuencefof political
trimmers and machine politicians.
"The thinking people of the east re-
spect the people of Kansas. 1 don't
know Governor Lewelling, but I stand
by him because he dared to speak out for
houseless and homeless trampa The peo-
pie of the east are with Kansas, and il is
only the cruel and heartless press that is
against them.'<
In speaking of his attitude on the Pop
ulist platform, Mr. Garland said: 81 do
not believe in everything they do. / am
opposed to free silver and the income
and eqality before the law and nature, |
am with them. When the Peoples party
can simplify it's platform and get into
line completely, it will sweep the whole
country"
"Are you a socialist of the William
Dean Howells kindf"
mo, l am an individualist. Mr..
HoweIls has never seen the far reaching
effect of free land. There are two great
classes of people; one tending toward
socialism and the other toward less gov
eminent My motto is this: l stand for
absolute freedom for man, woman and
child, provided that it does not interfere
with the right of any one else.
4 81 believe in the public ownership of
public properties, but in the private
ownership of private properties. No
monopoly can exist except government
favoritism is present. If the government
does grant private monopoly to indivWu-
ais it should require the annual value of
the property back in taxes. The point
of contact between myself and my
socialistic friends is that 1
believe in the naturalization of
ground rent I also believe in the gov
ernment control of transmission of intel
ligence. The telegraph system could be
made part of the postal system-and
the postal savings banks might also be
practicable. 1 believe in the government
owership of the road beds of railroads,
but that they should be leased to indi-
viduals for operation.
s'There is big movement on this line
in the United States and have
been surprised to see the intelligent and
prominent men who are falling in line.
sit is rather queer. isn't it, that l
should talk like politician and politi-
cal economist, when l am just a novel
ist? But haven't time to talk of any
thing else now"