The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-06-07

Harmony is very pretty word but it
has no place in the Demo-Pop-jingo
element or elements in Kansas this year
at least not now.
The meeting of the nti-administra-
ton Peoples party league of Shawnee
county, at the court house last night as
it named itself, to 3protest against ma
chine politics., fusion deals and corrupt
methods employed by the administra-
ton; to give ear to the voice of true Pop
ulism," was anything but frigid and for
NAL and was at times so suItry that many
OF the participants were singed to a more
or less extent.
The anti-administration movement
grows out of the row in the POpulist
county convention last Saturday-osten-
sibly. In reality it seems to be the fresh
opening of old sores that have been
bothering certain members of the party
OF the people since the present governor
came into power. The power now in
and which desires to stay in-has no hes
itancy IN charging that the fellows run
ming the organized opposition to Level
ling are mad because they did not
succeed in getting their abdominal pro-
portions next to the pie counter.
The meeting last night was fraught
with discomfort Ex- Congressman John
@. Otis presided and Ed Corning was
selected as secretary.
In taking the chair Mr.. Otis said that
as he understood it the meeting had been
called to protest against machine politics
and the corrupt methods of the present
Populist administration generally, and
to demand that prohibition and equal
suffrage planks be put in the party plat
form. al not satisfied with the course
of the Republican party nor the present
administration in regard to these ques-
tions," said Mr.. Otis. E'If they have been
cowardly enough to dodge it, it is no rea-
son why we should. Our party should
take high grounds on these great moral
and vital issues" At this there was
wild applause and W. H. Ben
nington called to the
floor according to programme.
81 do not propose to fall in line with
any party" said he, ''that does not repre-
sent me a reformer and d Populist
under the Omaha platform. There can
be question but that the present Pop
ulist administration under Gov. Level
ling has been catering to the saloons and
slum elements of the state ever since its
Inauguration. This is breaking faith
with the true Populist party and [ repel
it If there is not change l shall op-
pose the party and its nominee at the
polls. The cowardly charge has been
made that we are mad because we got no
pie. [ consider that assertion
too contemplate to answer. l OPP
posed the administration in its
first acts and in its damnabIe en-
deavor to make Democrat John Martin
United States senator. The man who
says l did not is contemplate cur. l
did ask for office, but, although l was
endorsed by the Populist party of the
county, | didn't get it, but l don't care
for that There is no question that our
administration by prearrangement with
the slum and liquor and disOrderly ele
ments, is now under the direct control of
the dives and joints and gam blers. It
toll al Icrhf to rfh oil h0
cussedness of this administration. 1t has
never failed to appoint Democrats where
Populists should have been appointed,
and | will make it my duty to oppose it
to the end"
Mr. Bennington sat down amid APP
plause, to make room on the floor for
Cyrus Corning, whose cork was fast be-
coming inadequate to the retention of
his wrath
Mr.. Corning has no lamp with which
to guide his feet, but the lamp of expert
ence, and in the matter of reforms" his
is of several hundred candle power. The
audience foated patiently with Mr. Corn
ing down the stream of time from the
E'late'' war of the rebellion and followed
his winding path through reform after
reform and by defeat after defeat with a
patient trust that wearied not but which
did not begin to assert itself until he
touched with feeling on the present stu
alton. The first thing that attracted the
speakers particular wrath was the alb
sence of Mrs. Lease from the state dur
ing the last campaign.
"Mrs. Lease" roared the old man, "that
grand exponent of liberty, was struck
down because she was not in line with
Democracy No woman was allowed to
speak because fusion deal had been
made with the Democrats and Demo-
Gratis didn't like women speakers.
"At one time during that campaign it
was suggested that Mrs Anna Collins
speak for the Populist at Fort Scott l
had the bills printed at my own expense
and sent them to the chairman OF the
county, with request that he distribute
them. And what then? In a few
days / received letter say
ing that it would be impossible
to allow Mrs. Collins to speak there. She
would probably talk in favor of suffrage
and prohibition and that would not please
the Democrats, and she must not come.
The letter was written land signed by
man now assistant in the office of that
BreidenthaI"
The speakers son afterward told
JOURNAL reporter that the man referred
to was NJ. A. Waterman.
Mr.. Corning took drink of water and
proceeded: "Mrs. Lease was driven from
the state and tabooed by her own party
in the capital because she was not IN
touch with Democratic Chairman Jones.
Immediately after his inauguration the
governor went over to the Democrats,
and he has been their willing tool ever
since. He has had appointed Demo
cratic police judges in the cities of the
first class, and the result is that saloons,
dives and gam bling dens are running
unrestricted even in the governors own