The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-06-04
WILL SURELY BOLT.
Anti Lewelling Populists Will Not
BE Pacided.
A STATE MASS MEETING CALLED
To Assemble at Topeka ON June Il L to
Protest Against LeweIlIng's RenOm-
In tIOn-HOW the Machine Crushed
Out Opposition at the Shawnee

strikers, il did not voice the sentiment of
a large section of the Populists of To-
peka and Shawnee county, and there is
no longer any doubt that the renomina-
ton of Lewelling will cause a bolt in the
party. Noah Allen plainly says he will
not vote for Lewelling, and although
Allen is supposed by some politicians not
to have much influence, it is a fact never
theless that he voices the sentiment of a
very large number of Populists who are
dissatisfied with the present state gov
eminent, but who do not take part in the
party. The silent Populist vote is
strongly opposed to Lewelling.
John G. Otis is a representative of this
class Of voters, and although an effort
was made to pacify him by putting him
on the tail end of the delegation to the
won't be '.quieted." Otis will be on the
floor of the state convention and will
make fight there against machine poll
tics. He does not say he will bolt Lew
elling's nomination, he is too shrewd to
say that before LeweIIing is nominated,
but it is known that he will either vote
against Lewelling or will stay away from
the polls should the present administra-
ton win in the state convention.
Mr.. Otis represents the old fashioned
Performers" of Kansas who are never
tightly bound by party lines, and no
up to their standard of right They num-
Der thousands of voters in Kansas.
The Populist county convention ended
in general unpleasantness Saturday
night, but with the administration well
seated in the saddle and ex-Congress-
man John G. Otis, Noah Allen aud w.
III. Bennington completely routed.
There was good sprinkling of anti
administration men in the convention, but
they could not stand up against the ma
chine.
When C. j. Stanley, an -Lewelling
man, appointed chairman of the
committee on resolutions the anti-fusion
Populists thought they would have
chance to get even, but their prospects
were spoiled by the appointment of G.
G. Clemens as a member of the commit
tee.
The committee had a long fight, but
Clemens won by compromise, by which
the administration was to be neither
commended nor condemned, and the re-
port of the committee as presented was
adopted. The resolution was as follows:
"We, your committee on resolutions
submit the following report: That while
re-affirming the Omaha platform and
the doctrine of equal rights for all, spe-
cial privileges to none, we are of the
opinion that this convention was called
for the sole purpose of electing honest
men as delegates to our state and con-
gressional conventions and therefore ask
TO be discharged from the further con-
sideration of resolutions
G. J. STANLEY, chairman"
While the convention was waiting for
the committee to selec. delegates to re-
port, Noah Allen and W. FL. Bennington
were called for and made speeches, both
bitterly denouncing the administration.
Bennington referred to the violation of
the prohibitory law and the running of
gambling dens and policy shops in Kan
= ~
ministration of protiting from those
''dens of iniquity." He said, II don't
charge that Governor Lewelling ever re-
ceived dishonest dollar. Not a dis
honest dollar. He is simply fool for
lack of sense"
The crowd was with the governor and
there were loud cries of ats lie," "It's
a ie," "Sit down. s"Sit down" These
cries were kept up so long and loud that
Bennington could not be heard for sew
eral minutes when @. G. Clemens
trembling with excitement arose to his
the audience and the noise ceased.
Clemens said: ''Let him finish and then
l will settle him."
Clemens kept his word and he
scored first Bennington and then Allen.
The crowd yelled "Hit 'em again."
"Sick 'em," "Once MORE" "Shoot it at
Allen"
Clemens said he had been in favor of
one term nominations, but the kind of
talk he had heard in this convention had
made him change his mind. He said he
expected to be a delegate to the state
convention and would consider it his duty
to work for the denomination and vindi-
cation of Governor Lewelling.
When the committee announced the
list of delegates to the state and con-
gressional conventions, Mr.. Clemens
looked wild His name was not among
those sent to the state convention, al
though he was reported as delegate to
EmpOria-
When the secretary had finished read
ing the list of delegates, Clemens arose
and in voice which trembled he said:
ITO save further trouble / want to say
right here l won't be delegate to the
congressional convention. If 1 haven't
done enough for the party and the peo-
pies cause to entitle me to a seat in the
state convention, then l want to quit"
George Wagner, of the Advocate, who
had been reported as chairman of the
delegation to the state convention, in
order to avoid further trouble. asked to
have Clemens given his place, and it was
finally arranged that Clemens should go
to the state convention, and Wagner to
the congressional convention.
The committee reporting the list of
delegates to the two conventions, report
ed a supplementary resolution instruct
ing the delegates to Emporia to support
John G. Otis for the nomination for con-
gress-
Under the rules this resolution was re-
ferred to the committee on resolutions,
and that committee killed it.
Mr.. Otis denounced the administration
and Lewelling in particular, but the
convention would not call up the resolu-
tions.
The convention was ready to adjourn