Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-16
EQUAL SUFFRAGE IN KANSAS.
Political Parties Must Soon Show
Their Hands.

Their Hands.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
TOPEKA, Kan, March il, 1894.
The time is near at hand In Kansas when
the political parties must show their hand,
On the equal suffrage proposition. At the
general election the voters of the state will
decide whether the women shall become
electors and eligible to hold office. The
leaders in the movement among the women
not only of the United States but in Kan
sas are not willing for the political parties
to ignore this question in their platforms,
but will insist upon declaration for wo-
mans acknowledgements. They say they
want to know who their friends are. They
know that the democrats will oppose il, and
of course must look to the republicans and
populists for the necessary support TO carry
the constitutional amendment Through.
Out of the los populist county conven-
tons held last year in Kansas more than
two-thirds OF them adopted ringing resolu-
tions declaring or equal suffrage. In fact,
the populist sentiment was so strong that
way that the republicans became alarmed,
and many Of the leaders opened their eyes
to a situation that promised them no end
OF trouble in this years campaign. The
popuIst leaders were earnest in their sup
port or the suffrage question, and believed
that by championlng the measure it would
insure the election of their ticket next No
Vember But change has come over the
populist leaders, and now none of them will
advance an opinion on this perplexing ques-
ton. There are those who essay to explain
this radical change of front. 1t Is current
political gossip that the democrats, who
mold the balance of power in Kansas, will
refuse to lend any assistance to the pop
ulists in the approaching campaign if that
party champions the suffrage question 1t
is believed that under no conditions could
a. ~ -.
If the populists declared in favor of wo-
man suffrage. Democrats who claim to
know say that the fixing of the date Of the
democratic state convention on July was
Tor the purpose Of testing the good faith
OF the populists who have agreed to ignore
the suffrage question in their platform If
the democrats will join them in the support
OF combination ticket.
Mrs. Lease and Her Friends.
Mrs. Lease and her friends in the suffrage
movement believe such combination
against the suffrage amendment has been
entered into by the leaders of the two par
ties named. This is evidenced by the
charges of treacnery recently made by Mrs
Lease against Gov. Lewelling and others
prominent in the populist party. The most
bitter denunciation of these men has ap-
peared in the New Era. a paper which is
fighting the administration .and in which
article is believed to have been written by
Mrs. Lease before her departure for the
east 1t says:
Ever since we have had a reform polit-
zeal organization battling for human rights
It's central thought has been the advance
ment or women, with view of placing
them upon the same plane of rights and
privileges upon which mel move and act.
Equal rights 10 all and special privileges to
none came 20 woman as message from on
n ma 70 all fh.
OF her being. In that mighty, magnificent
orSaniza lion of bread winners-the L arm
ers' Alliance-with this motto streaming on
her banners. she saw the day star Of her
lonS-cheriShed hopes, and with willing
hands and throbbing heart she made the
prairies of Kansas vocal with the praise Of
this promising organization. 1t grew. She
was part of its growth. She was in ev-
erything it did. Mighty crowds gathered,
ana woman's voice thrilled inspired those
vast audiences, and her willing hands added
TO the comfort of all. The earth trembled
with the plaudits of men in her behalf A
new thought, a new energy, a new life, had
come to the sleeping Masses. Woman, with
one accord. was declared the 'uncrowned
queea' OF the home, and by the side of man
she should climb to the heights OF greatness
and grandeur.
This grand organizat ton went into poll
tics. The party with which this organiza-
ton chose to affiliate took up the same cry
in behalf of woman, and the women of this
state gave to this new party their best en-
ergies. and marvellous were the results.
But now these trusting women, viewing
the work of their hands, venture to ask of
their brothers a practical test OF their pro-
LESSONS. when, 10, there is slence-an op-
pres5ive silence-all along the lines of re-
form. The reform press is cowardly silent
on the question of the suffrage amendment.
No man can tell where it stands Why?
When the men wanted help the women of
Kansas willingly gave it. Now that they
want help. the men-sreat, brainy editors
are silent. Why?
They have heard the voice of that arch
traitor in camp. They are preparing for
fusion with democrats. Democracy is anti
woman suffrage. The same spirit that con-
trolle1 the peoples party in 1892 and boy
cotted women is controlling yet.
There can be no advance movement by
the peoples party in the interest of the peo-
pie and for the special benefit OF the women
while the trading politicians rule and by
well-known methods substitute the press.
Let the women OF Kansas speak out and
demand the proper alignment of political
parties. Let them demand definite utter
ances from the press. and to enforce ODE
dlence to the great law of right let the wo-
men Of this commonwealth withhold their
aid and influence from those political or
Plantations too cowar1ly TO speak, or when
speaking, declare themselves against the
movement"
The Republican Position.
Mrs. Laura NJ. Johns. president Of the
hdnSdS tl4udl suffrage ASSOCIATION, does
not agree with Mrs. Lease and the popuist
women. She says the amendment will fare
better at the hands of the men of Kansas
if it is not made partisan question. Mrs.
Johns is a republican. and is not in favor
Of the party Incorporating the suffrage
question in the platform. She argues that
the voters ought to be left free to act on
this matter So that the supporters of the
amendment can work among people OF all
political faiths. This view of the case is
heartily indorsed by the republican leaders,
who want to avoid the mention of that
question and prohibition in their platform.
1t is safe to predict that neither the pop
ulists or the republicans will declare for
equal suffrage in their party platforms. If
this prediction is verified the third party
prohibi-ionists. headed by eX-Gov. ST. John,
VIII Edorse the measure. and the chances
are that 1t will give that element in Kan
saS pontlcS from ten to twenty thousand
votes. Already Rev. Richardson and other
prohibitionlsts are organizing for the pur-
pose of gathering up the dissatisfied ele-
ments from the two parties who threaten
to bolt If woman suffrage is not made a
party issue.
The equal suffrage campaign will be
opened in kansas soon by Mss Susan b.
Anthony. who will spend several months in