Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1894-10-10
:AToN sTumPs FOR The PopuLlsTs
W1NFIELD, Kan. Oct. 2. 1894.

Ridgeley, and other congressional com
mitteemen, Third district:
/ DEAR SIRs-- / have received YOU
request to make speeches in tits con
gressional district between now ant
the election. AS 1t may be possible To-
me to devote short time to campaign
work, think it well to state the line O.
argument shall pursue.
shall advocate the free coinage o.
silver and gold at the ratio of Is to l
without discrimination against either
and paper currency based thereon. re
deemable in such coin, and Of sufficient
volume to meet the demands of trade
shall ] o. advocate fiat or irredeemab't
paper money.
Ishall favor the independent treasury
of Jackson, Van Baren, Benton and
the fathers of democracy and shall CD
pose the republican plan OF farming out
Its functions to national banks and the
money power.
l shall advocate further reduction
OF tariff duties, and as protection is the
father OF trusts and combines, I shall
advocate the enlargement of the free
list and reduction of tariff duties to
such an extent as to make the lorna
ton and existence OF trusts and combl
nations for the control of production or
prices of commodities, absolutely i'm
possible.
l shall oppose the unjust and iniuui.
tous determinations encouraged and
carried out by the railroad companies
against localities and Shippers, and the
unjust freight rates based upon the
capitalization and BONDED inhabited
ness of such railroads, largely in excess
OF their cost or worth, and shall oppose
the iniquitous and illegal combinations
existing between railroad managers for
the purpose of extortiDg from the pro-
ducers and consumers, excessive charg-
es for transportation, based upon the
pretext that the same are necessary to
pay fixed charges, which are well known
to be brought about by watered stocks
and bonds, from three to five tim es
greater than the money invested In
railroad properties.
! shall oppose from legal and politi-
cal standpoint the recent use of the fed
eral courts for the purpose of extending
the writ Of injunction, as the basis OF
quasi criminal proceedings, thereby
destroying labor organizations and ere
ating a foundation for contempt pro-
ceediEgs In a court OF equity, while at
the same time organizations OF railroad
managers, combining against the inter
csts OF the community, are allowed to
escape punishment for fragrant viola
ton OF express statutory provisions.
Ishall oppose the socalled stalwart de.
mocracy in its efforts to turn the state
tothe republicans and in so far as it has
obtained control of the state and con.
gIessiOnal committees l shall oppose
such organizations, upon the ground
that the course being pursued is in op-
position to the best interests of the
democratic party and directly in aid of
the republican party and the success of
the republican ticket, and for the furth
or reason that such course is not in
harmony with the views of the rank
and file and many leaders of the demo-
cratic party of the state. The said, so.
called, atalwart democracy is, in my
Judgment, composed of a few raoilroad
and office holding or Office seeking gem
tlemen who spend one half of their
time in aiding and encouraging the re-
publican party and in it's endeavor to
regain control of the state, aid the 9TH
or half in cOndemning the efforts, and
reading out of the party, democrats
who by their action would make it pos
sible to overthrow republicanism In the
state.
l am aware that it is contended by
this Stalwart outfit that it is necessary
to organize the democratic party and
keep up its organization. Such conten-
tions become gauzy and fi,msy when it
is considered that the course pursued is
a constant attack upon men who have
heretofore trained co operated with the
democratic party Of Kansas. They are
thereby pursuing a mistaken course
and endeavoring to abuse men who
have the best interests of the party and
the state at heart, into subsection to
their wishes and views. They have as
sumed-and upon that assumption
have, as am aware, some few con-
verts--that the national democracy fav-
Ors their course. This l do not and
cannot believe. have more faith and
confidence in the national democracy
than to believe that il has changed Its
attitude towards the democratic party
in Kansas since the campaign of 1892
and | cannot believe that it is now ours,
ing the bridge that carried it over the
stream. believe the masses Of the
people of Kansas should be encouraged
in their efforts to abolish the abuses
and destruction resulting from the in.
iquitous legislation, placed upon our
statute books by the republican party.
and that instead of antagonlsm to the
masses, the democratic party should
now as heretofore assume an attitude
of friendship, and should extend cor
dial greeting to every effort for the re-
demptiOn Of the state of Kansas from
republican control. | will not be mis-
led into the idea that either woman
suffrage or prohibition are paramount
or important issues in this campaign,
nor will overlook the fact that these
and all other fanatical fads Of the re.
publican party, have shown the great
est growth during the greatest antago-
nism of the democracy.
am willing to make limited num-
Der OF appointments in this congress,
sional district and discuss public ques-