The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-07-28
LEwELLING AT KANSAS CITY.
Governor Opens Populist State Cam
paign-Points From His Speech.

KANSAS CITY, Kan, July 27.-The Pop.
ulist Campaign was opened last night in
Kansas City, Kan, by Governor l.. d.
Lewelling and Major Frank A. Willard OF
Argentine, the Populist nominee for con-
gresham in the Second district. Governor
Lewelling arrived on the afternoon train
over the Rock Island from Hutchinson.
He was met by Major Willard, Chief of
Police Quarles and other party celebrities.
and driven to Huron place, opposite the
city hall in Kansas City. Kan. An audi
ence of 9, 500 people had assembled about
the speakers stand and warmly welcomed
the governor on his appearance. NJ S.
Peters, chairman, introduced Governor
Lewelling.
The governor said in part:
This Is a time for retrospection. Two
years ago the farmers of Kansas raised a
large crop, and got fair prices for it. To-
day many of them are bankrupt. They
have been unable to pay the usurious in
terest exacted by their creditors, and to-
day more than 43 per cent OF their farms
have passed into the hands of landlords
by the foreclosure OF mortgages All th is
is wrong. 1t is to be charged 10 the pres
ent financial condition of the country,
and that in turn must be attributed to
the policies of the two old parties.
80 long as they are honest frugal and
industrious, the government should
guarantee to subjects the power to eat,
drink and clothe themselves. 1t some of
you are poorly fed and poorly clad it is
because some one else has more than his
share | would rather be without civil
iZation than be the subject of a govern
ment that could not guarantee TO its
citizens equal rights 10 all and special
privileges 10 none. That may be an
archy, hut if it is. put it in your pipe and
smoke it.
individual rights have been lost sight
of in property rights. Men ought to rise
above the old law of the survival OF the
strongest The average increase of wealth
In the United States is less than per cent
annually. Less than 3 per cent. and yet
the farmers OF Kansas are paying 6, s, 10
and II per cert interest.
The Populist party is the friend of the
working man. And had rather have in
scribed on my tomb that was the friend
OF the working man than to sit upon a
throne, surrounded by the princes and po-
tentstes OF ,he earth.
when the miues in Colorado were shut
down Just after the passage of the Sher-
man law repeal, $1,000 men in Colorado
were thrown out of employment They
drifted eastward and 1000 of them met on
work and bread aud were kicked GU. by
the police,
20, Liberty, what crimes have been
committed in thy namer What can the
poor man do' Can he lie down on the
street and sleep? No, for there is "A law
against it. Can he rest in a box car? No.
for that would be trespRssiug Can be
bag fer bread from door to DOOR? No, there
is 4 law against 1t.
I'VE are going to organize a great anti
poverty society, aad | want you to help
Us. 1t is the Populist PARTY. Like the
Man OF Nazareth. labor is being crucified
between two thieves. the two old parties.
but 1t is the heads of the parties, aud not
the rank and file. I am a Demo
crat, JefTersoBian Democrat, be-
cause I believe in the grand old
principles which he represented; and |
am a Republican, too, an Abe Lincoln
Republican, for the same reason. Bat
when the president has seen fit TO station
armed troops IN various states. aud call
for recruits, | believe that the liberties Of
the American people are already gone, but
they have net discovered 1t"
The speaker went on 70 deprecate the
contraction OF the currency aud attributed
i 10 boarding ii in banks and OF her places.
Ihr Postal Savings bank would prevent
this 10y guaranteeing to the depositor alb
soIue security, aud thus put al end TO
all lack Of coutidence. He wanted silver
money, not because il was better than any
other, bat because II would give EMPLOY
ment - thousands of idle men 10 the sill
yer mines"