The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1894-04-13
The Crisis i'm Kansas.

(Boston Woman's Home JOurnal.)
The state of Kansas politics is such
that the fate of the woman suffrage
amendment next fall will largely depend
upon the action of the State conventions
of the three great parties. which will
meet as follows: Republicans June G.,
Populists (probably) June 30, Democrats
July 5. Ii either the Republicans or the
Populists endorse the amendment in their
platform. its success is probable; if both
endorse t., its success is assured; if both
ignore it, lis success will become doubt
full.
On the other hand the success of these
parties will also depend largely on the
action taken by their State conventions.
If the Republicans. from timidity, ignore
the Amendment and refuse to make it an
issue, they will lose the advantage which
they have held in past years as the party
of equal rights and the champions Of
liberty and progress. while they will not
considerable Democratic support. If the
POpulists in order to fuse with the Demo-
Gratis, ignore the Amendment and refuse
to make it an issue. then that party will
no longer have claim upon the support
of suffragiSts as such. If both parties
ignore the Amendment. many suffrage
votes will be given for the Prohibition
party, and the reminder will be divided
upon the collateral issues of the
campaign.
Many Republicans in Kansas are in
favor of of simply adopting. at their next
State Convention, the national platform
of the party. ignoring State issues as far
as possible, but denOuncing the theories
of the POpulists and the alleged fraudu-
lent and illegal practices of the officials
in power. Such declaration would be
lamentatly insufficient. All the Republi-
can candidates for nomination for gov
ernor are in favor of woman suffrage. and
nearly all the Republican papers of the
State are in favor of the Amendment.
But there. as here. there is an element
ir the narty which is bitterly opposed to
WON u suffrage, and averse to endorsing
the Amendment in the platform.
In KANSAS the political situation is
complicated. a Populist-Democratic
coalition is in full control. 1t has ali the
State officers except the Supreme Judici-
ary. and Of this it has secured one of the
three Judges. the other two remaining
Republicans. In order to secure the votes
of the Democrats the Populist party, a;
its last State Convention. ignored pro-
nibitiou, and rs :, result The Democrats
endorsed all the Populist nominees. the
presidential electors included, and they
were elected. The Populist party of
Kansas is almost wholly composed of
farmers, who are generally in favor of
woman suffrage aud prohibition. But
Governor Lewelling and his ofiice-hOlders
are trying 10 Il. range another fusion with
the Democrats. That is the way they
Won in November. 1892. and that is the
way they expect to win in November,
1881. 10 effect this fusion they must
throw WOMAN suffrage and prohibition
overheard.
But Mrs. Lease and L. S. Senator PETER
are among the strongest leaders Of he
PopuliSt party. They are pOpulists pure
and simple. are opposed to fusion and
compromise. and are in favor If woman
suffrage. So governor Leweiling is try
ing to put Mrs. Lease OUT, because she is
in favor of having woman suffrage in the
platform. although to Mrs. Lease Popu-
list success in 1892 was largely due. II
Mrs. Lease carries the convention woman
suffrage will be endorsed; Il che fails it
will probable be iGuored. Unfortunately
u. s senator Re1fer has % federal