Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-30
CAMPAIGN LAID OUT.
Plans of the Kansas POpulists Com
pleted.

Plans of the Kansas POpulists Com
pleted.
Special Correspondence of The Evening STAR
TOPEKA, Kan, May %, 1904.
The populst party In Kansas has been
the butt and ridicule of the republican and
democratic papers Of the nation, and par
ticularly is this true of the Kansas con-
tingent, but the fact remains that the lead
ers Of the new movement in this state
never allow the work of PROSECUTING to
cease for day. They are constantly at
work Strengthening their lines, and when
they shall have held their state conven-
ton on June II. they will be ready for the
most aggressive campaign ever made in
any state. Their organization is the most
complete of any political party in any
state in the Union. The machinery is per-
feet because the leaders have not stopped
the work of organization for a single day
since they won their victory In 1892.
John w. Breidenthal, chairman of the
state central committee. is the best poll
tician in Kansas. The republicans concede
this and while they find 1t impossible to
ascertain what he is doing, they cannot
make a move without his full knowledge Of
every detail. How he finds out the secret
plans of the republicans no one knows, but
he Is posted on every move made, and uses
the information to the detriment of that
party. He has in his possession now the
name and post office address Of every voter
in the state. He has lately collected this
data from a trusted populist In every vot-
ing precinct In the state. He also knows
the politics Of every voter, and II he would,
could tell within two or three thousand
Just how the situation stands in Kansas
today but he declines to tell even his close
political friends. If this poll should show
ten, fifteen or even twenty-five thousand
republican majority no one would know 1t
and he would not become discouraged.
He would simply renew his energies and
evolve a scheme that would change four
republicans In each of the $500 voting pre-
cincts in the state, which take Off l4,OOO
from the republicans and add them To the
populists, making a difference OF 2sOOO.
which would elect the ticket
Breidenthal has q scheme on foot now
that will discount Indiana politics Ia its
palmiest days. en- the day of the state
convention 10000 people will come into
Topeka in lumber wagons, drawn by four
and six-horse teams. Every neighborhood
for one hundred miles will be represented.
The populist farmers are planning for the
excursion now. Banners of every descrlp-
ton are being printed for the parade. Ten
thousand farmers are coming in this way
and they propose to bring their food and
feed for horses along and camp out and
have a good time.
They propose to make a parade up and
down the streets of Topeka that will
paralyze the upper crust society of the
capital city. The farmers wives and chill
dren will participate in this jollihcation.
1t Is to be the outing of the year and
the grounds around the state capital. en-
bracing twenty acres, will be turned over
for camping purposes. From this vantage
ground" the tillers of the soil will sing
Good bye. old party, good bye" while
Jerry Simpson or some other populist
leader will tell them, point to the Atchi-
son, Topeka and Santa Fee railroad general
office building across the street that the
government of the state has been trans
ferred to this capital building and that
the common people are in the saddle.
This Is not all of Breidenthars scheme
He has requested every person who comes
to the convention to bring at least 81.
Then when the convention is in session in
Representative Hall a call for money to
run the campaign will be made. Instantly
a shower of silver dollars are to be piled up
on the speakers desk and $4,000 will be
given for the cause of the people. Many
are expected to give more, but 81 is the
popular assessment.