The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-24
THE SLY OLD FOXES.
Why the Populists Fixed Their
State Convention Later.
ARE AFRAID OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE
And Want Republicans to Show Their
Hands F1rst-Fear of Republicans
Stealing Their Thunder Induces
Them TO Issue a Platform Now.

Them TO Issue Platform Now.
The Populist state central committee
adjourned at 1920 last night, after fixing
the date of the Populist state convention
for June 10, at Topeka. There were two
wanted the convention held May 81 or
June 1, and the other about June 20. A
compromise was made on June H.
The main thing considered in fixing
the date for the state convention by the
central committee last night. was s'How
shall we dodge the suffrage question and
prevent the Republicans from stealing
our calamity thunder?"
During the evening when the com
mittee was wrangling with this mo-
mentous question Frank Forrest who
travels over the state in the interest of
the Advocate delivered himself of his
opinion on the subject
He said: eff our convention is held
after the Repu blicans hold their cOnven-
ton. we will lose all our thunder.
have been travelling over the state and l
know what l am talking about The
Republicans are going to have a regular
calamity platform this year. They will
pass resolutions endorsing the action of
United States Judge Caldwell, they will
resolve on the decisions of Judge Dundy
and talk severely about railroad receiv-
ership. They are going to have a regu-
lar calamity platform and will steal our
thunder, sure, if we allow them to hold
their convention first"
The committees seemed to. be i'm
pressed with the utteranceS of Forrest
and they evolved a novel scheme to over
come the difficulty. They decided to
hold their convention after the Republi-
can convention, and thereby avoid trou-
bic on the suffrage question, compelling
the Republicans to show their hands by
ffrar
plank. The other horn of the dilemma
was overcome by promulgating a plat
form themselves without waiting for the
convention to do it.
The Populist state central committee
has issued a platform upon which they
propose to stand until their state conven-
ton meets at any rate.
For the first time in the history of
their party in this state the POpulists
find themselves compelled to dodge the
main issue before the people and wait
until their opponents have outlined their
position.
The committee before it adjourned
adopted this advance platform covering
the points they were afraid would be
stolen by the Republicans:
Resolved, That all persons Irrespective
of former party affiliations who believe
in the free and unlimited coinage of
silver at the ratio of 10 to 1; who believe
in more money and less taxes; who be-
lieve in strict economy in governmental
affairs; who are opposed to the issuance
OF interest bearing bonds in times of
peace; who believe in a graduated in
come tax; who believe in governmental
ownership of railroads; who believe that
the promises made by the government to
the soldier where he enlisted should be
strictly fulfilled: who believe that the
freight and passenger rates in Kansas
should be based on the cost of cOnstruc-
ton and expense of operating rail-
roads and that such rates should be re
duced to correspond with the reduced
prices of the product of labor; who be-
lieve that the wages due railroad en-
ployes should be a first lien upon all
property of the road payable before any
other claim whether the road is operated
by the company or by receivers; that no
officers or stock holders of any railroad
should be appointed receivers thereof
and who believe that the legislation out
lined herein will restore prosperity to
the country and enable the thousands
who are now tramping the country in en-
forced idleness to secure profitable en-
ployment and enjoy the fruits thereof,
be invited to participate in the primaries
and convention"
A resolution was adopted endorsing
the ordinance of the Omaha platform
barring state officers and employees from
seats in the state convention.
The basis of representatives was fixed
on the vote of Secretary of State Osborn,
one delegate being allowed for every 800
votes and two at large in each county.
The average vote of 1890 and 1892 is
taken as the basis. This will give 612
delegates.