The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-09-14
ANOTHER BOMB.
It Falis Squarely in the Populist
Camp.
Terrible Arrnignment of the sReforrrersp
What the Temporary Chairman of the
Populist Convention Thinks of the
Company He Trained With.

was chosen temporary chairman of the
| populist state convention at Topeka on
June II. has addressed letter to John
w. Breidenthal, chairman of the popu-
list state central committee, in which
he withdraws his offer of services for
the campaign and declares that he will
not support Gov. Lewelling. A copy
of Henderson's letter fell into the
hands of the republican state central
committee and was given out for pub
LEGATION. 1t is as follows:
Hon. John w. BreidenthaI Topeka. Kan.
WINFIELD. Kan, Aug es.
Ny Dear Sir and Brother:-Under no circum-
stances do wish the language used in this let
/ ter to be twisted into the thought that am
| contemplating leap from the populst party
| Upon the other hand wish it understood that
adhere strictly to the doctrine enunciated in
the new declaration of independence adopted
July T. 1892, by the peoples party national con-
| vention- Some time ago promised you that
would speak at Marion on the 18th Of this
month On the 24th wired you that 1 could
not I'LL the engagement / also promised you
that In the latter part of September / would
engage in the campaign. speaking every day
during the month of October. This promise
cannot comply with. neither can 1 support
Gov. Lewelling for the following reasons to-
wit:
F1rst-The present management Of the peni-
Tertiary is a matter demanding the careful and
considerate attention of all true refOrmers and
OF every honest and loyal citizen Of this state.
The warden in his report points with pride to
the enormous amount Of coal mined under his
management. but he fails to tell that the man
Hiatt, who had the contract of all the coal
mined by convict labor was the one who made
the handsomest profit from the sale of this coal
and not the state. During the time that so
much coal was being mined by convict labor
Gov. Lewelling was encouraging the miners of
the state to stand firmly in their strike for JUS
tice and at the same time making IL impossible
for them to win their strike by taking conviets
out Of the various manufacturing departments
OF the penitentiary by the score and putting
them in the mines, working both night and day.
According to Warden Chase'S recent report
this wrong to the miners of the state
was done not only with Gov. Lewell-
ingS knowledge but with his con-
sent. Then. again, thousands of pOpulists in
this state are anxious for fair and honest in
vestigatiOn of the charges against Warden
Chase, including his brutal attack upon old
man Mcdonald. They think if Chase is inno-
cent. an honest fair investigation will do him
no harm Upon the other hand, if the charges
are true, Chase should promptly be removed
from Office. and in so doing Gov. Lcweling
would receive the commentator of every good
citizen.
SecOnd-At the time was talking with you
as to the part should take in the campaign
there were rumorS afloat that the police COM
missioners of the large cities were thoroughly
corrupt" did not then believe that the stories
were true, but believed there was some ground
therefor. This opinion possessed at the time
was elected temporary chairman of our state
convention. hence the reason that / spoke so
emphatically and determined upon the ques-
ton of wOmen's suffrage, believing that the
adoption OF that plank into our platform would
plainly indicate that the slum vote and infiu-
ence was not wanted in the populist party.
When Gov. Lewelling accepted the nomination
of that convention after the adoption OF our
platform, 1 could not believe that he knew the
real facts Of the corruption in the large cities
and state institutions. assuming, of course.
that he was honest and sincere at the time Of
his speech accepting the nomination A reso-
luton was offered to the convention that Coz, /
Lewelling would thoroughly investigate the
charges not only against the police commits |
sioners of the cities of the first class. but the |
charges against Warden Chase as well. and. as |
you well know. n resolution was Offered to the |
convention demanding such investigation |
and withdrawn upon the promise from the gov
ernor's friends that such investigation should |
be made. / assumed that this was true, and |
gave no further thought to the disgraceful |
charges of corruption and Doodle made against |
Gov. dwellings administration. 1 cOnScien-
tiOuSly believed that everything was moving |
nicely and that the governor was quietly lay |
ing his plans for discovering corruption in |
office. ''if any could be found" While so con-
tinuing in my confidence in Gov. Lewelling. |
imagine. il you can. the restlessneSs and I'M
eaSiness the shock of the publication Of Judge |
Aliens letter gave me. knowing him to be /
cool, cOnsiderate and conservative man, and in |
his letter was direct charge that Gov Lew
cling not only knew of the corruption of the
into I'll.
first class, but that he sanctioned it. This was
more than could stand. 1 can't believe that
"our governor" is as honest and sincere as
thought him to be when he was nominated.
Being in Topeka few days thereafter was
approached by populists high up in the coun-
ellis of the administration who assured me
that Judge Allen had been listening to the
enemies of Gov Lewelling and wrote his letter
to Lieut.-Gov. Daniels without proper investi-
cation Of the charges which he has since made, |
and upon his return he will make the state
ment for publication to the effect tina. he had
done Gov. Lewelling an injustice" No such
statement. however. has yet been published
from Judge Allen. accepted the alleged ex-
PLANTATION, however, as true. yet with \ fixed
to make some investigation my
self. which / have done within the past two
weeks and the result is startling.
Judge Aliens letter is indeed very mild. It |
throws the mantle OF charity around and pro-
ItCIS the IHOSI dCIS Oh the police 4
appointed by Gov. Lewelling. |
and since the publication Of Judge Aliens let
er. and in fact within the past four weeks, q |
committee OF respectable citizens OF Wyan-
lotte county waited upon the governor and
old him of many cases OF corruption among
he police commissioners of Kansas City Kan.
Ind demanded of him and pleaded with him |
hat change in the police commissioners be
Immediately made in the interest OF law and s
he respectable element CT the populist party | ,
If Wyandotte county. To this appeal and de-
nand the governor gave no heed. knowing, too.
hat this committee composed OF men {
whose reputation and character for truthful {
less and fairness were unquestiOned and he c
.lso knew that their loyalty to the principles
4 the peoples party was undoubted Now q
his information comes to me not from the {
nenies Of the populist party, but from popu- 7
lists of good standing in Kansas City, Kan. I
ioneSt men: successful and honest business :
nen not engaged in the lottery business
Tor in the joint business. I have for several @
nonths contemplated locating in Kansas City '
Kan. and for some time have made frequent {
lists to that city with that end in view. and
cnce have formed the acquaintance of some
xcellent gentlemen of that city. members Of j
he populiSt party. and know of my own per- I
onal knowledge that my informants are r
mong the very best citizens Of Kansas City. =
IAN.
Third-SOme few weeks ago was employed q
y the present superintendent and steward OF y
ne insane hospital ct Osawatomie to protect | =
heir interests in some legal matters. At the
me 1 accepted this employment had no idea +
bat corruption could possibly be unearthed
gainst either members OF the present or old
GARD Of charities. but an sorry to say that
,arned from reliable authority that Senator Il
ELY, recently converted 10 our party and at a
ne tine member OF the bold Of charities, and
enator Householder. the present chairman Of
1e board. have not only accepted but have ex- d
cted Doodle from some of the officers OF the q
naritab,e institutions under the immediate Fl
Management and control of the board referred
}.
Fourth-Now as to the Pitcher scandal I W