The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1894-08-10
BACK IN THE FOLD.


Ex-Congressman Ben II. Clover has
written the following letter. which ex.
plains itself:
To NV Farmer Alliance Friends:
In 1889 became dissatisfied with the politt.
al conditions and existing political parties.
believed that reforms were necessary and IN
order 70 accomplish these reforms it was nee
essary TO have q new political party. did
everything that could 10 organize the Farm
srS Alliance An industrial organization. and
As president Of that organization in 1889 and
1850, and Vice president Of the National Farm.
.rs Alliance at the same time, worked indus.
SriouSly to organize the great farming interests
81 the west along industrial and political lines.
From this organization, as is well known,
spranS the peoples party. became one OF its
most enthusiastic members and conte nded for
Its principles in private and public life. As the
president Of the state alliance and organizer and
manager OF the campaign Of lseo. l threw my
whole soul into the cause OF reform 1 had
great hopes for the party which We had organ
lied. Its opportunities were great and its
prospects bright Expected then assistance
from the democratic party in bringing about
the reforms which as a populist. was advo-
eating, especially on the questions OF finance.
out the actions Of the democratic party since
IL came into power has caused me to utterly
despair Of anything of that kind. The southern
democrats are advising 10 stand firm as pop
Ili>t> and to make q glorious fight, but they
continue to vote as democrats and TO be con-
trolled by the democratic organization, and
still continue as the uuwavering ranks Of the
democratic party.
The question presents itself to the minds Of
thousands of Kansas farmers. and have been
farmer all my life, what is the best thing for
US TO do: In order TO determine this We must
first consider the conditions that surround us
and the political parties as they now stand
and examine into their methods and the meth
DDS and policies OF their political managers.
The democratic party has no new idea 1t Is
crying for free silver and bowling down and
kissing the feet of Grover Cleveland, who rep
reSent> and Is the absolute servant OF the Wall
street gold-bugS and the head OF the gold mono
metalli>t idea in this country. The democratic
party is afflicted with its same old iucon>i>t-
nc,e>. Ii is controlled By the same old tyran-
meal methods and IL never has and never VIII
become the champion OF reform.
What is the condition of the populst party.
the party To which We nave adhered since IL
was first organized and which we helped make:
We ind to-day that il has fallen into the hands
of a dictator whose power is absolute: who in
the practice OF corrupt and diSreputable po-
litical methods has outdone all other political
managers that have ever risen in Kansas;
whose sole motive is plumber and spoil and po-
htlcal honor for himself. The party to which
thousands of honest farmers in this country
have contributed their money and time to or
ganlze and build up has now become the prey
Of political free-booters. monthly stipend
for campaign or personal purposes is exacted
from the gambling dens and liquor dealers Of
our large cities. 1t has organized the metro
politan police into revenue collectors, who
visit these disreputable and loathSome places
and compel these dealers in vice to divide the
profits of their unholy business. This is done
now by the leaders Of our reform movement.
b..,, ~ Sba snsa ND
advisers are cognizant Of and parties to these
political and Official crimes Every public in
stitution has been disgraced- II has become
the subject of the vileSt scandals. The condf-
tons at Winfield are too revolving to print.
QuarrelS and brutal physical fights have fire.
Quently taken place in our penal and eleemosy-
nary institutions. The warden OF the state
penitentiary has been accused by the employees
Of that institution. members Of his own politi-
cal party, of corruption and the stealing OF pub
lie funds. The accusations have been filed
with the governor according to law, under
oath, yet he refuses an investigation, as the
statutes provi,.e. Indeed, have not space in
this letter to present in detail the disgrace
that has been brought upon our state and party
by this administration.
What did We promise the people? We prom
ised them railroad reform and denounced off,
cials who accepted favors from the railroads
ami rode on free passes and allowed the cor
).
to-day the representatives OF the peoples par
ty. which we helped to build up, every single
one Of them is riding upon a pass and is court
ing the favor OF the railroad corporations
We declared in favor OF honest methods in
politics and denounced the corrupt use OF
money in political cam paigns yet the chairman
OF our committee now issues an appeal to the
members of the party and asks them to raise q
campaign slush fund Of $ 900. and makes the
statement in the letter that he has already
spent $1,000 in the campaign.
We declared that an Office-holder when
elected by the people and paid a good salary
should serve the people and not use the posi-
ton given him 10 perpetuate himself in Office,
but We find that all OF the state officers except
two are using their political positions to secure
railroad transportation and are travelling from
end Of the state TO the other to secure their
reelection.
We declared that were in favor OF reduc-
ing the salaries Of officials that their COM
penSation would be no greater than that Of
men in industrial pursuits and what is the re-
suit: The populist senate at its last session
passed bill reducing the salaries OF the four
janitors in the state house so per month,
while Mr.. Breidenthal had the appropriation
for his office increased from $3.50 to al000
We declared in favor OF economy in the dis
charge OF public business and our state senate
at its last regular session had l3s employees to
wait on and care for forty senators. and within
priated 5000 20 keep the cholera out OF Kan
sas when there Is not single case OF cholera
on this continent, nor in any Of the adIacen.
countries.
Indeed. outrageous and preposterous has
been the course OF the present pOpulist state
administration that the democratic party has
revolted from IL and will no longer give IL sup
port There is not single idea that was
advocated by Us in 1883 and 1880. when
we were laboring in the cause Of re-
form. that is now adhered TO by the pop
ulist party. What. then, shall We do. As for
me. publicly state that can no longer anil
ate with the populist party and maintain my
self-respect- I can never support the demo-
cratic party because I do not believe in its
principles I shall. therefore, go back TO my
old party, the republican party. The republic
an party has a matchless history. II has given
our nation its greatest reforms and its creates,
statesmen. The defeats which i, has suffered
for the last four years in our state has brought
1t 70 a realization Of the necessities of purity in
its methods and taught il tina, il 1t expects the
support Of the masses it must be the
champion Of purity and reform While the
republican party Is more conservative
than I am on financial matters. yet
believe that through It We can secure
financial reforms. The public utterances Of
its national leaders leads me TO this belief As
one Of the old republicans who went into the
populist party in 1890. hoping for relief be-
I. NAI