The Portland daily press., 1894-03-08
[Corr. of Washington Star.]


[Corr. of Washington Star.]
Topeka, Kansas, February 2S, 1894.
The Masonic Grand Lodge of Kansas
has been in session in Topeka recently,
and of course, there was much specula-
ton as to how Mrs. Lease obtained the
secrets of Masonry, if she is really IN
possession of them. Her claim that she
is member of Hugh de Payne Com
maudery of Fort Scott has led to the
suspicion that Charles LEASE. her hus-
band, who is member of that comman-
derry, has been guilty of divulglng the
secrets of the order.
Mr.. Lease joined the Hugh De Payne
Commandery a number of years ago
when he was resident of Usage Mis-
sion, which is in the Fort Scott jurls-
diction. Since removing to Wichita he
has maintained his standing in the
order.
The story of Mrs. Leases advent into
politics is interesting. With her husband
and children she lived on claim IN
Kingman county. One day she was In
Wichita and leisurely strolled into
union labor convention. She was re-
auested to make a speech. She had
never before attempted TO speak IN pup,
lie, but the calls were so frequent ana
earnest that she resolved to Try. FOR
half an hour she surprised herself as
well as her audience making a speech
that fairly started her on the road TO
fame and fortune
Soon after this the Lease family re-
moved to Wichita where the husband be-
came drug clerk and from the modest
salary he received in that capacity sup
his wife and four children. through
the influence of his wife he was subse-
ouently made manager OF Leading
Wichita drug store but the proprletors
having disposed of the business, he was
thrown out OF employment, since Wnlcn
time he has been a gentleman OF leisure;
About year ago Mrs. Lease purcnaseu
a handsome home in fashionable resi-
dencs part of the city and turned 1t over
| to the management of her husband: Two
elderly female servants are employed,
who are paid by Mrs. Lease, but Mr..
Lease has entire control of the esta bllsh-
ment during his wife's absence, when
is maintained in. the best possible style.
Since he lost his position Mr.. Lease has
| looked after the minor details of caring
| for his wife's property and the children
while Mrs. Lease has been travelling
| about the country delivering lectures,
| making political speeches ana actlng as
member of the State board OF charities.
Interested in Hypnotism
About year ago Mrs. Lease became
interested in the subject of hypnotism.
She maze a study of the science, her
ambition being to acquire shypnotlc
| power. With this object in view she en-
gagged the services of a professor who has
| been giving exhibitions through the
State. He pronounced her a good sub
iect, and claims to have developed I'M
usual hypnotic power in his pupil. Mrs.
| Lease dislikes to talk OF her hypnotic
| mowers. but admits that she has given
| the subject of hypnotism much study
| and thought. People in Kansas have
| ceased to wonder at anything Mrs.
Lease says or does. Her political career
has been series of sensations. She is
| constantly in search of som eth1ng to.say
or do that will attract attention to her.
| campaign of 1890, when her speeches,
pregnant with bitter invective and sar-
casm. caused many to compare her
| methods with those of Senator Ingalls,,
! whom she took great satisfaction IN
abusing. Her success as speaker con-
sisted more in arousing the enthusiasm
of her partisans than in making con-
| yerts Up to and including the cam
paign of 1892, she was the idol of hel
party, and was called by peoples party
| papers the modern Joan of Arc. Hel
| influence in party councils was greater
| than that of any other half dozen per-
sons.
cross her path, and her wishes always
| of in hpr
ence, for no one wished to invite the
sting of her sharp tongue by opposing
A few tried it while she was in the
height of her popularity with dlsas,
trous results. Her success turned hel
head, and she began to use her power II
such a bold manner that friends desert
ed her and enemies sprang up on all sides
determined to crush her. Gov. LEVEL
ing opened the battle by attempting tt
remove her from the State board O.
charities to which he had appointed her
She fought back, appealed to the Su
preme court and came out of the fray
victorious. She it still president of tht
board, and will remain In that position
until April when the places now held b!
two Republicans will become vacant
They will be filed by Populists of thu
Governors choosing, whom he can rel.
upon to reorganize the board by reducins
Mrs. Lease to the ranks, and deprive he
of all influence in the management o.
the charitable institutions of the State.
Mrs. Lease Talks of Herself.
Mrs. Lease delights to talk of hersel
and her achievements. She says that il
she were a man she would easily be thu
acknowledged intellectual giant of the
Peoples party. In an interview, il
speaking of her oratoricaI ability, SHIT
said l believe I owe whatever power
have in this line to parental influence
NV father was an Irish exile. He wa.
banished from ireland and he fed tt
America, with price set upon his heat
and his property confiscated to the Eng
lish crown. I was the first child borr
from my exiled parentsFin America. My
earliest recollections are filled with
struggle against every form of injustice
literally educated and finished at ALLIE
gheny University, and when fifteel
Years old | left school. The poor wage
| oooiI woman aroused me- and when