People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-07-27
Hon. Z. B. Whaley's Letter.
TOPEKA, KAs., July 10, 1894


PIES Party State Central Commute, Topeka, Kas.
DEAR S1R-The duties of citizenship de.
mand a careful consideration of all public
questions, and the attitude of the several
parties toward the same, that the right of
franchise be exercised for the best interest
of humanity.
The practices as well as the promises of
political parties should also be well con-
sidered by the voter before he places him
self in line with any party.
The above requirements l have endeav-
ored to meet, and the conclusion reached
by me is, that / cannot remain with the
republican party.
1t is with feelings of regret that l am
compelled to make this decision, for il
sewers political associations of IS years
standing.
Ny reasons for this change are as fol-
lows:
The practices of the leaders of the party
in the past we're the cause of much com
plant in its own ranks, and the tendency
seemed to be rather to aggravate than to
remove the cause; the Capitalization of
power into the hands of a few selfish and
inscriptions men who have been manip-
ulating its affairs for years; the entire alb.
sence of courage and conscience in the
last convention; and the subverting of
public interest to railroad interest.
Ny position on the executive commit
tee of the republican party and in the state
auditors Office gave me opportunities for
observation and investigation of which
availed myself.
The enormous republican majority of
1883 was swept away in the election of
1890, but the Buchan committees unscru-
pulous methods seated L. U. Humphrey
again in the governors chair.
The revolt by and the demands of the
people were alike unheeded by the repub-
hcans in the senate that year, in refusing
to pass the redemption, chattel-mortgaQe,
and maXimum-freight bills.
During the campaign of 1892, the re-
volt was fully as strong. In Shawnee
county it was aggravated by the use of a
large amount Of railroad money to re-
nominate candidate for district Judge.
Governor Humphreys action in an.
pointing the late B. W. Perkins as Pres
ton B. Plumb's successor, at the dictation
of the general attorney of the leading
railroad of the state; in using the Cover.
nors contingent fund to pay the ex.
penses of Lew. Hanback, in putting ND
delegations for his Humphrey's) nomi-
nation for congress in the third district
In hiring at the request of a railroad
lobbyist a supposed-to- be anti-railroad
lawyer to make up the case of the PEG.
pie against the Kansas Central railroad.
The action of the republican board of
railroad commissioners 10 giving 100000
in return for $4,000 to the railroads. The
action of the republican school fund COM
missioners in purchasing $125,O0O of
western county bonds and paying par
for same to the railroads at the REQUEST
of railroad lobbyist, when the same could
not be sold for more than 10 cents on
the dollar in the Eastern market
In 1892 the election returns showed a
deplorable state of affairs for the repub.
lican ticket, and the methods of the Bu.
chan committee were advocated. | was
asked how many votes Shawnee county
would furnish to make up the deficiency,
and replied that Shawnee county could
not go into that kind Of business. A tel
egram was sent to a committeeman in
the northeast corner of the state asking
how many votes his county would fur.
nish to make up the deficiency, and he
replied that he would furnish his share.
That man is now prominent manager
of this republican campaign.
The plan was dropped, and the chair
man was cursed for his lack Of courage TO
carry it out
When it was discovered that the popu-
lists had elected the governor and a ma
iority of the senate, and that the house
was very close, the scheming commenced
to at least save the house. The railroads
we're determined that the ma1imum.frsipb.