Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-20
A POPULIST SURPRISE
How the Kansas Chairman Has Colonised
Legislative Distrieta
Holding His Voters I'm the State-An
Ingenious Plan for Electinx .
Populi.t legislature.
ondcnce Of The Evening Star.

Correspondence Of The Evening Star
TOPEKA, Kan, October 16 1894.
There is big surprise in store for the
republican managers of Kansas. Chairman
Breidenthal of the popullst state central
committee tricked them, completely two
years ago. and he originated a scheme four
months ago which will go down in history
as the smartest political move ever made in
Kansas politics. Two years ago, when the
republicans commenced to make a poll of
the state, Breidenthal instructed his county
committeeman to say to the poll takers that
six or eight voters in this and that precinct
who had formerly affiliated with the repub-
lican party had gone back to the old organ
ization, and that things looked very blue
for the new party. This encouraged the
poll makers, and they recorded John Smith,
John Jones and others returning to the
republican party. and so reported to the
state central committee. When the returns
had been received from the $500 precincts
of the state and the totals made they
showed a majority of 5000 for the repub-
lican state ticket. This showing caused
great rejoicing at headquarters. The close
friends of the committee were notified of
the situation and started out to get bets.
Breidenthal had posted his friends to take
all the wagers offered, and the result was
that thousands of dollars were won by the
populists. Instead of 5000 majority for
the republicans there was an average ma
jority of 5000 for the populists.
This year the republicans, who were in
the thickest of the fight in 1892, are ex-
pectng Breidenthal to spring another sur
prise on them, and they will not be dsap-
pointed. The pOpulist chairman has been
working on a scheme for four months
which may elect a populst legislature and
hay even pull the state ticket through
When IL was known that a complete failure
OF crops in western Kansas was inevitable
Chairman Breidenthal, as early as July l.
CONN anced laying his plans to hold the
populist voters, who would be compelled to
leave that country. He recognized the fact
that two-thirds of the voters who would
nave TO leave were members of his party
renters, and poor men who naturally absorb
the populist ideas. He did not wait till the
streams of emigrant wagons began to line
the highways; he commenced business early
anu opened out In the state house the most
complete Information bureau and employ
ment agency ever organized in the state.
Holding the POpulists.
Breidenthars plan was to hold the popu-
list voters in the state until after the cleo
ton. He was willing for the republicans to
go on to the Ozark regions of southern Mis-
souri, or northern Arkansas Breidenthal
prepared letter which he sent to the chair
men of the populist county committee in
every county in the drouth-Stricken district
lnstructing them to ascertain and send to
MIN the names of every populist who would
be compelled to move out of western Kan
sas on account of the failure of crops At
the same time he prepared a letter which
was sent to the populist chairman of each
committee in the counties of eastern Kan
sas acquaintng them with the situation of
their western brothers. To these commit
teeinen he appealed for names of weII-to-do
populst farmers, who had land for rent,
STOCK to feed, corn to gather, or work of
any character that the unfortunate farmers
of western Kansas could do.
Soon letters began to 14lr into the populist
state committee from eastern Kansas com
lnltteeInen containing lists of names of
farmers who would provide shelter ana
labCr Tor their western brothers Than
Breidenthal would send these lists to the
chairnlen of committees in the counties of
western Kansas where the republicans had
a safe majority, who would deliver the
information. When they were ready TO
start they knew where to 20 and the re-
suit Is that several thousand populist vot-
ers nave been locatga 1iong the eastern
border in heretofore rfputhican strongholds
I'D western KansasupoT@Ilists have neon
colonized. They are living on farms or
In the towns and villages, end are gener-
any any o emptoyea by theI pPulst farmers of
member of the legislature was elected in
Anderson county by % plurality. The west
ern Kansas popuists who are cOlonized
there will insure the election of a popuIist
tenDer. Linn county, on the Missouri
border elected republican by one ma
Jorlty in 1892 Ninety western Kansas ex-
Odusters are Temporarily camping in that
county till election day, when they will
proceed to the Ozark region of southern
Missouri Then in Allen COZ nty a colony
OF lSo voters from the Cry lands are wait
ing TO vote the popuist ticket before they
pun out for Arkansas. Two years ago that
county sent republican to the legislature
by only III majority. In one district in
bourbon county the republicans had a
majority at the last election of 80. Today
Breidenthal is confident of success there
because he has colonized 40 voters from
the irouth district Woodson county elect
ed republican by IS majority in 1872
ADout eighty wandering populists from the
ARID belt are sojourning there until the
ith or November, when they will move on
10 the Ozarks. Jefferson is another county
the republicans carried for the legislature
TWO years ago 1t is stated that 30 voters
nave been colCniZed there-enough to elect
two populist members of the legislature
Inc same work has been done in Coffey,
Neosho, Nemaha. Pottawatomie, Wabaun-
see MOTIFS and Marshall counties.
The Republican Poll.
In all of these counties the republican
committee have men at work making a
poll or the vote, which shoYs republican
gains. The chairman and secretary Of the
committee look WISE and cheer up the &C.
casional ward worker, who comes in to
ascertain how things are going. They have
not Yet learned that Breidenthal has set
trap for them. Under his Instructions
every colonized voter from western Kan
sas tells the poll-maker that he is a re-
publican, hence the showing Of republican
gains" at headquarters
Ex-SpeakeF Reed Was instructed.
lix-Speaker T. B. Reed, who is at Chicago,
denied yesterday that in an Interview at
Ann Arbor, Mich, he had severely criticised
the Mckinley bill. II never authorize an in
teryiew," said Mr.. Reed, ''ard If there is
any foundation for it, it must have been dis
torted from running social conversation
am amused to see how the democrats are
catching ut I bay haay