Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1894-10-06
HOT SHOT
The BOmbardment of the State
Administration by a Kan
SaS POpuIiSt.
4 GentseI SHINING of Gov. LewsI1ins.-A
Plain and Manly Statement of tho Du-
pIicity of the "Reformer" by an
Atchison Populist-Thought-
full Words for Think
Ing People.

1he following open letter TO Gov
Lewelling was written by Carl Adkins,
one of the leading Populists in Kansas
who did as much to elect Gov. LEVEL
ling as any man in Atchison county.
Mr.. Adkins was the publisher and editor
of the Atchison Graphic. one OF the
most influential Populist newspapers in
Kansas, and through its columns made
heroic fight for the principles of the
Populist party. Mr.. Adkins is vigor-
GUS writer and is and was sincere in his
convictions. but he has discovered, as
have thousands more, that when he was
fighting to elect Lewelling he was not
battling for genuine Reform"
Mr.. Adkins has made the painful dis
covery that ''all that glitters is not
gold," and that there is a wide differ
ence between the brilliant promises Of
Gov. Lewelling when a candidate and
his cloudy performances as Governor.
Mr.. Adkins handles the Governor
roughly because he tells him the plain
unvarnished truth. His letter is a
scathing rebuke to the hypocricy of the
Popullst administration, and it merci-
lesslv uncovers the duplicity and de-
pravity of those who are masquerading
in the garb of political reformers but
are really guilty of political harlotry
rauseating to thoughtful people. Mr.
Adkins eloquent letter, now made pub
lie for the first time, is as follows:
To Governor Lewelling.
In thus addressing you only adopt
a method that has been prevailing one
during your administration and to
which you can hardly object as it has
been favorite mode of yours in adj
dressing the dear public with patriotic
utterances, or shall we call it political
demagogy? To determine which is the
object Of this letter.
Two years ago the people were called
to pass Judgment on two political par
ties. One was in power and could be
judged by its acts and record. The
other had never been tried and consid-
Grafton could only be given on its
promises and denunciations of its rival.
But our party is now before the bar of
public opinion and will be judged by
its acts and record not by the short
comings of its political opponent. And
the Judgment will be more or less severe
as you and your colleagues have lived
up to or spurned it's ante-election
promises. We claim it right, now
that we have the opportunity by two
years administration, to analyze your
motives and see if your conduct has been
inspired by pure and lofty patriotism
or sordid and personal gain. Whether
the grand speeches and letters to which
we have listened, came from heart
throbbing with sympathy for the suffer
ing farmer and artizan or were the
souIless mouthings of blatant hypo-
critic. You have often pictured high
ideals. Have you ever attained them?
You have bitterly denounced corruption
in officeholders. Are you untalnted?
You have inveighed heavy against Of
fcials riding on passes. Do you and
your fellows pay your way? The Eng
1ish language does not afford you adjec-
tives enough to portray the terrible con-
dition of the husbandmen of the state
and your feelings were lacerated because
they were never called to sit in high
places and to have a voice in the coun-
ellis of state. How many representa-
tives of the purely farming commune
ties have you called around you or APP
pointed to a voice in local affairs? You
have often denounced the representa-
tive recreant to his constituency. Have
you been true to yours?
I have no desire to enter into the
questions affecting you in the state at
large. The charges against you and the
claims in your favor may or may not
be true. I do claim, however, that your
conduct regarding affairs in Atchison
county, with which 1 am reasonably ia
miliar, is a fair criterion to judge Of
your conduct elsewhere. Before the
election the laborer and the farmer were
uncrowned sovereigns, who had long
been defrauded out of their just and in
allenable rights. In the event of your
election and that Of your compatriots,
they we're to enter into the fruition OF
their long delayed hopes. The decalogue
was once more to have a place in adj
ministrative affairs and political chicanery
to be a thing of the past. The test was
to be made. You entered field of sur
passing richness. A great herd was to
be driven out and new one let in to
pasture on the luxurIant herbage. The
impending panic was already making
itself felt and there was a maddenIng
rush for spoils. Aside from this there
was contest at hand thut would try
the resources and stability of the state.
It was a time that called for broad
craftsmanship and not clownish cavort-
ings. for brave leadership and not peurile
poltroonery. Public issues were met
and should have been met squarely.
Patronage was dispensed and should
have been given with honor and credit.
In Atchison there was to be change
in police commissioners and police force.
Let us see how the political cess-pools
were cleared by an infusion Of Populism.
The very inception of the change was
conceived in fraud. The choice of the
Populist party as expressed by its club
was made in favor of three certain men.
But after reaching the seat of power at
Topeka, in your presence and you being
the advisor if not the instigator, deal
was consummated overthrowing the will
of the Populists in Atchison and giving
the lie to all former protestatlons Of
purity. The appointments were, ]. G.
Thayer. a coal dealer; P. Langan, an
hotel keeper and DR.. Cochrane, physi-
cian roeubo-x of the hoard. n r Horn