People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-07-06
Topeka Letter.
TOPEKA. KAN, July .. '91

! interest IN working up a StalwaTt
Democratic State convention that the
democrats themselves, and it now
looks as though we are to have four
tickets in the field this fall, repre-
sent!ng the following interests:
The Republicans representing the
corporations and capitalists.
The POpulists representing the
farming and laboring interests.
The Prohibitionists representing
the temperance sentiment and the !
Democrats, from present indications,
will represent the resubmiSsiOniSts, |
and anti-wOmansuffragist and Grover
Cleveland.
The Populists contend that the
issue before the people which comes
most closly to them is whether the
people shall rule. They will contend
that the peace and prosperity Of the
people are paramount to any side issue
while the democrats Will contend that
resubmission and keeping the women
from voting is paramount to any other
issue. The republicans will contend
that the upper and foremost issue is
to show to the capitalists that Kan
saS is their friend by eleyating to
power that party which has made it
possible for farmers to get mortgages
on their farms and equally impossible
TO get them off. The PrOhibitOniSts
will contend that the most vital
question is the presentation Of
men getting liquor to drink. This is
apparent from the platforms which
have been adopted and outlined. No
sane man will contend otherwise for
moment that the real fight will be
between the POpulist and the Repub.
lican parties, so we must make up our
minds how to vote by studying these
two party's platforms. The mere
fact that the Republican platform
says nothing about controlling the
railroads and the money lenders. The
fact that the PopuliSt party has
spoken through its platform against
these evils and sympahizers with the
labOring people show that it is the
party and friend Of the oppressed
If you vote your own interest it is no
difficult task to ascertain for which
party you will vote. The question
every voter should ask himself is,
Am | to be benefited by the railroad
corporations governing Kansas, or by
the people Of Kansas governing the
state? This is the question, and you
cannot evade it. The platforms are
too plain upon this point to be mis-
understood. The Democrats and the
Prohibitionists will have fight all to
themselves over the question of reSub-
nilsson; a question which will not
bring relief to the masses, no differ
ence which way it is settled.
The thought, comes to US that if the
60 vernment would collect the amount
due from the Pacific Railroad, $751;
227, OOO.) and that from the Whiskey
Trust, lSl22, ,654.OOO.) making a total of
1859, ,9SS, 100000 there would be no use
OF issuing bonds to pay the running
expenses Of the government. But
these two robbers are government
pets; especially Of Grover Cleveland and
must not be asked to pay so small an
amount. The Pacific Railroad might
give Uncle Sam credit at least, on
account of hauling her mail cars, il she
can't pay theinterest. How the people
like to be humbugged. What fools
we mortals be, anyway. Voting to
maintain parties in power to set Idly
by and see US robbed Of all we pOsess
and then mortgage US with bonds to
hire armies to defend these same dead
beat corporations who will not pay
what they owe. Olney wants to give
them 100 years more and reduce the
interest to two per cent per annum.
Why not collect the amount and loan
it to the people at two per cent per
annum?
A great deal is being said Of late
about the mis-management Of public
state institutions by the Republican
papers, and their late convention even
went so far as to condemn the POpu-
lists in the most severe terms, espec-
tally laying great stress upon the peni-
tentiary affair. 1t might not be out
Of place to append here an exdract
from the Greensburg Signal, lRepub-
lican.) TO show how unfair such at
tacks are.
"The first month in the history Of
Kansas that the penitentiary ever
paid expenses was last December, when
Warden Dick Chase turned into the
State Treasury a surplus Of sl,OSO.OO.
Honor to whom honor is due"
I Compare Kansas with every other
state in the UniOn-then think what