The Globe-republican., 1894-09-07
ANOTHER BOMB.
II Falls Squarely in the Populist
Camp.
Terrible Arrangement Of the ~Ref0rmers'
what the Temporary Chairman Of the
Populist Convention Thinks Of the
Company He Trained With.


populist state convention at Topeka on
June II. has addressed letter to John
w. Breidenthal. chairman of the popu-
list state central committee, in which
he withdraws his offer of services for
the campaign and declares that he will
not support Gov. Lewelling. A copy
of Henderson's letter fell into the
hands of the republican state central
committee and was given out for pub
LEGATION. It is as follows:
Hon. John W. Breidenthal Topeka. Kan.
WINFIELD. Kan. Aug. ..
Ny Dear Sir and Brother:-Cnder no circum-
stances do I wish the language used in this let
ter to be twisted into the thought that am
contemplating leap" from the populist party.
Upon the other hand. wish it understood that
I adhere strictly to the doctrine enunciated in
the new declaration of independence adopted
July 4, 1892. by the peoples party national con-
vention. Some time ago promised you that I
would speak at Marion on the 25th Of this
month On the 24th wired you that I could
not I'LL the engagement. I also promised you
that In the latter part Of September would
engage in the campaign. speaking every day
during the month Of October. This promise
cannot comply with. neither can support
Gov. Lewelling for the following reasons, to-
wit:
F1rSt-The present management OF the peni-
Tertiary is a matter demanding the careful and
conSiderate attention Of all true reformers and
Of every honest and loyal citizen Of this state.
The warden in his report points with pride to
the enormous amount of coal mined under his
management. but he fails to tell that the man
Hiatt. who had the contract Of all the coal
mined by convict labor was the one who made
the handsomest profit from the sale of this coal
and not the state. During the time that so
much coal was being mined by convict labor,
Gov. Lewelling was encouraging the miners Of
the state TO stand firmly in their strike for JUS
tice and at the same time making it impossible
for them to win their strike by taking convicts
out OF the various manufacturing departments
of the pententiary by the score and putting
them in the mines. working both night and day.
According 10 Warden ChaSe's recent report,
this wrong to the miners Of the state
was done not only with Gov Lewell-
ings knowledge but with his con-
sent Then, again. thousands OF populists in
this state are anxious for a fair and honest in
vestigation Of the charges against Warden
Chase. including his brutal attack upon old
man Mcdonald. They think il Chase is inno-
cent. an honest. fair investigation will do him
no harm Upon the other hand. il the charges
are true. Chase should promptly be removed
from office. and in so doing Gov. Leweiling
would receive the commentator Of every good
citizen
Second-At the time was talking with you
as to the part should take in the campaign
there were rumors afioat that the police COM
misSiOners Of the large cities were thoroughly
corrupt. did not then believe that the stories
were true. but believed there was some ground
therefor. This opinion possessed at the time
I was elected temporary chairman of our state
convention. hence the reason that spoke so
emphaticaIly and determined upon the Ques-
- haii hat fhn
adoption Of that plank into our platform would
plainly indicate that the Slum vote and influ-
ence was not wanted in the populiSt party.
When Gov. dwelling accepted the nomination
of that convention after the adoption of our
platform. could not believe that he knew the
real facts Of the corruption in the large cities
and state institutions. assuming. OF course,
that he was honest and sincere at the time of
his speech accepting the nomination. A reso-
luton was offered to the convention that Gov.
Lewelling would thoroughly investigate the
charges, not only against the police commits
sioners of the cities of the first class. but the
charges against Warden Chase as well. and. as
you well know. a resolution was offered to the
convention demanding such investigation
and Withdrawn upon the promise from the gov
ernor'S friends that such investigation should
be made. I assumed that this was true. and
gave no further thought to the diSgraceful
charges of corruption and Doodle made against
Gov. dwellings administration. I conscien-
tiously believed that everything was moving
nicely and that the governor was quietly lay
ing his plans for discovering corruption in
Office If any could be found" While so con-
tinuing in my confidence in Gov. LewelIing.
imagine. il you can. the restlessneSs and I'M
easineSs the shock of the publication Of Judge
Aliens letter gave me. knowing him to be a
cool. conSiderate and conservative man. and in
his letter was direct charge that Gov. Lew
cling not only knew Of the corruption of the
administration of the offices in the cities of the
first class, but that he sanctioned it. This was
more than could stand. I can't believe tina.
'our governor is as honest and sincere as
thought him to be when he was nominated
Being in Topeka few days thereafter was
approached by populistS high up in the coun-
ellis Of the administration who assured me
that Judge Allen had been listening to the
enemies of Gov. Lewelling and wrote his letter
to Lieut.. Daniels without proper investi-
CATION Of the charges which he has since made
and upon his return he will make the state
ment for publication to the effect that he had
done Gov. Lewelling an injustice" No such
statement. however. has yet been published
FROM Judge Allen. I accepted the alleged ex-
PLANTATION. however, as true, yet with fixed
determination to make some investigation my
SELF which l have done within the past two
weeks. and the result is startling.
Judge Aliens letter is indeed very mild II
throws the mantle of charity around and pro-
tects the most contemplate acts Of the police
commissioners appointed by Gov. Lewelling.
and since the publication Of Judge Aliens let
ter. and in fact within the past four weeks, q
committee Of respectable citizens Of Wyan-
dotte county waited upon the governor and
told him Of many cases Of corruption among
the police commissioners Of Kansas City. Kan,
and demanded Of him and pleaded with him
that change in the police commissioners be
made in the interest Of Law and
the respectable element Of the populist party
Of Wyandotte county. To this appeal and de-
mand the governor gave no heed. knowing, too.
that this committee was composed Of men
whose reputation and character for truthful
ness and fairness were unQuestioned and he
also knew that their loyalty to the principles
Of the peoples party was undoubted Now
this information comes to me not from the
enemies Of the populist party. but from popu-
lists OF good standing in Kansas City, Kan.
Honest men: successful and honest business
men not engaged in the lottery business
nor in the joint business. I have for several
months contemplated locating in Kansas City
Kan. and for some time have made frequent
visits to that city with that end in view and |
hence have formed the acquaintance Of some |