The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-05-09
MRS. LEASE READY FOR FIGHT.
She Favors the Amendment and Believe
1t win Win Despite Graft.

She Favors the Amendment and Believes
1T viii Win Despite Craft.
Mrs Mary E. Lease can not be here to
attend the big equal suffrage rally, but
she has been interviewed especially on
woman suffrage at her home Rnd says:
THE people of Kansas stand at the be-
ginning OF a period of new political
issues and agitations. The Democratic
party never strong in this state, has been
rent and disintegrated by its idol, Cleve-
land. The stalwarts, or staightouts,
recognizing how futile would be an effort
on their part, are willing to ally them
selves with their Republican brethren,
between them and whom there is per-
feet harmony in everything from finance
to whisky, but the other wing of Demo
crazy known as FusiOnists have become
the political Lazarus of the state, and.
lean and ravenOuS, they wait at the
POpulist gate for stray crumbs, flies and
pitying dogs to lick their sores. On one
question, however, the Democrats of
whatever shade or condition are fully
agreed-their opposition to woman sui
frage.
ssThe Republican party, long given its
day of grace, is marshaling its forces for
a most determined struggle. If it profits
by the lessons of the past, if it listens to
the warning words of its friends, if it
relegates the pestIferous ana corrupt old
barnacles to the rear and declares in
favor of the money of the constitution
and equal rights for all, it may yet fan
the almost extinct Goals in its smOldering
hearth into living flames. If the Populists
adopt a suffrage plank the Republicans
will be compelled to, and vice versa, but
they are cowar1ly and polite and will
not dare to stand for right because it is
right.
ssWhat will the Populist party do?
The rank and file of the country people,
who are largely in the Populist ranks,
are in favor of a suffrage plank in their
state platform, as they wish TO give their
wives and daughters the same privileges
that the women of the town and cities are
in possession of. Their vote will be cast
solidly to strike the word male from the
constitution of Kansas But an unscru-
puIOus set of politicians who have no
higher conception of reform and patriot
ism than holding office and drawing
salary are willing to sell the principles
of the Populist party for Democratic
votes. and to obtain these votes they
must oppose woman suffrage and strike
at woman whenever possible, for the
average woman recognizes that the aver
age Democrat is foe to home, and free
dom, and progress. There is an eternal
antagonism between Democracy and
human advancement.
However a tremendous revolt is in
progress all over the state against these
boodlers and fusion pirates. who boarded
the ship of state for the spoils of Office
and nailed to the masthead the Demo-
cratic ensign while sending to the senate
of the United States John Martin, man
whose moral cOwardice and recent vote
against an investigation of the sugar
steal" is a disgrace to the commonwealth
of Kansas. The people are awake and
determined. and should the fusionists
capture the primaries. as they are now
trying to do, they will be defeated at the
DOilS.o