The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-01-03


satiOn.
TOPEKA. Kas., Dec. 2S.-The populist
camp was this afternoon thrown into
the widest excitement by the act of
Governor Lewelling in removing Mrs.
Mary E Lease from the state board
of charities. This was done after a long
conference with his associate state Of
ficers and leaders of the peoples party,
and was. no doubt, in anticipation Of
the war which Mrs. Lease was preparing
10 declare against the state administra-
fion.
Why LeweIIing Acted.
To a reporter Governor Lewelling
said: 81 do not want to say much about
1t. I want you to be careful TO quote
me correctly. I have removed Mrs.
Lease in the interest of harmony and
good government. There seems to be
some lack Of harmony in the charitable
institutions Of the state and considerable
trouble in the board. concluded Mrs.
Leases removal was the remedy, and 1
accordingly removed her. That's all I
have to say about it this afternoon"
Don't you think you have stirred up
a row.
Maybe 1 have, but I guess there will
be no great trouble grow out of it."
Mrs. Lease, who was up to o'clock
head Of the state board Of charities, was
In the city today TO confer with the pop
ulist leaders about the recent election
of George F. Tauber to be steward of
the deaf and dumb asylum at Olathe by
the votes Of NJ. A. Householder and w. s.
Waite. the republican members OF the
board.
Either he goes OF I CO. Mrs. Lease
said to a reporter. and she stamped her
foot to emphasize the assertion. This
was before her removal was announced.
1T is question Of principle with me.
First. 1 am a pOpulist of the middle-of-
the-road sort. and do not believe in ap-
pointing democrats to Office. Next, good
popuIists have been ignored; and lastly.
am opposed to Tauber, because he
was appointed to secure the beer-drinI-
ing element Of the state for the peoples
party next year. 1 am not that kind
of a populist- 1 do not believe in COM
promising with wrong in any shape or
form 1t is certain Tauber will have to
be retired or I shall quit the board
A Sudden Impulse.
The removal Of Mrs. Lease was
thought Of today. Yesterday there was
no talk OF it in the state house or in
populist circles anywhere. 1t is not be-
lieved the removal was wholly caused
by the row in the board, for that has
been Of long standing, and was open
and notorious. That somebody had to
go has been known for some months,
for Mrs. Lease on the one side and
Mr.. Waite on the other could never
tremendously work, but it was not in
tended to let it be Mrs. Lease until this
morning, when intelligence was brought
to the governor that Mrs. Lease had
not buried the Ratchet, but was getting
ready to make another assault through
the newspapers upon the administration.
She, in conversation with a weIl-known
populist within the past fOrty-eight
hours, stated that she was not satisfied
with the terms OF peace made for her
with the governor. She said Governor
Lewelling and the entire state house
crowd ought to be turned down. and
that she was loaded with letters and
other documents that would make the
rundown. She said she proposed to go
after the governor on account of a good
many misdemeanors, and especially on
account Of the appointment of Artz and
Todd.
When this reached the governors ears
he decided the question Of removing her.
and instead of letting out Householder
1t Is War Now.
The removal means the administra-
ton has accepted Mrs. Leases chal-
lenge to battle. The contest viii be full
Of fire and interest.
Mrs. Lease takes her removal like a
trained politician. She said to a re-
porter: Yes. 1 have been officially in
formed Of my decapitation. 1 had had
hint Of what was coming. But Governor
Lewelling ought TO have told you the
reason 1t was because I went to him
yesterday noon and made a demand upon
him, not request, mind you-a demand
that at the expiration Of the term OF
Mr.. zoe, a republican member next
April, j. r. Kennedy, pOpulist editor
of Wilson county, be appointed. / know
that with Mr.. Kennedy on the board
we could run the institution in bust
nessIike way and get rid Of the political
schemes TO which the board now re-
sorts. But the governor seems TO like
that way Of administering our state
charities. It was not a month ago he
came to us with demand that we re-
move Carter from the superintendency
OF the deaf and dumb asylum. / said
to him that he had no right to make
such a demand; that we, the board
were responsible for our appointments
and the party could not afford to have
such an institution as the deaf and dumb
asylum mixed up in small politics. But
the majority Of the board did the gov
ernor's bidding and now they are trying
TO find way to reinstate Carter; but
It Is all right. If Governor Lewelling
can stand II, 1 can. / will saw wood
and wait. as the politicians say. / am
no politician but you may congratulate