The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-10-26
A SINKING SHIP.
The Reform" Graft Being Rapidly
Deserted.
An Ex-Member of the Peoples Party State
Central Committee Becomes Disguised
with His Associates and Returns
to His First Love.

The following letter abandoning the
reform organization is from a promi-
nent populist of Mcpherson county. a
member of the populist state central
committee two years ago. director of
the Topeka Advocate Co. one of the
organizers of the party and for three
years chairman of the pOpulist county
committee of Mcpherson county, men,
Der of the Seventh district COMPRESSION
al committee and assisted in conduct
ing Jerry Simpsons last campaign:
MCPHERSON. Kan
Hon. Cyrus Leland. Jr-.
Dear Sir: In Isss concluded that the exist
ing political conditions and political parties
needed reforming. 1 judged the future by the
past; my mind drifted back to 1862 when the
republican party sprang into existence and ac-
complished some OF the greatest reforms and
laid more stepping stones 10 the great heights
OF political and Industrial liberty than any
other political party that ever existed under
any civilized form OF government believed
that a new party could and would advance in
the science of political and industrial liberty
1 therefore left the republican party and joined
the union labor arty. now known as the peo-
pies party. l believed that the reform move
ment would advance. not retrograde.
1 did not join the reform party and then
stand idly by only voting on election day
went TO work 1 spent both time and money
labored untiringly and almost necessarily
We put a state and county ticket in the field
when We were well aware that we could not
elect a single man. We worked for principles
and the lettering Of the condition of the poor
Our party gained strength very fast The
farmers alliance. which was a nOn-partisan
secret organization. came TO Us almost IN a
solid body here in Kansas We then changed
our name from union labor TO the alliance
party: the name was again changed in 1871 &c
the peoples party.
Until 1891 our party was run by good men
We had gained strength beyond our own ex
pectatiOns. our political strength became visi-
BILE: it was no longer doubtful. Then il was
that the old politicians who had been fighting
u.s. the worst elements in the old parties. threw
up their cOlOrs and became great reformers
Some of them received this change Of heart in
side of twenty-four hours. They denounced
the republican party as enemies and traitors
to a republican form of government; they cap
tured the political secret organization and By
Is91, when we held our state convention they
had their political machine in perfect order;
every journal was well oiled, no danger Of hot
boxes.
The first man nominated was our present
governor No one except the machine poll
ticians knew him or had ever heard Of him. but
the politicians knew they could handle him
and he must be our candidate. The democrats
got a turn at the machine and got their candi-
dates.
Twas a delegate to that convention. Until
the state convention at Wichita was one Of
the most enthusiastic workers. worked both
in private and public for the cause Of reform
1 will say and have the best Of evidence for
nv belief, and am getting more every day. that
the peoples party ceased to be a party Of re-
form at the Wichita state convention in June
1s92- They surrendered their charter TO ma
chine politicians. According to my opinion
there never was a state convention held in our
state in which there were as many honest men
as were in that convention The majority Of
them were not politicians. but men who had
never taken part in conventions before; they
were so honest that they never miStrusted that
traitors TO reform were running the machine
The campaign Of 1890 was run on the line Of
reform: the campaign OF 1892. in point OF cor
ruption b0ssism and political trickery was
never equaled in the state We elected the
governor and state officers the majority Of the
senate and fifty-eight members in the house
What benefit was that political victory. We
sent John Martin. ! democrat to the United
States senate: we sent Senator Fefer 20 work
for populist principles. and Martin 70 work
against them. to kill PETERS vote
The honest pOpulist who dares 70 condemn
the treason OF the party politicians. has TO
stand all kinds Of epithetS. Where i there
reform when by threats and intimidation when
we see anything that is radically wrong and
dare say 50. il i az our perils do not accuse
the farmer or labOriug man OF being an
archists. many OF them believe in paternalism.
not anarchy; some few OF them
believe in socialism. not anarchy; but
I believe that the men and women
in the peoples party should do their
own thinking instead of allowing their leaders
70 think for them / will say to my pOpulist
friends. il you do not think and investigate for
yourselves your leaders will lead you step by
step. from paternalism to natiOnalisrn. from
uationalism to socialism. and from socialism
to anarchy, and every man and woman would
observe no law like the wild tiger and the lion
in the African Jungles-
1t has been a constant quarrel in our admin
Istration over the spoils Of ONCE and appoint
nents. The farmer or IabOring man is only
known by his vote. During the campaign Of
1892 we frequently heard that Lewelling had
made a deal with saloon keepers. The deal
was that they were 70 elect him and he would
protect them. This was hurled back as a re-
publican lie. Lewelling was elected and We
Fan plainly see who is protected l. il for re-
form that the saloon keepers are protected: Is
il kindness. love and charity that the governor
has for the saloon keeper or Is flor the dollars
and cents:
Ny opinion is there never was a political
party whose leaders ignored tie true prin-
.fples OF reform more than the populist leaders
What convention was IL that refused 20 allow
IN Investigation of the charges OF fraud and
corruption: what convention was il that Cox
syite appeared before them and was cheered as
I re were an angel dropped among them: He
.sked for money and got SOD and do not think
,e has been heard Of since. Who i it that
planes President Cleveland for saving the
Queen City OF the west from the torch Of de-
,truction believe 70 re-eIeet LeweIling gov
.rnor is to bury the last vestige OF reform
l believe there are thousands OF men in the
peoples party who IL they had the opportunity
4 Investigation would no longer affiliate with
hat party. they would no longer be led by
heir political bosses
I cannot affiliate with q party that has caused
constant turmoil ever since they have been
n power
may be wrong. but I cannot affiliate with
he populist party and be loyal 10 our flag I
aunot iudorse them and De I law-abiding citi-
en- cannot indOrse them and be loyal 20 our [
ederal constitution 1 cannot indOrse them I
because they have ignored all true principles I
4 reform. cannot indOrse any political party /
hat wants 70 do nv thinking cannot work I
or party that does not WANT NE % 4hFestl- I
ate for myself Ica1nOt wOrs for . party THAI 4
fill not allow a man TO condemn that which be /
elieves 20 be wrong l cannot support party /
hat becomes 50 partisan that its members viii I
OF read any literature except that published 4
y their own party l cannot support party /
hat tries 10 create aaimOsiry between NY 4
eighbor and me because differ in politics. /
he leaders CT the populists are trying 10 IL 1
uIcate these principles in their party
do not claim that the republican party has 4
ever made any mistake ! DO not believe that 4
be republican party has laid the last stepping 4
tone in cement by which We are TO climb the Il
iassive and rugged heights Of political and in
ustriaI liberty. but do believe that We a Il
alton we're more prosperous under republican l
1le than any other nation on The face Of the 1
arth-
For the reasons given above I believe the |
aviation OF Kansas from boodleisn and 4
randall and the DANGEROUS tendency 70 an