Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-10-11
HOT SHOT
Tho Bombardment Of the State
Administration by a Kan
sas Popullst.


one OF inc leaulnB Iopuilsts IN Aaneoo
who did az much to elect Gov. LEVEL
ling a. any man In Atchison county.
Nj. Adkins was tho publisher and editor
Of the Atchison Graphic one OF tho
most influential Populist newspapers in
Kansas, and through It's columns made
q heroic fight for the principles Of the
Populist party. Mr. Adkins is . vigor-
GUS writer and 10 and was sincere In his
convictions, but be has discovered, a.
have thousands more, that whom he was
fighting to elect Lewelling be was not
battling for genuine Reform
Mr.. Adkins has made tho painful dis.
covery that "all that glitters ID not
gold" and that there is wide dihsr.
ence between the brilliant promises OF
Gov Lewelling when candidate and
hia cloudy performances as a Governor
Mr.. Adkins handles the Governor
roughly because he tells him tho plain
unvarnishsd truth. His letter is a
scathing rebuke to the Hypocrisy Of the
Popullst administration, and II merci-
lessly uncovsrs the duplicity and do
prayity Of those who are masqueradlng
in tho garb Of political rcformers but
are really guilty Of political harlotry
nauseating to thoughtful people Mr..
Adkins eloquent letter, now made pub
lilo for the first time, Is a. follows:
TO Governor Lowellins.
In thus addressing you I only adept
. method that has been . prevailing one
during your administration and To
which you can hardly object y Il has
been a isvorite mode Of yours In 3D.
dressing the dear public with patriotic
utterancoA or shall we call II political
demugogys To dstormins which d the
object Of this letter.
Two years ago the people were called
to pass judgment on two political par.
ties. Ono was in power and could b
Judged by Its acts and record. The
other had never been tried and oonsid-
Grafton could only bo given on it,
promises and denuncations Of ts rival.
But our patty 10 now before tho bar Of
public opinion and will be judged by
Its acts and record not by the short
comings OF its political opponent. And
the Judgment will be more or less severe
a. you and your colleagues have lived
up to or spurned its ante.elsctiou
promisoA We claim it a right now
that We have the opportunity by two
years administration, to analyze your
motives and 500 Il your conduct has been
Inspired by pure and lofty patriotism
or sordid and personal gain. Whether
the grand speeches and letters to which
We have listened, came from q heart
throbbing with sympathy for the suffer-
ing farmer and artizan or were the
soulless mouthlngs Oft blatant hypo-
critic. You have often pictured high
ideals Have you ever attained them 7
You have bitterly denounced corruption
in ofIlceholdsrs. Are you untalnted
You have inveighod heavy against Of
floials riding on passes. Do you and
your follows pay your wayf The Eng.
lish language does not afford you adjec'
tives enough to portray the terrible con-
dition OF the husbandmen Of the state
and your feelings were lacsrated because
they were never called 10 Sit in high
places and 10 have voice In the coun-
oils Of state. How many representa-.
tivsc Of the purely farming commune
ties have you called around you or ap.
pointed to voice in local afIairsi You
have often denounced the representa-
tive recreant to bis constituency. Have
you been true to yours?
have no desire to enter into tha
questions affecting you In the state at
large. The charges against you and the
claims in your favor may or may not
BIO true. I do claim, however, that your
conduct regarding affairs in Atchison
county, with which | am reasonably fa-
miliar, 10 a fair criterion to judge Of
your conduct elsewhere. Before the
election tho laborcr and the farmer were
uncrowned sovereigns, who had long
been dsfrauded out Of their just and in.
alIenable rights In tho event OF your
election and that Of your compatrlots,
they we're to enter into the fruition OF
their long delayed hopes. The decalogue
was once moro 10 have place in ad-
minstrative airsand political chicanery
TO be 9 thing Of the past Tho lest was
to be made. You entered q field Of sur
passing richness. A great herd was TO
be driven out and new one lot in to
pasore on the lurunant heritage. The
impending panic was already making
itself felt and there was q maddenng
rush Tor spoils. Aside from this there
was contest at hand thut would try
the resources and stability OF the state.
1t was q time that called for broad
craftsmanship and not clownish cavort.
ings, for brave leadership and not peuriIe
poltroonery. Public issues were met
and should have been met squarely.
Patronage was dispensed and should
have been given with honor and credit.
In Atchison there was to be change
in police commissioners and police force
Let us SEQ how the political cess-pools
were cleared by an infusion Of Populism.
The very inception OF the change was
conceived in fraud. The choice Of tho
Popullst party as expressed by It's club
was made in favor Of three certain mon.
But after reaching the seat Of power at
Topeka, in your presence and you being
the advisor Il not tue instigator, deal
was oonsummated overthrowing the will
OF the Popullsts in Atchison and giving
the lie to all former protestatlons Of
purity. The appointments were, J. g.
Thayer, coal dealer; 7. Langan, IN
hotel keeper and DR.. Cochrane, physi.
clan, members Of the board; II. B. Horn.