The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-10-29
FUNNIEST THING IN KANSAS.

1t is an interesting conjecture what
would have been the fortune Of the
Democratic party in Kansas had such
men as Cleveland, Bayard, COchT'ane.
Carlisle, Palmer or Brice been at the
head Of It
The spirit Of contention In Kansas
Is large, as large as in any other state.
When The pendulem swung to the ex-
IRENE and the astounding Republican
majority of $1,000 was recorded, all
shrewd politicians knew that a re-
action was inevitable. In any other
state but Kansas, the natural vent
for that inevitable reaction would have
been through the Democratic party.
But in Kansas it was not The POpu-
list movement resulted, and instead Of
being seized upon and manipulated by
che Democrats, as it was IN many other
states, the Populists swallowed the
Democratic voters and still hold them.
Meanwhile Popufism in Kansas has
driftad away from all its former nat
Us bc11Cbo A4safC AOL6
since been discarded. The fat craze,
the sub-treasury warehouse plan and
divers Pefferian fantasies are gone.
The astounding lodge organization Of
Populism, which swung whole town.
ships into solid plalanxes has disap-
peared- The enthusiasm which found
demonstration and manifestation In
long parades has lapsed. Nothing is
left Of popuEsm but fts leaders, still
hungry for office and a following,
which while still large, suspects fits
leaders and despairs of ultimate ma
rional victory. With PopuIsn dissi-
pating, and large element in the state,
despairing of a successful third
party" and loathe to return to the Re
publican party, 1t is perhaps not saying
too much to declare that with proper
and competent leadership, such as
Whitney or Brice could give IT. the
Democrats OF Kansas could turn that
drifting, dissatisfied element into the
Democratic ranks and the Democratic
party would become a dominant fea-
ture In Kansas politics.
Under such leadership Democracy
would undoubtedly wax as Populism
waned, instead of Democracy waning
along with Populism, as 1t does now.
Under such leadership, the Democracy
OF Kansas could be able 30 demand
some hearing in Washington and not
be lnsulted with $45 per month Job
conferred on the head Of its state or
ganizaion, as 1T was conferred on Mr..
Richardson. While this Is all con-
}ecrura., there does appear in Kansas
today lack of Democratic leadership,
which must be huInihating 30 the
Democrat, who is olassed
as a Populist against his will.
There is nothing in common between
the Populist and straight-out Demo-
craft One represents an extreme rad
lcal political factor, the other an OPP
posing conservative force. One thorws
itself into the enthusiastic alteration of
4 harmless crank like Coxey, while the
other clings steadfast to the unswerv-
ing and traditional opinions of Jeffer-
son and Jackson.
1t cannot be but humiliating, then,
Tor the Democrat who is a Democrat
and not an office seeker, to ally him
self to the Coxey worshippers The
1nly question with him is whether he
lan bring the men who claim to be his
leaders, 10 their senses. This he may
10 by preventing the success of fu-
ion, and allowing those leaders, who
'el their principles for private gain, to
70 down at the polls crushed. But TO
10 this he must vote with his tradi- |
iOnal enemy, the Republican party, |
md that is always diStasteful 20 a |
Democrat
There are many funny, curious |
Kings In Kansas politics, but the fun ,,
hest thing, is that the Democratic |
,arty of this state, with a national or
;anization behind it, with the prestige |
# great names and great men, with |
he power of great national principals,
hat such an organization should allow |
tSelf to be the complete creature of am
organization that is not considered SER
ously except in localities, that has
leither great names, great men or
,reat principles, and is itself fading
way.