Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-04-12
TOPEKA LETTER.


Between charges, Investigations, injunctions,
restraining orders, quo warranto proceedings,
etc., the "redeemers" have been strictly in it
during the past week, and one would have sup
posed that the legislature was in session, judg-
ing by the crowds that swarmed the corridors of
the state house.
The big fight occurred over the appointment
of sergeant-at arms for the penitentiary invest
igating committee. 1t appears that Cy LELAND
had been very profuse in his promises to the
faithful during the campaign, and among the
large number he had slated for place at the
pie counter was one Black, former employee at
the penitentiary.
When the opportune time arrived to recog-
nize the valuable services of this gentleman in the
capacity of body-guard for Cy Corning, to pro-
tect his carcass from the anticipated assault of
some indignant Populist, Leland and the gov
ernor attempted to dictate his appointment as
sergeant arms, but the committee objected
and gave the governor to plainly understand
that he had performed his duty when he as
sisted in the selection of the committee,
and that they would choose their own officers
and conduct the investigation as they saw
proper, and that under no circumstances would
Black be appointed. Fooled in their attempt to
foist him on this committee, the same tactics
were employed on the asylum investigating
committee, with no better success, one of
the members of said committee going so
far as to inform the governor that rather than
be dictated to in the matter, he would resign
and go home, and as result of this disgraceful
proceeding, the position of door-keeper to the
Chase investigating committee was created and
Black assigned to the place, and he can now ex-
claim in the language of the Psalmist: 81
I'D he If t,a
Lord than to dwell in the tents of wickness."1
Speaking of Investigations reminds me that
the charges against Senator Householder,
member of the board of charities, were present
ed to the governor, signed by discharged EN-
ploye of the Topeka asylum, who subsequently
visited the governor and admitted that he was
induced to sign them under misrepresentation,
and that he knew nothing of the allegations
contained therein, except from hearsay. After
wards the name of the attache of one of the po-
litical banks located in the city was secured to
the papers, and on the strength of such testi-
mony, the governor of this great commonwealth
appoints committee of two senators and three
representatives to investigate charges against
Populist state official, and when these unknown
and irresponsible parties who preferred the
charges were summoned before the committee
last Friday they admitted that they knew nothing
had heard; but Kansas must be redeemed"
even if it does come high.
The truth of the adage that when rogues fall
out honest men get their dues, is called to mind
very forcibly at the present time.
Think of the four-coumn ''roast" Sol Miller
gave the governor and the Legislature, for which
he is to receive two hundred dollars per column,
that being the difference between the job he re-
fused with thanks and the one he finally accept
ed after his vigorous kick. Then Bent Muir
dock comes to the rescue, excuses the governor
and blames it all on the pie-hunters, such as Joe
Hudson, Barney Kelley, Jim Simpson, George
W. Martin, Sim Bradford, George T. Anthony
and lot of other hungry "redeemers," who
were far more interested in getting jobs than in
upholdidg the hands of the executive, etc., and
Ewing Herbert, of the Hiawatha World, charges
all the trouble that the present administration
has encountered to Cy Leland. The Atchison
Cha,nD;on savs ttat ttit &c nftet, difficult TO de-