Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1896-09-02
GOOD MEN AND GOOD PRINCIPLES.

The Peoples party of Kansas this
year, barring some little prejudice and
Ill-will occasioned by the selection of
candidates and leaders, enters the cam
paign under more favorable circum-
stances than ever before. The strength
of the Populist ticket comes from two
sources-the Populist candidates and
platform being especially strong
while the republican candidates
and platform are especially weak.
But while these conditions are
favorable there are other obstacles in
the way of success. The fight Is one in
which the classes on one side are array
ed against the masses on the other.
The former possess their wealth as
their weapon while the latter must ap-
peal 10 the voters promising only right,
justice and equity between man and
man. But so it has ever been through
all ages and history is living witness
to the fact that the people-the masses
though, perhaps, domineered and de-
ceived for time, at last awoke to their
interests and by their votes restored
the government to those to whom it by
right belongs-the people who compose
it. And we believe that in the fall cleo
ton of the year of our Lord, 1896, his
tory will haye repeated itself.
The Peoples party goes before the
voters of Kansas with nothing to apol-
ogize for. 1t offers to the voters of the
state ticket composed of men against
whom there is not word of reprCach
neither personally nor politically.
Aside from this they are men of judg-
ment, men of wisdom, men of integrity
and men in whose keeping any state or
nation would be safe and in whose care
the property and policy of the country
would be watchfully and Zealously
guarded. Travel over the state of Kan
sas, search every square foot of her area
and You could not find a man whose
personal and characteristic qualifica-
tions for chief executive are more ex-
emplified than those possessed by Hon.
John w. Leedy. Firm and determined
yet always ready to receive advice,
stalwart and aggressive yet always care
full and discreet, cordial and always
willing to give all hearing, yet never
to be controlled by any politician or
agency, honest straightforward and
open-hearted John Leedy will make a
governor to whom future generations
will point with feelings of patriotism
and respect. With Leedy as governor
the annual recurring scandals which
now throw O1ium on our state and its
institutions will be thing of the past
and honesty, purity and justice will
take the place of theft, corruption, and
special favors to few localities and in
dividuals. When Leedy is elected the
rogues will be relieved from official
duty, and honest, conscientious men
will take their place, and if any new
appOintee should weaken Governor
Leedy will be the first man to remove
him and ill the vacancy with one who
will be credit to civilized and pro-
gresslve state. AS legislator Leedy
has record after which congressman
could pattern. While member of the
state senate, his voice was always
raised in behalf of the producer, the
labOrers and the downtrodden, but new
or in single Instance has he proposed
or championed any measure unfair to
the creditor or monied classes. The
only objection the opposition has thus
far offered against Mr.. Leedy is that he
is rot wealthy man and this should
be only another reason why he should
be made governor of Kansas.
For chief justice, Frank Doster is a
man whose superior as a man and a
jurist cannot be found. He is a man
whose heart beats in sympathy with
the masses and therefore it is reason
able to suppose that in passing on a
question of law in cases where Labor
and Capital are the c0ntending parties.
the former would receive the benefit of
| doubt though the capitalist would al
ways be given justice and fair inter
| probation of the law. Our enemy urges
| the objection that DosteT, if elected
would ignore the rights of corporations
and creditors but such charge is with
| out reason. No act of Frank Doster's
warrants such statement. He is ar
honest man and will respect his oath
such charges by the republican party
Will strengthen Doster's candidacy a.
1T has OF other men. All the campaign
slime and unreasonable fabrication.
that are now being heaped on Judg,
Doster were once thrown on Judge
Dennison and Mckay, but these mel
now stand at the head CT the judlcia
fraternity of the state and are givel
credit as honest, upright and compe
tent, even by those who once decrie'
them as anarchists and repudiators. S.
it will be with Doster; after sitting il
the capacity of chief justice of the stat
of Kansas for one year, he will be rec
ognized as an able judge, an homes
man and credit to any dignified posi-
ton.
None the less qualified for the dis
charge of the duties of the Office TO
which he is a candidate is Rey. j. d
Botkin, the Populist candidate for con
g;essman- at-large. His extensive trav
els oyer the country have made him &C