Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-07-10

1894, I<eWell1ng, running alone against MoIIlll
and Ovelmyer, received IIS,329 votes; Morrill,,
I48,6o7, and Overmyer 26,o93 votes.
Lewelling, then, after two years of admins
tration, received 45,47S less votes than he re-
ceived the two years before, and that, too,
against weak and unpopular Republican can
didate who did not have the active support OF
his party.
Now then, add the Overmyer vote Of 26,o95
to dwellings vote of 11S,329, cast in 1894,
and it shows the total combined Democratic
and Populist vote that year to be I45, 1888, or
18,364 votes less than dwellings, combined
Democratic and Populist vote of 1892.
1t cannot be said that the Democrats voted
the Republican ticket for Morrill, against Lew
elling, because the Republican vote of 1894
was 1873 less than the Republican vote Of
1892, which only goes to show that the Repub-
licans came nearer holding their party vote than
the Populists and Democrats did-that is all.
The fact is, the Democrats voted for Level
ling in 1894, Notwithstanding they had can
didate for governor in the field and we know
of many leading Democrats who worked and
voted for Lewelling because they believed him
stronger than Overmyer. But the honest Pop
ulists in the county who were disgusted with
dwellings, proAiga:e and inconsistent course
in the management Of public affairs stayed at
home, away from the polls on election day,
and were the means of beating nearly every
Populst nominee for congress and county offices
in the state,
1t was the stay-at- home Populist vote, in the
country, that beat the ticket in the state in
1894 not the Democratic vote, because Morrill,,
with 1873 less than Smith had in 1892, had
majority over all of 1859.
True, Lewelling ran ahead of the state ticket
a few votes, which only goes to show that a
few Democrats and members of the liquor fra
ternity in the cities, whom he favored, showed
their appreciation of his kindness to them by
voting for him.
We know of Populists, who are true reform
ers, and heretofore had been for years faithful
and untiring workers for the party, that lay
down in the campaign of 1894, and would not
turn wheel, because they had no use for Lew
elling. The writer urged and entreated with
them to put their shoulder to the wheel, but
they would not. They would not fight him,
but they would not work. Another nomina-
tion of Lewelling would have tendency to
drive that element out of the party. We have
some Populists here who have never voted any
other than Populist ticket since the party
was organized, who say, "We voted for Lew
cling last time under protest, and if he is NOM
ipated again, we will not go to the polls'
1t must be apparent to all, upon examination
of the figures of 1894, that the Peoples party,
to win, must get out this stay-at-home vote,
get the Democratic vote and some Republican
votes.
Now, the question arises, Who can do the
most toward getting the votes Of al; three of
these factors2
Gan Leweling do its We think not Every
Democrat we talk to says he will not support
Lewelling, and that the ). Democrats in their
state convention will not endorse him, notwith-
standing he had given them the lions share of
the patronage and spoils during his admins
tration.
Can he get the DISSATISFIED dissSa Republican vote?
We believe he cannot
Many Republicans here say they will vote
against Mckinley and the gold standard, and
will vote the Populist ticket to down Cy Leland
and the gang, if we will put out a good man.
bbpqt when we mention +ewellng's name with
reference to their voting, it is sufficient to bring
out an emphatic ono"
To illustrate; A prominent Republican
merchant OF this city was in the Lantern Office