The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-02
POOR OLD KANSAS
SOCIALIST JUDGE
Somethiny About the Freak Who Heads
Her Supreme Court.
INTO OFFICE ON A POPULlST TIDE
He Has Radical and Startling Opiu.
ions Of the Rights Of Labor, Capital
and PrOperty..StOry Of His Eiec-
tiOn Which Throws Light on Con.
temporary Politics.
From the Times-Herald.

Topeka, Kas., Nov. 26.-Judge Frank
Doster, the newly elected chief justice
of the supreme court of Kansas, Is a
socialist and the more forward social
lists and advocates of extreme deforms
in Kansas are greatly pleased with his
election. He is an able lawyer, a close
student, a thoughtful jurist ana IS
regarded with favor by the common
people. For six years he has pro-
claimed socialistic and cOmmunistic
doctrines from the stump. He is a ma
tive of Virginia, and when a mere boy
entered the Union army from Indiana
Then he came to Kansas and located
in the practice of law at Marion, where
he still resides. Until 1883 he affiliated
with the Republican party, but was
always independent In his views, and
it was not until the campaign of $780,
when the farmers alliance came near
sweeping the state that DOster pro-
mulgated the doctrines which caused
many property Owenrs to open their
eyes. The people of the state We're
astounded at his radical declarations.
and while he was not candidate for
Office, he was one of the leading spirits
in the alliance party, and was accord
ed the distinction of being its legal
adviser.
APPOINTED DISTRICT JUDGE.
At that time Judge Doster was a
district judge, to which position he
had been elected as an independent
Republican. In the campaign of 1880
he had become so partisan that the
Republicans turned against him, and
set about planning for his defeat the
year following. He had thoroughly
identified himself with the Populist
party, and, of course become it's cam
didate for district judge. With the
Republicans and Democrats state
pride, state credit and rights of prop
erty rose above party ties. and with
unamity never before equalled in the
state they came together for the sole
and only purpose of defeating Doster
The district was composed of Marion,
Chase and Mcpherson counties. A con-
ference was held by the leading Re-
publicans and Democrats, and 1t was
agreed that Lucien Earle, a Demo-
cratic lawyer of Mcpherson, should be
the candidate. In his announcement
Earle solicited the support of "all who
belive the judiciary is the sheet an
chor of our libeY les and the balance
wheel Of American institutions" Judge
Doster announced that he would make
"a speech in the opera house in Marion
audience greeted him. He proclaimed
doctrines at the meeting which We're
new to the people of Kansas. This
was the text of his remarkable speech:
NOTIONS AS TO PROPERTY.
"The only law which the user Of
capital Is bound to observe is that law
which finds it's origin, end and sanction
In himself-the law of self-interest.
/ have asserted that the rights of
user of a thing We're paramount to the
rights of its owner.
You, as the user Of a machine or the
reader of a book. have greater rights
in the same than the inventor or the
author has"
In that speech, which occupied more
than two hours, Judge Dorster said:
THE mutuality between capital and
labor is denied Radical and unpopular
as 1t may be, l deny the existence of
that mutality between labor and capi-
tai which We hear 50 constantly as
serted and which Is the stock utter
ance of politicians and commercialists
and legislators and that class Of cla-
Quers and retailers of cant phrases
who catch up with other peoples
speech and quote it for its Jingle and
amusement of the fancy. My conten-
tion Is that labor and capital or, more
accurately speaking, creator and Great
ed. are not mutual and equal.
The only law which the user of
capital Is bound to observe is that
law which finds its origin, end and
sanction in himself. Radical utter
ances these are, but I have an abiding
faith that the economic philosophy Of
the near future will base itself upon
the principles here announced. I need
not be reminded that have advanced
a proposition at variance with the age,
and all ages in fact, and ] am quite
we'll aware that as against the precon-
ceived notions Of the political econO-
mist it is not self-convincing one.
Stripped to its nakedness. the PROPOSE
tion is that the owner of property does
not possess, with respect to such prop
erty. an equality of right with the
user of it, and upon the truth of that
proposition let me say to you, men,
bers of the Farmers and Citizens AL
lance. and you peoples party men,
rests the entire fabric of your political
platforms and our demand for indus
trial reforms"
HIS FIRST DEFEATS.
The PRONUNCIATION Of this new doc
trine stalled many men in Kansas who
owned property. Railroad officials
conferred, and conference of leading
Republicans was held at Topeka to
map out programme that would sure
ly defeat Doster. This fight occurred
when nothing but county officials were
to be chosen. 1t was an off year. Re-
publicans believed that If they could
unite with the Democrats and defeat
the legal adviser Of the new Populist
ov,t a
turb them. The whole power of the
state was directed to this end, and the
result was crushing defeat to Dos
ter. The Republican state league was
called together at the beginning Of the
battle, and this address was prepared
for use in that district:
"The wandering vagabonds who have
Joined the alliance for political pur-
poses only, and who are trying to make
a living by the sweat of their Jaws
instead of honest toll, will, of course,
fail to pay their debts. An epidemic
of unreasOn swept over our state last
fall. and many Of our people were in
oculated with the pestilence. Quaran-
tine has been established and Is rigid
ly maintained. The epidemic is not
spreading, and many of the origina,
victims are convaiescent.
The party, under the seductive
leadership of demagogues, who mag
nifty the farmers misfortunes and be-
little their resources, obtained control
of the lower house Of our last legisla-
ture. Its conspicuous failure as a law
making body filled the more sensible
members of the alliance with chasrin,
and they will embrace the first oppor-
tunity offered to reinstate themselves
In the Republican party.
kansas is marvellous in it's history,
matchless In its resources and magni-
ficent in its achievements, and the par
ty that maligns the state and dishonors
itself is already struck with the blight
of DEATH
DEMOCRATS SUPPORT HIM.
The judicial district central commit
tee, composed Of Republicans and
Democrats. charged with the conduct
A..