The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-24
Is David Oyermyer For the
United States Senate
In the Eyes of a Former Ham
san,
WHO GETS HIS BOOM
Into the Denver Republican
With Scare Heads.
John n. Ives interviewed on
Senatorial Matters.


Republican of December %, with big
head lines.
Speaking of the present senatorial
situation in Kansas" said John N. Ives,
county attorney of Boulder county, at
the Albany last evening, Il want to say
that it is decidedly mixed. I received
letter recently from Populist friend
who resides in Topeka, in which he
predicts the election of John w. Bret
denthal. the Populist chairman of the
Kansas state central committee to the
United States senate by the DemO-POp-
legislature next month to succeed Sen
ator PETER.
Now, I used to live in Kansas, and
I have been watching the political sit
uation in the Sunfiower state quite
closely ever since the POpulist party
first came into power there The first
victory won by the Populists in Kansas
was the election of myself as attorney
general over Attorney General Kellogg
in $780, which victory was supplemented
by the subsequent election of Senator
PETER to the senate over the erratic In
gals.
while this was considered a Populist
victory, yet it never would have occur
red had it not been for the Endorsement
Of myself by the Kansas Democrats.
So it was when Gov. Lewelling and the
entire POpuliSt ticket in the state We're
elected in 1892 Had it not been for the
perfect fusion with the Democrats, the
Republican ticket would most certainly
have been victorious by at least small
majority As it was however, John
Martin succeeded to a seat in the SEN
ate unfortunately made vacant by the
untimely death of Senator Plumb
All this was made possible by the
union of the Democrats with the Pop
ulists. In 1894 such union was impos-
sible The Republicans nominated E
n. Morrill, for governor, the POpulists
renominating LeWelling, while the Dem
ocrats chose Dave Overmyer the stur-
a n a a 2 9
the standard bearer Of their party. Mr.
Morrill, was elected governor and the
legislature sent Lucien Baker Of Leav-
enWOrtn 10 the senate TO succeed Sena-
tor Martin, who only served two Of the
three remaining years of Senator
Plumb's unexpired term Senator Per
kins having, by appointment of Govern
or Humphrey, served one year of the
term. You will therefore readily see
that during the entire period since Pop
uliSm has proved itself formidable
factor in Kansas politics, the state has
never in its history been 50 uncertain in
political results
There is one man in the state of
Kansas today. who, above all others,
deserves to have conferred upon him
senatorial honors in view of the pres
ent political condition in that state, as
we'll as by reason of the manly, open
and courageous stand he has taken
along the lines of popular liberation.
That man is Hon David OVernyer. He
is in many respects head and shoulders
above any Of those whose shoulders
have borne the senatorial tOga since
Plumb and ingalls, made their exit
from the political stage of action. Ov-
ermyer has the courage of his cOnvic-
tons He is a friend Of the masses.
The working man never had a more
able champion. He is absolutely fear
less and his courage will compare faV-
orably with his mental force and bril-
Hancy At no other time in its history
has Kansas had greater need of such
an outspoken, fearless representative in
the United States senate-the need of q
man who like Overmyer, is able to- and
who will, if elected, defend his state and
its dignity, as well as himself. against
all aggresSOrs- Mr.. Breidenthal has had
sufficient honors already. Senator
PETER has served one term Neither of
senate deserve One-fourth the credit for
the success of their party that David
Overmyer deserves.
mo man contributed more than he
to Populist success in Kansas this year.
Just think of it. Every state officer:
the entire appellate court, except one
member; the entire congressional dele
cation, except two; nearly all the other
judicial offices in the state, including
the office of chief justice of the supreme
court, have passed into the hands of the
POpulist party Would this have been
the result had Overmyer again led the
forlOrn hope IS gubern2tOrial candidate
of the Democratic party, or even re-
NAMED passive instead of joining in
the common cause Of POpulists against
the Republican ticket2 1t is absurd to
think otherwise. Why, it seems to me
that in common decency, if not as
matter of good politics and policy, the
Popuhsts ought to send Overmyer to the
senate.
"A Iittle-a very IittIe-wisdom would
seem all that was necessary 10 suggest
to the Populist leaders of Kansas that
they ought to look into the future The
reorganized and rejuVenated Democrat
ic party is the real opposition to the Re
publican party throughout the country.
If the POpulists hope to perpetuate their
power they viii necessarily have to con-
tinue on good terms with the party.
They need a connecting link in the po-
itical chain in Kansas which their own
ranks cannot supply.
*.Will such link be furnished If the
material is not tempered with some
substantial recognition of not only its
usefulness and value, but its absolute
necessity as well, in forming the bond
that unites the opposition to the com
mon political enemy? The election Of
David OVermyer would, in my humble
opinion. accomplish this more surely
and effectively than any other one act
that is in the power of Kansas PopuIists
to perform.
The Populists of Kansas win make
a very grave mistake if they fail to rec
ognize the value and magnitude of Ov-
ermyer's services in their behalf"
ERTGR EsG F[FANn