Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-03-06
DON'T WANT ST. JOHN.

line name OF ST. JOhn, having been prOn11-
nently before the people so long, seems to have
become sort of by-word among Prohibition
lists, and, as the campaign approaches, is often
mentioned for the presidential nomination. If
the old wheel-horses want to worship somebody
for gallant fight made in years gone by, per-
haps St. John is as suitable as anybody, but if
the rank and file want to win votes, they do not
want St. John, with his radical free-trade and
Populstic views. Perhaps no man in America
has such steadfast friends and admirers, but it
must be also remembered that no one is held in
greater derision by the great mass of the peo-
pie, and, while he would antagonize large
portion of those now in the ranks he would
also be one of the weakest candidates, as
vote-winner, that could be nominated Rich-
mond (Indiana) Enterprise (Prohib.)
The editor of the Enterprise has clear and
well-defned case of mulligrubs, superinduced
by too-frequent potons of decoction of gold
bug ointment and Mckinley tariff root. He
frequently goes off half-cocked and talks thro'
his hat great deal. He is, to all intents and
purposes, Republican-cut out of the same
piece of cloth as was John G.. Woolley, the
patron-sant of the narrow-gauge Prohibition
lists, who recently said he would like to be back
in the Republican party but for its stand on the
liquor question. Woolley is friend of corpo-
rations-is, in fact, corporation attorney. The
editor of the Enterprise lives in the staid old
town of Richmond where the people worship
gold dollar as the Children of Israel worship
ped (and do yeti the golden calf. The writer
hereof is an old Wayne county boy, and is
somewhat acquated with the characteristics OF
many Richmond and Wayne county people.
But we digress Now to the subject.
John P. St. John is friend of the people
the masses. Instead of holding him in deris-
ion they respect and love him. His political
enemies know he is honest and true to prlnci-
pie, and they respect him. AT his home, i'll
Olathe, Kas., it need but be whispered that he
is going to speak to secure him crowded house,
Those who hold him in derision are the gold
bugs and corporations and their tools, and men
who having murder in their hearts, burned
and hanged him in effgy. Of the former class,
at least, there are many in the Dickey-Ward-
well-Standard-Oil wing of the Prohibition
party Yes, doubtless, he would antagonize
that crowd who, were St. John nominated,
would rush over to the Republican party.
AS vote-winner, St. John showed his pow
er when he ran for president some years ago,
when he increased the Prohibition party vote
In amanner which surprised the Prohibitionists
themselves. AS your candidate for president
in 1896, he would surprise you again, with a
largely-increased vote.
However, we are not urging the Prohibition
lists to nominate Governor St. John for presi-
dent, for the Populists have something better
for him. If he will accept, we shall nominate
him for congress from the Second Kansas dis
trict, and elect him, too. True, he has never
been identified with the Peoples party, but we
know he advocates the most essential planks of
our platform. We know that he is working
for the best interests of humanity, and we
know that we can trust him, fully. Therefore,
brother, lose no more sleep over the matter.
Just go ahead and nominate your goldbug
monopolistic- Standard-Oil candidates, and we
will add the broad-gauge, humanitarian mein
bers of your party to the ranks of the true re-
formers. You may then be able to see your
mistake.
WHEN the National Reform Press Associa-
ton met at Dallas, Texas, of course the ques-
ton of presidential candidate was discussed,
aud it seems that a majority favored Judge
Caldwell, of Arkansas. We have never seen
statement from Judge Caldwell to the effect
that he is Populist, but it was stated at that