Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-10-14
The Populists' Last Ditch.

has issued on "address." It's plcnlcS
having failed, only eighty-seven peo'
ple having attended its county rally
when the congressman-at.large Of the
state was here, its arguments being
all wiped away and the reputation
of its candidates being in sight, there
really was not anything else to DO.
We are glad the committee did this
lit furnished the one clinching nail
for the coffin Of Populism in Dickin-
son county and reveals more clearly
and convincingly than could any
words Of ours the utter WEAKNESS and
hopelessness Of the cause Of calamity
and "chssp money" Of reform that
dees not reform and Of Legislation
that is transformed, according to
their own statements, into boodleism.
We are in the midst Of another political
campaign.
Such is the opening. Well, you
may think you are but the general
opinion is that you are on the ragged
outside edge, the reserved seats being
occupied by the Republicans and
Democrats. You have third place in
this race.
To the silver Republican. Has anything
happened since you cast your vote for reform
in 1895 to lead you to believe that you were
not then in the right
Yes, you said wheat and silver went
hand in hand. II it had been so, we
would get about 20 cents for wheat
now. You said il Mckinley won it
would be necessary to issue more
bonds. Is itp You seem to have
misled US all along the line, It's time
to quit you
Now can we present this unbroken front
next year lin this campaign we allow our
selves to become separated and disorganized
by petty jealousies and chickering's
So you are IN that shape, are youP
We had supposed that petty iealousies
and chickering's had no place in the
great reform party. To be sure there
was good deal of kicking when the
town gang shut out the farmers and
nominated Grant Kietfer and Billie
Matteson but the country has about
taken matters in Its own hands by |
this time and has deserted entirely.
The gang and its few followers are
about all that are left and surely |
they ought to be peaceful on the
sinking ship.
The one thing above all others we should
bear In mind Is this That reform organiza-
lions are not maintained for individual
gain.
So Grant and Nick and Billy are do
doing all their rustling for the
"cause," for the "dear peop," as
Breidenthal puts it. How touching,
how noble, how sweet Dear, patriots,
laurel wreathes should bind their de-
voted brows. What would the cause
OF reform be without Saint Kieffer,
Saint Matteson, Saint Robson-yes,
and Saint George Hanna.
While we may not be pleased with those
who succeed to such positions.
What candidates is the central CON-
mittee kicking about nowp Is that
the way you feel about them all
what a confession for central COM
address. By failing to name
the undesirable candidates it leaves a
stain on the whole ticket - which
perhaps is the real feeling of the lead
ers.
Stock yard monopoly, school book monop-
oily, railroad monopoly, coal monopoly all
have been brought under complete subjec-
ton to the laws.
Beautiful picture of the Leedy adj
ministration's work, how sublime
how untrue! Not stockyard fee has
yet been changed; the school book
monopoly is simply in other hands
and is giving Kansas the worst of it;
the railroad commission has not en-
forced ruling yet and with LEVEL
ling on it is not likely to; the coal in
dustry has been affected about as much
as have the canals of Mars.
Is there anything that your party declared
for last year that they nave not done as far
as II lay In their power
You had all the power there was
Where is your maximum freight lawp
Your anti.oleo law and ahout 6ftv