People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-08-19
People Criticise Ben Harrison.

10 its contest with the people Of this
city. His conduct is the subject of
criticism, favorable and unfavOrable,
in society, in the clubs, in labor Or
CARNATIONS aud among the ministers.
When the general came back from
Washington as an eX-president he did
not put out the sign Of an attorney,
nor did lie insert an advertisement in
any of the newspapers announcing
that he would resume the practice Of
law; but at the same time it was pretty
well understood that anybody who had
money enough could buy his services.
1t was the understanding among the
members of the bar and of representa-
tives Of corporations in need of the
best legal advice that he would not
undertake any sort of case for less
than $1,000.
1t was only natural, attorneys say,
when the street railroad company
found its life in danger that it should
seek the services of the eX-president
OF the United States. At any rate
the company did employ him.
Various stories Of the fee agreed upon
have been in circulation. The best
information Obtainable indicates that
the company agreed to pay the gen
eral $4,000 if he would see it safely
through its troubles, or half that sum
If he lost.
The people did not object to the pO-
sition taken by the ex-president until
the contest before the last legislature
became warm. The original question
involved before the lawmakers was as
to whether the charter Of the company
should be annulled at the end of the
council grant in January, 1901. 1t
aroused the indignation of a great
many persons when the ex.president
appeared before the legislative COM
mittee fighting the demands of the
citizens. Not content with endeavor-
ing to influence the committee, the
general wrote arguments in pamphlet
form which were circulated among the
members of the legislature. At that
time the Indianapolis News, the lead
ing Independent paper of the state,
and one that had always borne the
friendliest feeling for the general,
criticised his course and thereby
aroused the ire of a few of the gen.
erals personal friends who sleep with
the old theory that "the king can
do no wrong"
But the generals influence was not
powerful enough to prevent legisla.
tion, for two laws were passed, one
terminating the charter at the expir-
alton OF the council grant anG the
other fixing the fare in this city at 3
cents. Under his contract with the
company it became the duty of the
ex'preSident to go into court and seek
TO have the 3 cent fare law set aside.
While the peOple-his own neighbors
were resisting the payment of the
old fare after the new law had gone
into effect, he was delviug into his
law books looking for loopholes as to
how the new law could be broken
down. 1t is pretty well understood
that General HarriSOn's argument in
the original case that influenced
Judge Showalter to hold the law in.
valid and to issue an Injunction
against the officers and employees of
the company collecting other than a
5 cent fare.
The general did not appear in per.
son before the supreme court of the
state when the same question was
argued there but his speech before
Judge Showalter and the brief he had
prepared on the original case were
put into the hands Of the supreme
judges. His last appearance was in
the argument ten days ago when
Judge Showalter was asked to modify
his opinion and to dissolve the in.
junction.
Now, the point which the people are
discussing is whether it is morally
right for man who has spent all hi.
active life in the city which has hon,
ored him as president of the United
States to sell his ability and influenc,
to a corporation with which the peo
pie have quarrel to settle.
One of the local newspapers said i
was like father being dealt a blow
In the face by his child" and from al
accounts that is the sentence to which
the ex-president took exception. Tn
subject promises to be up for consid
Grafton for a good while to come
The ministers have been slow to tax
it up in their pulpits, but one of them
the Rev. c. c. Lasby, of the Contra
Avenue Methodist Episcopal church
the largest church of the denomina
tiOn in the city and one that VOL
ships "just around the corner" fror
the eX-president's home said in hi