Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-28
HE PERSUADED HER INTO 1T.
HOW THE UNCROWNED KANSAS
QUEEN MADE HER DEBUT.
Attorney General Boyle and Governor
Leedy Have Patched Up n Truce
How the Pops Made
Monkey of Dude
From Chicago.


the ''uncrowned Kansas queen" should re-
call II at once Mr.. Lease does not deserve
any sympathy. He brought all the trouble
on himself. There was a time when he
was master of his own house, but he vol
unfairly stepped aside and permitted the
mantle to fall on his talkative wife. At
one time he actually had the temerity TO
stand up and boldly defy his better half.
Not only this, but he screwed up enough
courage to promulgate an order compelling
his wife TO forsake the washtub and kitch-
en- and enter politics and. what's more. he
enforced the order. Whether or not he is
sorry he issued the imperial ukase only he
can tell, and he won't.
Mrs. Lease entered politics in 1890. And
she did so at the solicitation of her has-
band. Prior to that time she was an or
dinary housekeeper. She could do as big a
days washing as any woman, could cook
fairly well and keep her little home neat.
While doing this. she found spare time 10
post up on reform movements in which she
had always taken natural interest. In
1890. the Farmers Alliance sprang into ex-
istence and there she saw an opportunity
She pleaded with her husband to join the
movement and develop himself into a poll
tician. She told him that it was his chance
to make a ten strike. But Mr.. Lease was
not of political turn of mind.
Mary, you know that am no politician:
never could make one; could not make
speech to save my life. It's simply no use
for me to try it,
Mrs. Lease insisted, but he stood firm.
Then, mindful of the perfect ease with
which she could rattle it of to the kids
around the house and occasionally to him
as well. an idea seized him. "Why can't
you branch out as a politician yourself"
h6 EafA rr1NI MR1Ir
studied the thing some and take an inter-
est in politics"
Mrs. Lease had never thought of enter
ing politics before. Her mind was on the
welfare Of her family and home. She
took the matter under advisement, and in
the meantime her husband kept insisting.
Finally she consented to try it. But how
she was to get a start was the question.
She had never made q speech and no
politician had ever heard of her. How,
when and where to get the first speech of
was the puzzle. Finally neighbor, Dixon,
was taken into the deal and he arranged
1t so that Mrs. Lease could appear before
the next Farmers Alliance county con-
vention and make talk. That was in the
summer of 1890. She was there on the ap-
pointed day and when all othe business
of the convention had been finished Dixon
called on Mrs. Lease to make a speech.
1t didn't take any committee to escort her
to the platform. As soon as her name
was mentioned, she rose and made a bee
line TO the stage so as to get the ear of
IL.
maiden speech they say was a stemwinder.
She captured the entire long whiskered
outfit by her eloquence. She was the SEN
sation Of the hour. From all over Sedg-
speak and she was kept busy for several
weeks filling those engagements. Her light
could not be hidden under a busheI. Ad-
joining counties heard of her and before
that campaign was over Mrs. Lease was
the best advertised politician in Kansas.
Her fame spread like wildfire throughout
the country, and she was in great demand.
She has at last about talked herself to
death politically. and must soon be con-
tent with household duties again; but she
won't have TO do the family washing unless
she wants TO. She has made enough so she
Mrs Lease. Sc W when f5a' she he had had broken into
politics, did not forget Dixon, who first
helped her. When member Of the state
board of charities she had him appointed
steward of the Olathe asylum.
Governor Leedy and Attorney General
Boyle have patched up their differences
temporarily at least-and now the broad
Topeka sidewalks are wide enough for them
Journal had a story of a threatened break
between them on account of Insurance
Commissioner McNall's ignoring Boyle and
1etriment Of the contingent fund and the
Administration law firm. Everybody around
the state house denied It but Boyle and
principals it is probable that they knew
more about IL than the ones who took it
Another story has leaked out in regard
10 the reconciliation. II was not one OF
hose hos n mIaks,5ups Sup pr9mpted by 6rotherly
was a forced expedient. When Boyle told
he governor that this promiscuous en-
Dloyment of attorneys on the outside must
stop unless he was consulted, the governor
rem. arked that he would do as he pleased. /
Boyle called attention TO the fact that. in
he next campaign. the criticism for having !
lbcut half the lawyers in Kansas on the |
pay. roll would fall directly on him, and |
hat he would not stand It: that when the |
present large force of attorneys were paid, |
heir vouchers should state on the face of |
hem just what services were rendered and |
The governor swept aside the suggestion. |
He said he did not know as much as some |
people, but he did not ask anybody for |
,nraEed Boyle, and he retorted sharply: |
Well, I guess am onto your game. Now |
you think you can make me any more |
rouble than can you, why proceed-the
,ooner the better"
The governor said he would crack loose
"And so viii l." replied Boyle. perhaps
,efore you are ready for me to proceed. |
f this thing of employing every Tom. Dick
he state in legal matters. to try cases that /
schOolboy ought 10 win. continues as /
tart an employment office myself and the |
irst people / will employ will be some as
istant attorney generals for these large
tiles to block your saloon policy, will
reak into the arrangements of the Met
opolitan police boards and make 1t i'm
ossible for them to hold up. jointists un-
nay have practical prohibition: that is If
ne funds of the state hold out"
The governor is not particularly anxious
o have the liquor policy Of the admins
ration interfered with nor does he care |
o bring down a fight on those oTEaniza-
Ions which. as senator. he condemned. |
ut which are now his pets-the Metropol-
.an police boards. So he concluded to
make peace with Boyle. who was told that
the governor and McNall were a
title too hasty, but that in the future
hey would consult him whenever there
'ere any lawyers to hire: This Is what the
ttOrney general wanted TO hear. Leedy
kes n scrapper. He found out that Boyle
'aS in that class, and the two are now
n friendly terms-regular chums--when
My a few days ago II looked as though
1ey were to be mortal political enemies. |
,ut McNalTs force of lawyers has been
realty decreased.
A representative of a big Chicago text
ook publishing house IS the latest victim
{ the cruel Kansas Populist joker. This |
antleman came West about a month ago |
commission. He was clad in an up-to-date |
Iit. silk hat high linen collar and the |
test pattern of shoes. When il was learn !
/ that he was after some contracts from
le textbook commission Populist from
le short grass country was detailed to |
ave some fun with him. An acquaintance |
as formed and the Chicagoan soon di-
Ilged his mission to Topeka;
Great Scott, mani You will never get a | !
lntract from these Pops
why not2" he anxiously inquired.
''Do you think a Kansas Pop would give
dude like you a job Of any kind? Nay.
4v, Pauline. You look too much like a |
lutte Out here we believe in giving work
those who need It. A man who dresses :
YOU do doesn't need any assistance. and
mi not get 1t from Kansas"
The publisher looked somewhat puzzled