The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-04
BROUGHT IT ON HIMSELF.
Mr. Lease Responsible for His VITO Becoming
. Politician OF National Renown.

From the Kansas city Journal.
TOPEKA, June who have been Law.
fishing their Sympathy upon poor" Mr.. Lease.
the husband of the "uncrowned Kansas queen
should recall it at once. Mr.. Lease does not de-
serve any sympathy. He brought all the trouble
on himself. There was a time when he was
master OF his own house. but he voluntarily
stepped aside and permitted the mantle to fall
on his laxative wife. At ono time he actoally
s sst,t ths sa afime Hot TO OMIT fi" ihi. sP ba npf h eoi sdfyea Ssfy his his
pelling his wife TO torsake the .washtub and
enforced the order. Whether or not he is sorry
he issued the imperial ukase only he can tell.
Mrs. Lease entered politics in 1890. And she
did 80 at the solicitation of her husband, Prior
TO that time she was an ordinary housekeeper.
She could do as big u days washing as any ,wo-
man. could cook fairly well, ard keep her little
home neat. While doing this she found spare
time TO post up ON reform movements, in which
she had always taken a natural interest. In
ls2oih he Farmers Alliance sprang into existence.
with her husband to join the movement and de-
rclop himself into q politician. She told him
that 1t was his chance to make a ten strike. hut
Mr., Lease was not OF a political turn Of mind.
never could make one; could not make a speech
Mrs. Lease insisted. but he stood Arm.
Then, mindful OF the perfect ease with which
house and occasionally to him as we'll, an idea
seized him. "Why can't you branch out MS a
politician yourself, no SAID. You are n glib
talkor. have studied the thing some and take an
interest in politics."
Mrs. Lease had never thought OF entering pol.
tiles before. Her mind was on the welfare OF
hor family and home. She took the matter under
adviscment, and in the mean time her husband
kept insisting.
Finally sho consented to try it. But how she
was TO got a start was the question. She had
never made II speech, and no politician had ever
heard OF her. How, when, and where TO get the
first speech Off was the puzzle, Finally "A neigh
Dor, Dixon. was taken into tho deal, and he mr.
ranged IL so that Mrs, Lenso could appear nc
fore tho next Farmers Alliance County Convcn-
ton and make a talk. That was in the summer
of 1890. She was there, on tho appointed day,
and when all other business of the convention
had been finished Dixon called on Mrs. Lease 10
make II speech. 1t didn't take any committee Ia
escort her to the platform. Az soon as her name
was mentioned, she rose and made n bee
line to the stage so as to got the ear of the dele,
gates, before they started out. Her maiden
turcd the entire long-whiskered OUTFIT by her
eloquencc. She was the sensation of the hour
From all over SedRwick county came demand,
for her to speak, and she was kept busy for sew
oral weeks II Hing those engagements. Her light
could not he hidden under n bushel. Adjoining
was over Mrs. Lease was the best advertised
politician in Kansas.
Her fame spread like wildhre throughout the
country, and she was In great demand. She has
III last about talked herself TO death politically
and must soon be- content with household dutic'
again; hut Hho won't have to do tho family
washing unless she wants To. She has mad,
enough so shG can afford To LET that job out.
Mrs. Lease, when she had brOkun into politics
did not forget Dixon. When II member of ia,
State Board or Charities she had him appointed
steward OF the Olathe Asylum.