The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-20
Hear the Governor of Kansas
Make Speech.
They are Nearly All Dunkards
or German "Quakers."
REUNION INKNOX coo.
Governor Leedy Talks Some
Politics to His Clan
And They Loudly Cheer His
Remarks.

Fredericktown, O., Aug. 20.-There
were over 1000 members of the Leedy
family present at the family reunion
when Governor John w. Leedy of
Kansas addressed his kinsmen yester-
day afternoon.
The reunion was held at Ankenytown,
a Dunkard settlement in Knox county
The village has less than 100 inhabl-
tantS, but is in the center of a rich
farming country, settled almost entire
1y by Leedys. All of them are simple
living Dunkards, with the exception of
the Kansas governor. He was an OBJ
ject of great interest to his kindred,
who pointed him out as the only avow-
ed Populist in the family. He frequent
ly spoke of his reverence for the relig-
ion of his fOrefathers and said that he
He said that while he was not pro-
feSsed Christian, if he should ever join
a church he would become Dunkard,
the deligion of his grandfather.
While the governor prOfeSSed all the
humility of the Dunkard people, the
snug fitting, tailor-made suit which
adorned his we'll upholstered form, was
in marked contrast to the plain gar
before him. In the audience were the
governors wife, whom he married in
Richland county, and his son Jack,
who seemed to be a great favorite with
the lads and laSsies who played about
the grove. Mrs. Leedy was clad in gar
ments of modern pattern and in this
among the plain gowns and odd little
sunbonnets of her Leedy kinswomen.
While Governor Leedy is a man Of
large frame and well fed stomach, he is
a pigmy in comparison with many of
his uncleS and cousins who stood before
him as he addressed them. The COVER
nor weighs probably 230 pounds. Some
of the men who listened to his speech
weigh 800 or even 400.
As he left the subject of the religion
of his ancestors, the governor caused
G
by remarking in a joeular way that he
was not wholly to blame for deserting
the Dunkard faith. My father was to
blame,'' he said. HE started all right,
but he married a Scotch Presbyterian,
and you know what that means. I
think I'm in luck to stand here before
you, just a plain nothing in religion.
It's easier for me to get back to where
I belong
The governor alluded to his earlier
years spent here as farmer and horse
man, and told frankly how Uncle Is
aac,' the patriarch of the Leedy tribe,
had dubbed him "the lazy Leedy'' on
account of his youthful hatred of work
He was speaking to relatives and old
friends, and gave many "reminiscences
of the former years.
He then took up public questions, and
while not making a partisan speech,
made a decidedly political one. He fa-
vored the income tax, and sharply crit
icised the United States supreme court
for declaring the law unconstitutional.
He held that the United States court
too often favorS the encroachments of
the corporations upon the rights of the
people. He favored the abolition of the
United States district courts.
The governor then told of the fight
that had been waged in Kansas against
the railroads, and of the fight now on
there between the state insurance COM
missioner and same eastern companies.
He said he proposed to stand by his at
torney. general in his fight against the
injunction issued by the United States
district court to restrain the commits
Sioner.
He declared that corporations char
tered in other states must comply with
the laws of Kansas or quit business
| there.
His audience seemed to be in sympa-
| thy with his views and cheered him
| heartily.
The governor will go east in a few
days and is to return to Kansas by Sep
tember L.