The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-04-21
ghe aahia Daily Eagle: aueaulay gornng april FL 1897

c1Irbstone boodlers TO undertake the
task of corrupting a Popul;st legislature
This is not the way in which the matter
would be done A stockyards lobby,
for instance, that would give out cold
to this gang who professed TO be on the
hunt to buy votes, the fact of Doodle
fund. had about as well advertised for
votes through the newspapers Any
man in his senses knows bribery is not
carried on in that way. 1t may be true
there was money in Topeka for the pur-
pose of bribing legislators, but the fel-
| lows who claimed to be doing the buy
ing were wholly irresponsible, accord
ing to the evidence in most cases; and
the significance of this fact is that Ike
yultures they went in search of the car
rion, representing that they could de-
liver so many Pop votes for so much
money. Like curbstone brokers, they
wanted first to list the property they
had for sale. In doing this 1t served
their purpose TO represent this or that
prominent legislator for sale or having
been bought.
Men as a rule do not have bona fde
offers of bribes made them, until they
have invited the offer. The bride taker
may have either of two reasons for tax
inc the bribe|i. e. either 10 "'put
money in his purse" or TO expose the
bride giver But in either event he holds
out the final inducement upon which
the bride giver parts with the bride
The natural impulse Of an honest man
would be TO spurn the insinuation
against his integrity involved in an offer
of bride. and not TO play the part of
the detective. Rogues when they seek
a confederate are not usually deceived,
neither do men as a rule drop brides
into the hands Of honest men-states-
men playing the role Of detectives.
However, to take an instance or two:
Speaker Street, who tOyed with his
would-be seducer, want to his room,
"took the matter unner ADJUSTMENT"
had a hundred dollar note thrust upon
him, which he returned, who got neither
evidence nor the BRIDE made, to say
the least, such a sorry spectacle or
statesman turned detective that his case
should be a warning that others may
avoid his example. Warden Lands
charge against Lewelling about that
SO. 900 worth Of Doodle in a coal lands
deal is raw" That Lewelling with his
experience, should have gone to lands
in that clumsy way and made that
statement is hardly reasonable. Can
Lewelling be such fool? On the other
hand, can lands be such liar?
A few things seem evident The
Populist curbstone would-be bride brok-
ers were numerous at Topeka Many
Populists were "seen," mostly by these
irresponsible bribe brokers. Many ru
mors were put afioat by Populists af-
fecting the character Of their fellow leg
islators, though based on hearsay, were
believed by members who circulated
these reports of bribery. Many Popu-
lists found their way to the legislature
who are evidently great liars and char
acter assassins. The reform" party of
Kansas stands more. in need of re
form than any part!sin the state. "To
err is human but if erring be evidence
Of humanity, then is the Popuiist party
Whether honest or not. there is a pack
of ours at the heels of Lewelling. whose
motives are too apparent to
need explanation.
And If any enc Is to be ousted from |
office, Lands should walk the plank
before Lewelling loses his position as |
railroad commissioner