The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-01
SOCIALISTS ACT.
A Big Split-off From the POpu-
list Party
Of the More Radical Thinkers
ON Social Questions.
SOCIETIES FORMING
FORMING
Of Persons Believing in Govern
ment Ownership
Of the Means of Production and
Distribution.

A Socialistic wave will soon spread
over Kansas-in fact, is spreading. In
a short time there will be one or more
socialist organizations in every county
in the state; they will be drawn large
ly from the ranks of the Populists. al
though many Republicans are in SYM
pathy with the doctrines.
The first society was organized yes
terday at Ft Scott. The step was ta-
ken quietly and without agitation. The
organization will be followed by others.
Bank Commissioner Breidentha1 who Is
a socialist, said today:
1.-The national society has been salts
fed with US here in Kansas, and they
have been paying very little attention
to US. 1t may be that they think the
time has come to make organizations.
I have never entertained the least doubt
about things taking this turn eventual
ly, but L did not know that it had al
ready done so.
There is plenty of grain here to be
garnered,'' added Mr.. BreidenthaI.
"Will an organization be made here
in Topeka ?" asked the reporter.
II am not able to say what will be
done,' said the bank commissioner. Il
have no part in he present movement
1 have not been consulted, but L sup
pose if organizations are made, they will
extend all over the state.
Another Topeka socialist told the re-
porter that the organizations now be-
ing made in Kansas are under the dt-
rection of the national society, OF which
Henry Kuhn is at the head. He says
that J. A. Wayland of Girard, one OF
the prominent Kansas socialists, is now
looking after the organizations in kan
SaS. He said:
'I have had some correspondence
with the national society, but il has
been some time since l had any COM
munication with the officers. L know
nir n
Kansas, but recently 1 have heard moth
ing from them.
A WardaIl, who speaks of "co-opera-
tion - instead of socialism, said that the
new movement had started without his
knowledge. He believes, however, that
it is the beginning of a great SOCIALIST
organization in Kansas -a..,, .,.5
'"The ideas have been growing, salo
Mr. Wardall. THE people have peen
thinking for long time along these
lines and I believe they are ready 10
organize. I have been making STUDY
of the Socialism in New Zealand and the
result is very gratifying. England Is
ahead of us and they have accompllsned
everything through their votes. Ihey
did not organize party: Ihey silhPtS ~
went in and compelled the partles 10
give them what they wanted
Bank Commissioner Bretdenthal says
that he has been apprlsed OF move
noent of the single takers to spread Inelr
organization in Kansas, and that they
now have three four men at work
making organiza zations. This, however, is
not directly in line with SoclalIsnl.
The Fort Scott organization was made
Yesterday at the Huntington hotel
The meeting was a private one, but 1t
has been learned that it had been
quietly planned for some time. lnvl-
tations have been issued to a nunper
of farmers and town people known 10
be in sympathy with the movement,
and some well known farmers partlci-
pated in the meeting.
c. Lipscomb, bookkeeper for the
grain house of J. w. Davis & CO.. was
manager of a grocery store and prom
inent Populist who has just left the
party because it failed to reform, was
elected secretary.
The organization is known as the
Bourbon County Socialist society, but
If is announced that it's work is of
much significance in other counties, the
object being to disseminate socialist lAt-
erature and create sentiment in favor
of that form of government. The sec
retary says the society has assurances
of a membership of 500 in this county
His first official act was to subscribe
for 900 copies of the official SOCIALIST
organ recently launched at Girard. fc
be sent to voters in this city and coun-
ty free of charge.
From some source the society has I'M
ancia1 backing and has employed a man
to prosecute the work. 1t is under
stood that the organizers expect to es-
tablish strong societies in the mining
districts of southeast Kansas and
southwest Missouri Secretary Jones
says the leaders have been surprised
at the strong sympathy shown wher-
ever the work has been Undertaken.
Other societies will be springing up. ne
says in the different counties of that
part of the state. The last issue of the
official organ aspires to a circulation of
100, 900 in the next three months.