Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-11-04
A Missing Chapter.

CUp'cS VI tho iIc" h""""o'n ioo"o' "
the state committee trying to explain
the busted condition OF the treasury
and other things. Some chapters are,
however, missing and the Hutchin-
son News kindly prints this:
"RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
"The Populist party in its state
platform pledged itself to enact a
maximum rate law and right well
has 1t redeemed its promise. That is
to say, it would have redeemed it II
the wicked Republicans had not pre-
vented it. There were in the legisla-
ture l15 Populists and 80 Republic
cans. In some way or other these
50 Republicans outvoted the ll5 Pop
uIists. A railroad bill prepared by
United States Senator Harris was
passed by both branches of the legisla-
ture and was vetoed by the governor.
As the legislature was Populist and
the governor Populist, we believe
the people will say to both Of them,
We'll done, good and faithful SER
wants. Enter upon second term
This saved to the people of Kansas
1906, 405.l1, the first six months.
"The party also pledged itself to
stop the use of passes. A number
Of anti-pass bills were introduced and
would have become laws II they had
not been killed in committee. The
committee which killed them was
composed of five Populists and two
Republicans. The Republicans killed
the bills when the Popuusts were not
looking. Give us second term and
we will enact anti-pass legislation.
In this connection we might state
that every state officer and every
legislator had an annual pass
and also secured enough trip
passes to take his family and
friends to Topeka during the session.
By using all the passes possible, the
soulless railroad corporations were
compelled to carry many passengers
free, and thus reduce the ill-gotten
dividends annually paid by Kansas
railroads to Wall street. We believe
that such earnest and effective at
tacks upon corporations have saved
the people Of Kansas at least $746,-
5SS. ID the first year, and the Lord
only knows how much will be saved
II the legislature and Governor Leedy
be reelected"
Here is another omitted chapter
from the Populist handbook;
LEGISLATIVE INVESTIGATION.
The legislature appointed a spe-
cial commission to investigate the
charges of corruption. We point
with pride to the fact that out Of
twenty-nine Populist' senator's only
thirteen were smirched, out Of eighty
seven Populist representatives nearly
half Of them were in no way connect
ed with the boodling. 1t is true that
one Of our Populist representatives,
Mr. Davis of Wilson, stopped the in
vestigation before it was half through,
but we assure the great plain people
whom we are the representatives that
II the investigation had been con-
tinued it is certain that all our Popu-
lists would not have been caught
boodling. And in this connection we
would mildly reprove some Of our
members who insisted on telling on
each other instead Of exposing the
corruption Of the Republicans. II
there is an extra session we hope to
catch Republican and II we do we
will have an addition to this chapter.
The prompt manner in which the
lobbyists were punished is known to
the people of the state, and can but
add to the prestige Of the Populist
party. The reduction in prices on
saved the people $l,246,-
7OO'25, adding just that much more
to the debt of gratitude due the party
Of Reform"
We are informed that there will be
other chapters on chow the state
treasury came to be busted" "the re-
duction OF the rates of interest" 'the
decrease made in the tax levy" "the
reduction Of state salaries, " "the cleo
ton Of railroad commissioners by the
people" chow the convict coal mines
were worked during the coal miners