The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-20

used to be the boss in Topeka politics.
The old man was rarely disturbed, but
one time, when the reformers gave
him the fight Of his life in Topeka, he
lost his head. That was the campaign
in which the old man told the cohorts
to "Chur fer 'em boys, chur fer en-
but vote again EN-" 1t was election
day when the old man had been quietly
circulating around the polls, distribut-
ing rewards of merit and increasing the
per capita, when he suddenly turned
and rushed back to his office where his
friends We're gather and painted de-
sparingly: Boys, boys; for heavens
sake send someone down to the Fourth
ward; them idiots there have been for
three hours voting just as they damn
please"
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
That's principally what's the matter
with Kansas. We haven't been able
until last fall to vote as we pleased
as we damn please, if you prefer the
Latin. For six or seven years Kansas
has been under the spell of the dema-
gogues. From 1890 to 1894 all parties
We'd with one another in putting tom
my rot into their platforms. You gem
noticed with CONSERVATION what fads
what foolisms, what rank nonsense
have passed current for Republicanism
at one time or another out in Kansas.
When Jerry Simpson ran for congress
the first time the Republicans in his
district stole his platform bodily and
then absolved the Republican nominee
from the duty of abiding by the house
N1A It1't tn 9
they pleased. They had to choose the
less violent of two lunatics. For years
a crowd of fellows dominated the Re
publican party in Kansas, whose motto
was "Molasses catches more flies than
vinegar" AS a result the state plat
form was more after fly trap than a
declaration of Republican principles.
These gentlemen saw that Kansas was
built on the instalment plan, to be paid
for in small monthly payments. They
preached a bogus way out of debt, be-
cause they believed that it was "A sure
way into office. They used to tip toe
around among the delegates at conVen-
tions telling them what was the
smooth thing" to put in the plat
| form. These political economists of the
| soft soap school would stand proudly
| on a platform recommending moon
| shine as a legal tender, indorsng as
| trolOgy, declaring for blue grass and
| the barefoot cure, pledgng the party tC
| Vegetarianism and whooping it up fol
| the free and unlimited coinage of flap
| doodle. Think of what Kansas escaped
| with these ghost dancers leading the
| conservative party for half dozer
| years. The wonder is not that the
| state went for Bryan, but that it die
| not go for the Rev. Irl Hicks anC
George Francis Train.
When the national Republican party
| last fall demanded honor and cour
| age from its men, the mebers of this
Smooth thing" gang in Kansas or
| ganzed themselves into a phalanx tha
came tumbling head over heels into tht
| Populist party. They left Kansas L
vote as she pleased. And when thu
| people We're sure that these finn han
game fellows were gone, they cast tn,
largest Republican vote ever polleC
sicne the days when Kansas was tn,
| banner Republican state in the Union
| That Kansas increased her Republican
| vote after the six years course in hys
| terics indicates a courage, an intell
| gence and an integrity among the peo
pie that should command your respect
full admiration. From horse play to
| few thousand votes short of horse sens
| is a long jump but Kansas made it.
The people were so glad to get
chance to vote as they pleased, to fac
an honest issue squarely, to see tn
Shiny old barnacles scraped off the Re
publican ship, they We're so glad to fin
a party above it's politicians, that the
piled up a Republican vote which wa
defeated by a narrow margin only b.
the triple alliance of greed, anarch
and collie They can't beat us agaiI
for money, marbles or chalk.
KANSAS IS ALL RIGHT.
That is why came so far to tell yo'
that Kansas is all right. Don't worr
about the Kansas man. If he happen
to be a Populist he is no worse thaI