The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-01
A VAST SLUSH FUND
Is Expected to Be Put Up Next
Year
By Insurance Companies and
Others Interested,
According to the Views of a Populist
Railroads Won't Give Anything

Discussing the campaign next year, a
prominent Popuist at the state house
said today;
L do not believe the railroads will
contribute TO the campaign fund of any
political party next year. The tenden-
cy among the Kansas lines towards
hauling more passengers and freight
and fewer politicians, unless they pay
their fare, has already been manifested
this year The Republicans may make
demands upon the railroads for heaVy
contributions, as they have always
done in the past, but believe they VIII
meet the kind of response which the
Missouri Pacific gave them two years
ago. The Missouri Pacifc's taxes were
raised the amount of the campaign
fund demanded, but the company pald
it to the state and not to the slush
fund.
The indications point to concerted
action on the part OF the railroads and
a unanimous refusal to aid in the cam
paign. If the railroads go out OF poll
tics, the Republicans Will lose one II not
indeed the most important of their al
lies. Perhaps the fact that some Of the
money paid by railroads in the past TO
campaign committees, was not applied
to its intended purpose has something
to do with the proposed refusal of the
companies to contribute next year OF
course we cannot reach the bottom OF
this matter, but it is, nevertheless, true
that campaign funds are never ac-
counted for in an open manner. Should
the railroads now stand aloOf, it will re
store them to the confidence and good
viii of the people.
'Of course continued the speaker,
"the insurance companies of the United
States viii put up any amount of mon
ey the Republicans may demand with
the hope of getting rid of Webb McNaI-
No doubt $4,000 or even 100000 viii be
forthcoming with which to corrupt
voters, because the insurance cOmpa-
MES would even then make money
With an insurance commissioner who
would permit them to continue their
crooked actions in Kansas, the cOmpa-
MES would soon get back to the good
old times when the insurance depart
uent was conducted simply in the in
terests of the insurance corporations.
and insurance commissioners were paid
thousands of dollars as hush money
The corporations mentioned are by
no means the last of those which Will
be ready to spend thousands of dollars
to down the present administratiOn.Th The
school book trust viii again attempt
to secure the defeat of the text book
bill They will perhaps have more, too,
but whatever may be the condition at
the opening of the campaign, the trust
viii be ready to assist in 'redeeming
Kansas again The Kansas law de-
prives the company of millions of dol
lars of revenue. which was mostly prof
it. and it is only natural that the COM
pealed- d-and be permitted to get back in
to the state on the old basis.
Then there is the Kansas City stock
yards which had it's profits cut $1,000
per day by the POpulist legislature. The
robbery of the people was stopped and
the method by which it was stopped
has been declared legal and cOnstitu-
tiOnal by the federal court. More than
a quarter of a million of dollars will re-
main in the pockets of the people which /
has heretofore gone into the Golfers of (
the company annually. The stock yards I
viii not submit to such an outrage /
This company will also work to repeal /
the present law and to do this a still /
hunt. Doodle campaign for the election I
of the members of the legislature is the /
first and greatest necessity. COnse- I
quently the prospective legislators who F
fail to get in on the state commit, /
tees distribution from the accumulat- /
ed hold ups directed against other COM !
bines and corporations, needs only to |
take a run down to Kansas City and /
call upon the management of the stock /
yards for his quota.
This is the kind of a campaign we I
expect to meet"