The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-09-17
WHY SUCH A CHANGE2

WHY SOCd a CaAN11f
Seven years ago Populism was reilS-
Ion in its intensity The Populist con-
vention filed up with men who came as
delegates believing they were called 10
Join in a great reformatory movement
They had all the enthusiasm OF Zealots.
Men who had never made speeches be-
fore arose and talked in impassioned
tones. States by a few connlVing ones
were arranged but promptly smashed
by the unorganized delegates, who hat
ed any sign Of pre-arrangement Men
who wanted office even hesitated 10 say
they wanted il Even in the great state
conventions. no man would confess he
was an aspirant If he did the delegates
would smash him. Delegates who came
10 the convention without Thought OF
being candidates were really nominated
over their own protests and without De-
ino consulted. The resolutions breathed
an inspiration for a great pollucai
change a change not in the county or
the state. but in the nation. Every uei-
egate in his seat felt that he was rae
for that his vote was his own vote, cast
indenendentlv of any ring or clique, and
that every nomination made was as
much of a surprise 10 the older poflil-
clans as it was to himself. He believed
that all men were inspired as he was,
and that in less than five years tne
great reform movement would engulf
the nation. These early PopuGsts were
fanatical in their belief in the posslbLl-
ty of unselfishness in politics.
And now. In Sedgwick, and presum-
ably in every other county In Kansas
The slates are fixed up by a gang
weeks ahead. The delegates come IN
and take their seats. Every man OF
them has had his instructions as to now
n yote There are no impassioned
speeches and no inspiration for every
man who Will be allowed to speak has
his address tucked away in his side
pocket. BY signal the temporary chair
man is selected, each delegate voting
ave" like a piece Of inferior mechan-
ism.
The resolutions are not prepared on
the spot. as they used to be They are
concocted in some office and brought to
the convention in a pocket
And what do the resolutions affirm
this year? That the people should have
the initiative and referendum. There
was a Populist legislature last year.
Why didn't it pass that law? The plat
form affirIns that legislators shall i'm
plicitly obey the mandates of their plat
forms All Populist platforms last fall
demanded maximum freight rate law
Why wasn't one passed at the last legis-
lature? Has Governor Lewelling, who
voted against it. been punished? Has
he not, on the contrary, been rewarded?
And the platform also says that I'VE
lndorse our state administration as the
best and most economical in the history
Of the state Who indorSes 1t? The
clique which won in the POpulist con-
yention The clique which lost does
not. Why is the administration the
best the state ever had? Because that
administration appointed the members
of the clique which won in the conven-
ton and dictated the resolutions mem
berS of the police commission.
But all that aside, where is the old
enthusiasm? Where is the inspired cry
for reform which used TO fill the Popu
list platforms? Where is the hope for
better things held out? Nowhere. The
platform was the last thing thought Of
1T was the offices the clique, the ring,
were after. and only the offices. HUI
manity, the nation. good government Is
no longer watchword. 1t is merely a
wOrdy. war-whooping scrap to see who
will run the county. Ipey Campbell or
Rufe Cone Neither one is Zealot for
good government. neither one is an in
spired enthusiast for reform. But when
one or the other wins his followers send
up wild huZzas and are happy.
But we often wonder what the old
Populist thinks, the Populist whose pol
itics became his religion. who believed
that P0pulSm had come 10 relegate the
caucus ana the ring. the gang and the
jobs forever, We wonder what that
man who was sincerely in the PopuliSt
reform movement thinks when he can
no longer have any doubt that his ticket
is fixed by gang in a downtown office
and presented to him to support in the
interest Of refnrm"