Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-10-14
WHY IT SUCCEEDED.
Republican Newspaper Tells About POpulism
in Kansas.

given reasons why the people had no confidence
in that party. Under its present leadership
they openly declare that the most efectua way
of getting ready for the campaign of 1900 is to
do good job of house-cleaning this year, Tor
with Cy Leland, Lit Crum, Frank Brown and
Toe Bristow in charge of the party machinery,
there i, not ray of hope for the future.
The Republican paper which mas come near
est to expressing the sentiment OF thousands OF
Republicans i'll Kansas is the Mcpherson Free
man. The Freeman is published at the home
of Jim Simpson, Cy Leland's chief lieutenant.
SIMPSONS bossism in Mcpherson county has
had its effect When he assumed to run the
Republican politics of the county, the Repub-
lican maorities ranged from 600 to 500. Now
the county is safely in the opposition column.
Now the county is safely in the opposition col
umn.
Last weeks issue of the Mcpherson Freeman
contained the following strong article:
"The Populst party does not flourish any
where but i'll Kansas. The reason is that the
Republican party in other states, the
conditions favorable to the growth of
Popuisn, at once adopted the plan OF re-
moving the conditions by prompt legislation
But the Republican party of Kansas was IN
the clutch of an element that lived by
reason of the existing wrongs, and hence
no effort was made for. removing the rea-
sons for the Populist party's existence, and the
natural results was it Aourished and became the
dominant party of the state.
"If in 1894, when the Republican party
elected the governor and majority of the low
er house of the legislature, proposed legislation
having in good faith the control OF the insur-
ance companies, grain inspection law, and
made an honest effort to relieve the farmers of
the extortions of the Kansas City Stock Yarks
company, and the measures to control the freight
rates and protect the poor miners from the
greed of the coal barons, it would have COM
PEELED the Populist senate to approve those
measures, or stand in the position of defeating
laws in the interest of the people.
"But the Republican governor and house did
not do this for the reason that it was in the
hands of the same old gang that has lived and
fattened around the state house for 20 years
that lobby, whose pockets were always full OF
corporation money with which to defeat legls-
lation. After the distribution of patronage and
the drawing of salaries, the Legislature OF 1896
adjourned giving no remedial legislation for
existing wrongs. The result was the Repub-
ican party was overwhelmingly defeated in
1906.
The Populsts improved the opportunity.
The stock. yards robbery was investigated and
the people of the state will profit greatly by
reason of 1t. The rates for yardage, hay and
corn were reduced one-half, and instead OF the
money going to swell the dividends of the Bos-
ton stockholders, it remains with Kansas ship
pers and farmers.
tThe superintendent OF insurance went
after the insurance companies and rate-makers.
The valued policy law made all act in fact
and every insurance company operating III KAN
sas obevs it, and citizens who were SO unfor-
tunate as to lose their homes by fire, no longer
compelled to accept one-half of the sum insur-
ed for or submit to ng-drawn-out law suits,
with the usual delays in the supreme court.
The companies must pay or get out OF the
state.
"Then the Populsts passed the fee aud sal
ary bill, which saved the people thousands of
dollars. The county treasurer was drawing
$4,000 year, or 81 900 more than the govern
or of the state. Now the treasurer's office pays
$1,000, and competent men are anxious tor the
Office It the present salary.
"The coal miners are no longer compelled to