The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1898-09-16
POPULlST AGAINST LEEDY

we puDllSn III thlS WcChS ISSUE al
interview by Kansas City Journa
correspondent with Senator H. F
Sheldon.
Mr.. Sheldon is populist ofstand
ing and reputation. He is the pres
ent senator from Coffey and Frank
lin counties and was originally one
of Leedy's strongest supporters
He was elected by the regular fus-
ion organization in 90, and is the
state Senator from Leedy's home
district, succeeding Leedy from that
district.
Senator Sheldon is not a butter,
and has no personal grievance but
simply can't support Leedy for Gov
ernor on account of his absolute un-
fitness for the place. His reasons
for not supporting the Governor
are given in the Kansas City Jour
nal, of Aug. % and are in part as
follows:
II cannot vote for Mr.. Leedy be-
cause have no faith in his Popul-
ism. He has made no attempt to
carry out a single pledge of the Abb
lene platform, he has even used his
influence to prevent the legislature
from passing laws which would have
redeemed the pledges made to the
people in our campaign of 1896.
Governor Leedy has not only been
faithless to his party, but recraant
to his most important duties as gov
enor. He has been blind to every
one of the numerous opportunities
he has to carry out platform pledges.
He has been the most arrant enemy
of Populist principles, and his ad-
ministration has, in my judgment,
been the severest check the growth
of the Populist party has ever suf-
fered.
"His total disregard of his oath
of Office in relation to the enforce
ment of the prohibitory law is a
sufficient reason in itself, if there
were nc others, why l should not
cast my vote for Leedy, and how
any minded self-respecting man
having always in view the welfare
and honor of the state can second
time cast his vote for such a man is
beyond my comprehension"
IL voted for him in 'o6, hoping
and believing that he would stand
up squarely and execute in good
faith and in accordance with his
oath of Office all the laws of the
state. He has fooled the people
once, but he can't do it a second
time. The course Mr.. Morrill,
pursued in relation to this same
matter sent him out into the night
when asking for second term and
the first of November will see Leedy
travelling the same rod. The bal
ance of the state ticket shall heart
lily support: believe they have
generally conducted their Offices
with credit to themselves and honor
to the state, and they are justly en-
titled to a second term.
cone of the chief pledges of the
platform upon which Leedy was ele-
cted committed the administration
the to support of corrective railroad
legislation. Leedy's action in relat-
ion to this was anything but that of
a true Populist. A true Populist
when he wants anything goes straight
for it. Leedy's whole course from
start to finish in railroad matters
has been that of man trying his best
how not to do it. But | believe
the people have fallen on to his lit
tie game, and when November COM
eS he will find that he cannot fool
some of the people all the time
In his recent Valley Falls speach
Leedy is reported as saying that it
was not his province to pass upon
the constitutionality of any law, as
that was the prerogative of the sup
RENE court, yet in the very next
breath, while trying to defend his
veto of the maximum freight bill he
said Il vetoed the railroad bill
because knew it was unconstitu-
tional.
"This reminds me" added Mr.
Sheldon, "of what Senator Young
recently said to the effect that every
scounirel brought to bay immediat-
ely attempts to seek refuge behind
the unconstitutionality of the law. ~"
"Now, l would not attempt to
say, continued Mr.. Sheldon, chat
the maximum freight law was per-
feet. But in the main it was a good
law, and every legislator will agree
that il would have been much cas-