The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1898-09-16
HITS LEEDY HARD.
Senator Sheldon, a Leader In the
Kansas Legislature
nays Ho WIN Not Vote for Locdy for Gov
srnor OF tho sunfiower State and
Gives His Reasons There


him. Mr.. Sheldon is now state sena-
tor from the senatorial district OF
franklin and Coffey counties and was
populist leader in the last session of
the legi stature. Senator Sheldon said:
~ cannot vote for Mr. Leedy because
have no faith in his populism. He
has made no attempt to carry out
single pledge of the Abilene platform;
he has even used his influence to pre-
vent the legislature from passing laws
which would have redeemed the
pledges made to the people in our cam.
paign Of 1896. Gov Leedy has not
only been faithless to his party, but
recreant to his most important duty
as governor. He has been blind to
every one of the numerous opportuni-
ties he has had to carry out platform
pledges. He has been the most arrant
enemy of populist principles, and his
administration has, in my Judgment,
been the severest check the growth OF
the populist party has ever suffered.
His total disregard OF his oath OF
Office in relation to the enforcement
of the prohibitory law is sufficient
reason in itself, II there were no
others, why 1 should not cast my
vote for Leedy, and how any fair
minded, self-respecting man, having
always in view the welfare and honor
of the state, can second time cast
his vote for such man is beyond my
comprehension.
II voted for him in '96 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 second time.
zone of the chief pledges Of the plat.
form upon which Leedy was elected
committed the administration to the
support of corrective railroad legisla-
ton. Leedy's action in relation to
this was nything but that of true
populist A true populist when he
wants anything goes straight for it.
Leedy's whole course from start to fin
ish in railroad matters has been that
of a man trying his best how not to do
it. But believe the people have fallen
on to his little game, and when No
vember comes he will find that he can
not even fool some of the people all
the time In his recent Valley Falls
speech Leedy is reported as saying
that it was not his province to pass
upon the constitu tionality of any law,
as that was the prerogative of the SUI
preme court, yet in the very next
breath, while trying to defend his
veto of the maximum freight-bill he
said: L vetoed the railroad bill because
I knew it was unconstitutional
"This reminds me-" added Mr.. Shell
don, 'of what Senator Young recently
said to the effect that every scoundrel
brought to bay Immediately attempts
to seek refuge behind the unconstitu-
tionality of the law
"Now, would not attempt to say"
continued Mr.. Sheldon, that the max
imum freight law was perfect But in
the main it was good law, and every
legislator will agree that it would
have been much easier to have amend
ed this act than to have passed an orig
inal bill at special session, as Leedy
suggested. During the legislature we
urged Gov Leedy to tell us whether
there was anything Objectionable to
him in this original bill, but he de-
clined to do so, or to give the legisla-
ture any hint of the kind of bill he
desired passed, although he was fire.
quently importuned so to do. He sim
ply, without giving any warning or
reason at that time, vetoed bill which
had been before two former legisla-
lures and which had been solidly voted
for by the populist minority in each of
those two legislatures, and which he
himself had voted for on former oc-
casion, while acting as senator from
this district. He, pretending to be q
populist governor, ignored the COM
mends of the convention which nomi-
mated him, and vetoed the only popu-
list railroad bill ever passed by the
Kansas legislature. Now, am not
going to say that Leedy sold out to
the railroad corporations, but I'd like
to have some smart Alec explain to
mo how a man can better serve the
railroad corporations than has Leedy
during his term of Office"
Continuing, Mr.. Sheldon said:
"The populisG platform of 1895 de-
manded law reducing the rate of in
terest In accordance with that de-
mand / introduced bill providing
for reduction of interest from ten to
eight per cent. and providing heavy
penalties for any violation of the law.
Now know of no time or place where
In Mr.. Leedy ever expressed any SYM
patty or desire to have such law
passed. He made no such recommends
ton in his message, nor do l believe
he had any wish or desire to see such |
a law enacted. We talk of the savings !
to the people of the textbook law;
the stock yards law; the fee and sal
airy law--and they are good laws-but
had my bill become law it would |
have resulted in a saving to the peo-
pie of this state of more than $500, 900 |
annually. More than double the bene-
fit claimed for either of the other laws.
Any schoolboy can figure it out.
Loans and discounts in this state at
this date are $40, 900, 900. Two per
cent difference between ten and eight |
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