Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-12
CAN THE MINERS OF KANSAS BE
FOOLED ALL THE TIME.
Pops TO TEST THE MATTER.
SALE OF PRISON COAL TO CEASE
UNTIL THE CONVENTION.
fIf Leedy Is Nominated None VIII Be
Sold Before Election Grand
Stand Play by Boyle to Draw
Attention From Brok-
en- Pop Promises.

Hope of winning back the coal miners who
left the Pop party on account of the adj
ministration's action in putting prison coal
pm the market in open competition with free
mined coal, contrary to the pledges of the
Pop party made at its state convention.
warden Lands has ceased temporarily to
seil any coal in the open market. No more
prison coal will be shipped to regular deal
|efs until after the Pop state convention,
ktaNd, IL Leedy wins the nomination. then
h9t until after the election. This informa-
! f4on comes direct from a member Of the
NEEDY ring.
Some weeks ago the warden and the
fSovernor. together with a few other polit-
sSal advisers, held a conference when the
Question was thoroughly discussed. 1t was
the opinion of those present that an ef-
FORT should be made to fool the miners
once more. Accordingly, the warden was
kordered not to sell any more coal in the
open market. He is complying with in
structions. The only coal going out OF the
penitentiary now, except that sent to state
institutions. is being hauled away In wag-
pms at ~Leavenworth. The plan is not to
sell a car to outside parties till after the
Pop convention. If Leedy is defeated for
nomination, the warden will resume the
sale in the open market and place his
agents on the road again. If nominated.
aeedy will not let Lands mine any more
GOAL for outside parties until the election
lis over. However. as soon as 1t is over,
|tpo matter what the result, the mine out
&put will be placed on the market again.
Leedy won't care then.
In connection with the scheme of Leedy
and Lands to deceive the miners and get
them back in line, many things are ex-
pected of Attorney General Boyle. They
look to him to pull them out Of the hole.
-t.L O. 49, 4~F0~1o hA n~t n~d
~screen law. The plan is for him to make
a grand stand play, and so enthuse the
miners that they will overlook the Leedy
treachery and broken promises Of the Pop
platform and swallow the entire Pop adj
ministration, along with Boyle. TIL scheme
has been beautifully laid. 1t also embraces
another feature. In order to arouse the
miners and work up sentiment in South
eastern Kansas. SO that the appellate court,
which is soon to hear the scrip and screen
case, will be Influenced, the official state
paper will at once begin the publication of
articles on the condition of the Kansas
coal miners. and show what an infamous
system the scrip business is, anyhow. Pic
lures showing the terrible condition Of the
miners will be rum. Everything possible
will be done to work the miners into a
frenzy. Appellate court judges in the
Southern district depend OF the miner vote
for election.
This, in brief, is the scheme of the Pop
administration In reference to the Kansas
coal miners this coming campaign.
Weir City, Kas., Feb. n.-(Special.) II
there is anything in signs, there is mani
fest uneasiness among the occupants of the
state house at Topeka just now. Within
the past week or ten days three represen-
tatives and beneficiaries Of the Populist
4 party have been in the county from the
capital. One, John Briedenthal, had bust
ness connected with his Office OF bank COM
missioner, as an excuse for the visit, but
1 the greater part of his time was devoted to
interviewing Cherokee county politicians
on matters pertaining to the coming state
campaign.
Another Topeka visitor appeared soon
after, in the guise of a staff correspondent
of the Topeka Advocate, while the third,
who quickly followed the second. was the
chairman of the Populist state central COM
mittee, Taylor Riddle. He slipped into the
county on tiptoe, made an hours stop
at Scammon, the home of ex-Representative
M. l.. Walters. touched the earth lightly
at Columbus, and vanished without attract
ing notice. except from those with whom
he had business.
The body polite, as viewed by the pres
ent administration. is very sick and these
visitors were undoubtedly sent to ascer-
tain the temperature. respiration and pulse
of the falling" They unquestionably had
a hint before they came that a physician
was needed. The knights of Labor, COM
posed exclusively of miners. are making the
life of Governor Leedy a dreary waste by
demanding a strict enforcement Of the min
ing laws of the state. They have been re-
solving and memorializing him for some
time, asking that he compel the mine in
spector to do his whole duty in making the
different coal companies look more to the
safety of their employees and less to the
verdict of the coroners' juries.
AT the last meeting OF the local lodge of
the Knights of Labor a committee was
appointed to draft resolutions imploring
the governor TO take steps to prevent the
recurrence of such disasters as the From
tenac, Fleming and Chicopee explosions,
which resulted in the death of about fifty
! miners. and practically charging the mine
inspectors, past and present, with careless
ness and too much friendliness for the COM
panies. ,
The reportorial member of the visiting
Topeka tririty had business with the coun-
ty committee, and was with its different
members for hours. Immediately after his
departure. Chairman Riddle dropped down
IN the neighborhood, did bust
ness and was gone. leaving behind the i'm
preston that the knights Of Labor resoIu.
tions have caused the the salaried repre-
sentatives of the great Peoples party az
Topeka TO grasp the idea thai things are
not like they used to be- and that some
thing must be done to prevent Cherokee
county from changing banners.
n mn ro- "a, .a,sa~