Abilene weekly reflector., 1898-06-02
Some Explanation, Needed.

OF all good citizens for the impartial and
efacient manner in which they have investi-
gated and punished official corruption and
malteasance In their own party.-[Dickinson
County Populist Platform.
This glorious utterance describing
the excursion Of the Populist board Of
Justice unto the vastand iathomless
sea Of "ofiicial corruption and NAL
ieasance" in the Populist ranks needs
little explanation. 1t may be con-
sidered that the terms corruption"
and "malfeasance" apply as we'll to
party pledges broken as to official
trust betrayed and there are several
much-needed explanation that are not
given.
For instance they neglected to ex-
plain why ftty-hve Republicans in
the legislature prevented 10 Popu-
lists from carrying out the pledges Of
their platform to pass a maximum
railroad law, to economize in the sal
aries of state officers, to lower the
legal rate OF interest and fulfill other
platform promises ignored during the
session.
They neglected to explain why the
superintendent OF insurance in his
crusade against foreign companies, at.
tacks solvent and reputable com.
panies only and makes bis "examina.
tions' Of companies whose standing
is unquestioned in the world.
They neglected to explain why, in
the face Of the loud professions Of
party leaders Of friendship for the
miners Of the State, the penitentiary
coal mines were run at full capacity
during the mine strike.
They neglected to explain that the
showing Of money saved in running
the penitentiary is due to the compe-
tition Of convict mined coal with coal
mined by free American labor, in the
open markets Of the country.
They neglected to explain the ap'
pointment Of Ed Post to be judge in
Kansas City. That's one of"Leedy's
appointments, and 1t caused a roar
among the Pops from one end Of Kan.
sas to the other.
They neglected to explain how
Governor Leedy, Private Secretary
Little and Congressman Jerry Botkin
came to "invest" in Port Arthur town
lots.
They neglected to explain the atfi.
davits Of presidents Of reputable in.
surance companies stating that agents
Of the Kansas state insurance super
intendent had entered their offices,
talked politics three hours and then
presented bills for upwards Of $500
for alleged examinations" of COM
panies' books.
They neglected to explain why the
regents of the State Agricultural col
lege have raised the salaries OF .sev-
eral professors from $3.50 to 5000
higher than the salaries fixed by the
late legislature.
They neglected to explain the
Doodle investigation which was car
ried on at great expense last spring.
They neglected to explain why
Representative Lot Ravenscraft Of
Clark county, who claimed to know
so much about Doodle, left the State
and refused to come near Topeka
while the investigation was in pro-
gress.
They neglected to explain what
Ravenscraft meant when be walked
up and down the middle aisle OF rep
resentative hall the might before the
legislature adjourned, waving pack
age Of papers and shouting that he
held evidence to send men to the pen
itentiary.
They neglected to explain why
Senator Titus, who said Boyd offered
him 81 900 for his vote, did not make
an effort to have Boyd prosecuted.
Boyd has been in Kansas City all the
time and Titus knows it.
They neglected to explain why
every man besmirched by the investi-
cation was fusionist.
They neglected to explain why
Governor Leedy put the Kansas vol
unteers in a mud hole in Topeka when
a handsome forts equipments await
ed them and why the bows were sent