Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-10-02
poPuLIsT FALSE PRETENsEs.


ing in Kansas comes up to Attorney Cen
eral BOYLE in the free use OF transparent
demaSogy The whole burden OF Mr.. Boyle |
speech is that the Populist party is an or
ganization of the masses, while The kepuo-
Ican party is an organization OF the
Glasses. If one had no other Information
from which to form judgment he might
be led to believe from this young man
reservations that the Kansas people really
had divided along the lines which he indi-
Gates, whereas, in truth, the division u.s. as
everybody with any sense knows, purely
political one and is not based on the IN
,ersts of one class against another.
The intent of Mr.. Boyle is to make the
ignorant or thoughtless believe that the Re-
publican party is the refuge and the hope OF
all those who expect to gain great riches
through a process of bleeding the people
On the other hand he pictures the Populist
party as composed of those who are de-
termined to clip the wings of corporations
and make the rich bow down wherever
found. He does not make this national
issue, but d state issue, and. therefore, We
are forced to treat ii as such.
In the first place the people composing
the Kansas Republican party are exactly
of the class composing the Kansas Populist
party In both parties will be found cor
poration officials. bankers. merchants
farmers, mechanics, laborers and profess
sional men. A microscopic examination will
not show d distinction so far as employ
ments are concerned. There is no interest
possessed by one party a whole that is
not possessed by the other party. There is
no legislation which might be enacted in
the interests of the people assembled in one
PARTY that would not apply as favorably
or as injuriously TO the people assembled
in the other party. The same kind and
class Of people control the destinies of both
parties and il is ridiculous TO talk of one
representing the masses while the other
represents something else.
The difference between the parties, for
difference there is, is not based so much
on what ought to be done as on how 1t
ought TO be done. 1t is just as much to
the interest of the Republicans of Kansas
10 repress corporation injustice or CAPT.
talistic excuses as 1t can be to the Popu-
lists. On the one hand. the Republicans
desire TO proceed with fairness and de-
cency. From their standpoint IT is Just
as dishonorable to rob a corporation or a
rich man as it would be for a corporation
or a rich man TO rob the people. They be-
lieve that questions regarding the rights
or abuses of capital should be adjusted
fairly to all concerned. and this is not q
sentiment or an opinion. for thirty years
of Republican rule in Kansas has shown
how the party keeps the faith in works
There is hardly A state in the Union tina
by law has so thoroughly adjusted th'
relations existing between the rich ant
poor. There is no stale with a better Law
for the regulation of railroads. The law
for the protection of labor are well nigl
perfect. Corporations, banks. INSURANCE
companies. capitalistic or monopolistic In
stitutions of every kind have been brough
under control of the state, and the MAJ
who can say that the Republican part
does not believe in protecting the wea
against the strong must be ignorant of 1t
achievements in the state of Kansas.
On the other hand what does the POI
ulst party stand for? Almost the sam
thing in principle. but for something Yer
different in method. After conjuring u
lot OF real or fancied grievances again:
capital it took the field with the avowe
intention of ccnfiscating the fruits of cal
itai. 1t promised the people extravagal
things, and threatened rcprisals so man
testify unfair that no one could be DO
enough TO carry the threats out Instef
of going moderately about the correctic
of evils as they might be found it storm,
and raved and filed the air with intern
crate declarations. II ia not surprisiI
then that it's achievements have consists
principally in failing to do what 1t pror
ised to do-a failure which was the natur
Sequence of promising things which We
neither reasonable nor right. Up to I
present time it is able to set up, for co
trast with the magnificent line of Repu
lican accomplishments but four things. a
these are the four things which are NJ
receiving the exclusive attention of y
Boyle and the other Populist orators. o
IS "a law which drove the great sto
Thia Is admitted TO be a failure. and it
proposed to rcctify matters by starting
state into the cattle business on its o.
account The second Is school book Il
which yet remains to be tested to pre-
its merits The third If a vigorous ASA
by the Kansas insurance department
All reputable companies doing busin
within the boundaries of the state Up
This date tie only results visible have b,
the driving OF some of the best compan
in the world away from Kansas and
extortion Of huge sums OF money VIII
appear to have gone into the private pu
OF the Insurance commissioner. The fou
and last Of the Populist claims is
governing The manner in which coal 81
be weighed, and compelling the mine OF
ators TO pay in cash instead of scrip.
Properly speaking there were but ii
laws passed by the late Poprlist iegfslai
which may be considered as direC
against the classes and in favor Of
masses. After all the PopuIist howl at