Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-10-13
Record Made by the Present
Popu1ist Officials

Two years ago the Populist party
was before the people 1t won and the
people can well be congratulated on
its victory There was great contest
going on. 1t was q contest between the
people on the one side and the corpo-
rate interests on the other 1t was a
contest between the man and the dol
lar. In the state the man won; in the
nation the dollar was victorious.
In that memorable fight unscrupu-
Ious genius was on the one side; sturdy
honesty on the other. All the brains
that were purchasable on the market
were bought up and used against the
people. Libel after libel was uttered
to ridicule and discourage the discon-
tented masses Nearly every man of
supposed uncommon ability was sent
into Kansas to turn the drift of popu-
lar opinion. The people had formed
convictions and they stuck to them.
Events have proved that they were
right.
FALSE PRoPHESIES-
One of the most common prophesies
made during that campaign was that
IL the POpulist party won at the polls
the credit Of the state would be ruined,
the money Of the eastern capitalist
would be withdrawn, its people would
nee like refugees from pestilential
plague, and ruin would follow. The
Populists won, their representatives
We're inaugurated, they have since con-
trolled the three branches of state gov
eminent and what is the result? Since
the state was admitted into the union 1t
has never had credit equal to that of
today. 1t has Increased in population.
Through the grace Of providence and
the sweat and toll of its people its
condition was never more prosperous
from financial standpoint Its banks
are overlooking with money which, I'M
fortunately. cannot be put to profitable
use for reasons that every student Of
economics will understand.
1t was charged that the citizens of
Kansas who sought to change condi-
lions in 1896 were regulators and an
archists. Since then the people of
Kansas have paid off a greater per-
centage of their Indebtedness than the
people Of any other state in the union
When the present administration was
inaugurated the state owed over
100000 to eastern capitalists; today
it owes only S25. 900 and an effort was
made to pay that. but the holders of
the debt would not accept it because 1T
wasn't due In some instances indi-
vidual citizens of the state could not
pay their debts before they were due
without making affidavit that the
money was the product of the encum-
bered pronerty. Previous to the inaug-
uration of Populism as the governing
party and power of the state creditors
were continually nagging debtors for
the fulfillment of the bond in many in
stances before it was due. Then the
courts were swamped in foreclosures;
today foreclosure is raritv.
Instead of anarchy prevailing the
most delightful reign of law has been
witnessed by the people No COM
munities have been in rebellion. no
riots have occurred within the state
and no national guardsman has been
called unon to grid on his saber in the
cause of Deace.
THE PUBLIC SERVICE BETTERED.
The Populist party has reJuvenated
Kansas. 1t has digniffed and improved
its public service. Wherever barna-
Gle was found he was removed and
man in harmony with the progressive
purposes of the administration ap-
pointed in his place.
The business of the state is more
honestly and economically transacted
today than at any time in its history.
Scandals and abuses are things of the
past. Every man who departed from
the honest standard of public service
been promptly removed. Birds Of prey,
male and female, haunt the corridors
of the capitol no longer.
THE LEGISLATURE.
The legislature met and passed more
good laws than any ten legislatures in
the history OF the state. There may
have been some dishonest men in the
legislature, but the majority were
above the influence of a bribe as is evil
denced by the number of laws on the
statute books, the passage OF which
could not be prevented by +he power
Of money.
SENATOR HARRIS.
The first important act that legisla-
ture performed was the selection
of United States senator. In his first
years service, by reason Of his deter
mined opposition to the Union Pacific
steal, he saved his country sum OF
money equal to his salary for 500
years.
THE CORPORATIONS.
That legislature found the state
with the hands OF the corporations
tightening about its throat 1t COM
PEELED them to take their rightful
places as the servants instead of the
masters Of the people 1t defined their
duties and prescribed their power and
the executive officers of the state have
made them toe the mark They were
told that the law would be the supreme
power in the state. Those who re-
fused obedience to it have had obedi-
ence enforced upon them Those who
overstepped the prescribed limits have
been punished without fear or favor.
In word the Populist administration
drove the corporations out of politics
out not out of business as the enemy
predicted. Many OF them intend to
stay out Of politics permanently. They
have already found it to be to their