The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-19
At His Meeting at Kansas City,
Kansas, Last Night.
Interest in Politics Seems on
the Point of Re-awakening.
SOME POLITICAL NEWS
Of a General Nature on the
Situation.
Gov. Leedy's Visit to Leaven-
worth and Other Places.

Kansas City, Kan, Oct. 19.-Despite
the cold rainy evening Governor Leedy
opened his campaign last night at Ar
Inory hall in this city to standing room
only. Every seat in the house and gal
lery was taken and some two or three
hundred stood up for three hours in the
aisIes and in the back part of the house.
Mr. Joseph McGrath was introduced
as chairman of the meeting. He intro
duced the governor who was greeted
with prolonged applause. The governor
among other things said:
I have not come here to make a
speech. While I am governor of the
state of Kansas I am only lieutenant
governor of tine Leedy family and
the governor of the family told me this
morning if I talked more than so min
utes would be called in.
THE TOpuIist party believes that the
corporations of this country have been
granted more rights and privileges than
is consistent with the well being of so
cfety. Now I don't refer to all corpora
tiOns but those that have gained power
and property by overriding all law.
Corporations that are gaining power
and property by organizing great trusts.
We believe that their privileges should
be curtailed by legislation. The Repub-
llcans believe that there should be no
control of corporations but that it
should be left to competition. We have
been trying competition for years and
we have seen it grow less and less year
by year.
They say that we have passed out
rageous laws in relation to corpora
tiOns. We have passed a stringent
barking law and put it in operation. Does
any one want that law repealed2 If it
had been in force during the past Is
years many bankers who have burst
and gone towel, don't care to say
where-would be here today doing a
sound business and it would have saved
the people much money.
I'VE have passed a school book law
which reduced the price of school books
One-half. 1 don't need to dwell on it.
But if we are continued in power we
will enforce it.
We passed the stockyards law. They
say Populists can't pass good laws. But
fellow citizens. this law has been pass
ed on by two judges of the federal court
who didn't want to hold that it was
good But when we showed them the
books of the stockyards and its enor-
nous profits, they had to hold it good.
Now If we are kept in power we will
carry this contest to the highest court
IN the land. No, we have no apology to
offer for this law.
eff the supreme court of the United
States overthrows this law we will find
way to do without the StOckyards. If
Kansas City can have a public hay
yard to sell hay the state can have a
public cattleyard where cattle can be
sold without our being robbed by a
Boston corporation.
Now am willing to give the Repub-
lican party credit for the insurance
laws. They passed them, Now tbev
are bowling because we are enforcing
them. Because we are making the COM
panieS come to time and obey the law
they are calling the insurance commits
S1Oner and his assistants Road agents.
From what they say in this campaign
I think that If the Republican party is
returned to power that they will repeal
the insurance laws. Do you want this
done? (Cries of No. NOD The law
says that the companies shall treat the
citizens of this state fairly. What does
fairly mean2 Surely not less than that
they shall pay their honest debts The
valued policy law says they shall pay
total losses in full. Now if any citizen
has a total loss and they send an adjus-
ter around and he wants to compro-
mise with you, don't you do it. You no.
tify Webb McNan and he will make
them pay or get OUT
The governor devoted some little time
to exhOrting the labor vote TO stand to-
gether and explained that direct legis-
latiOn (the referendum) would enhance
the value of the ballot.
In talking to the cOIOred people the
governor said:''I never saw a campaign
in this state where the negro vote was
an uncertain thing The Republican
party has always been like a man start
ing in business. The man goes and gets
together ten or fifteen thousand dollars
and puts II in bank and calls that his
capital or what he has to start on So
1t has been with the Republican party.
They counted up the negro votes and
knew L4aL LuGy naQ LQaC 0uch to start
on.
THE ballot was not given colored peo-
pie for them to express gratitude with
but to protect and defend your rights
You owe me nothing for what I have
done for the cOlored people. And my
friends you don't owe the Republican n
party anything for what Abraham Lin
coin did for you. The colOred man is
grateful, he has voted the Republican
ticket for 20 years without getting any
profit from it. Vote for yourselves, not
for me or for Abraham Lincoln"
The governor was followed by quar-
tette called the Leedy quartette which
sang several campaign songs that were
loudly applauded.
John H. Atwood of LeavenWorth next
spoke. He had the close attention of
the audience till the close Of the meet
ing. Mr.. Atwood's speech was one of
his characteristic efforts. His descrip-
ton of the rush of Republicans after
Senator Baker asking for Office and ap-
pointments and other witty sallies,
kept the audience in a continued roar.
Mr.. Atwood talked of the war and ma
ttonal Issues and was closely followed,
and loudly applauded
TO GET THE COLORED VOTE.
Mason S. Peters Says the Kansas