Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-09
SAYS HE HAS EXPERIENCED A
CHANGE OF HEART
SEES THE ERROR OF HIS WAY.
MARvELS GREATLY AT HIS PREvI-
Gus STUPIDITY.
Patriotism of Kansas Democrats and
SeIf-Sacrifcing Spirit of Leedy
and BOyIe the Subject of q
Sarcastic Statement
kansas News.

Topeka. Kas., Jan. S.-(Special.) Supreme
Court Reporter C. c. Clemens to-day issued
a statement showing the reasons of his re-
cent conversion to fusion. 1t is the richest
document yet issued by any of the Pop
officials on the proposed fusion arrange
ment with the Democrats for the next cam
paign. 1t makes light of the efforts of
Leedy and Boyle to form another unholy
alliance with the Democrats, and urges
that. if Leedy and Boyle must have fusion,
they step aside and give their places to
Democrats. The Clemens statement fol-
lows:
THE past week has been valuable to me
In the way of instruction, and I have been
thoroughly converted. l am henceforth in
the political natatorium. l am a fusionist,
Until recently l had been under the absurd
delusion that 1t would really make some
difference to the people whether the men
elected to state offices We're Populists or
Democrats. l cannot imagine where my in
tellect got that cockle-burr stuck to its
trousers. 1t seems ludicrous now; yet once
L really believed it. l have also learned
that a union of forces is the one grand
which the Populists should
struggle to achieve. Reform principles are
wei enough in their way, but perish re-
form principles rather than that we should
IAN to effect a union of all reform forces.
reform principles have no votes. Reform
forces can elect somebody. l cannot cease
wondering that l have been too stupid to
see all this before. 1t is perfectly clear to
me now that We simply must have harmony
among the reform forces.
Democratic Weeping md WaiIipy
When they think of the possibility that
the Republicans may return to power, the
noble democrats weep over the suffering
people or Kansas as Christ wept over Je-
rusaiem. They feel dreadful bad about it.
but what right has any man to ask them
10 Keep feeling that way and get no Of
noes for their anguish? Are these modern
apostles of a holy cause; these men who
believe that unless silver is restored this
nation Is doomed; these men whose hearts
are iacerated when they read in the press
the SAD story of poverty of the unemploy-
ed, and who yearn to rift the cloud of de.
SPAR that hoverS over the poor: are these
np-to-date reformers to be expected to
make themselves ridiculous by following
the fashion of ancient reformers who ac.
cepted a dungeon, u stake, or a cross as
tudi Gompensation? To be sure. the earth
treinbles with the promonitory rumblings
OF the social volcano. The single gold
standard will soon bring the delHge: and
an r0nt Eepubiican victory, will be the
SIGN Lor Moan TO see that the washing is
brought in off the line, the tub fetched from
the pump, and the kitchen door of the ark
Rroperiy closed and locked. If the Repub-
means should win in Kansas this year, the
reform forces will be disorganized in 1906,
ana the sun of hope will be blotted from
poverty's sky. The Democrats believe this. |
Mack Love prays over it so much that his
constant demand for new trousers to pray |
IN helps keep up. the otherwise unstable |
marker Atwood Lore M do, -n.z al
a cioset-hour spent in an agony of prayer |
that this cup may pass from the people. |
johnson works a graphophone petition to
ome throne OF grace that ought to move
even a wooden god. The anguish of these
good Democratic leaders is a constant
Gethsemane. They cannot enjoy life as
other men. because of this ceaseless dread
that the suffering. people of Kansas may
be doomed to again be afflicted by a Re-
administration.
AnEuish Not Its Own Reward.
But this sort of anguish comes high. No
man can be expected to undergo IT for
And rather than submit to agon-
lze without a brace of state offices thrown
INTO the hat, the company will retire from
the anguish business and will help ruin the
state by returning Republicans to power.
feel the force OF their contention: and
begin TO feel like following Leedy's exam
Pc, by offering to give up every office in
not have a union of reform forces this wear.
/ would offer to give up even my own Of
nee II L thought they would praise my
magnanimity and refuse TO take nv iob.
but Boyle's experience deters me from tax,
ing such a chance as that. However, ex-
possibly fill so well as ourselves. Leedy and
| are willing to give the Democrats every
Office IN the gift of the people if they will
our jobs. If there are not enough places to
go around, and harmony demands a still
and borrow some offices from Nebraska and
We must have a union of reform
forces if not a Populist but Leedy and
ever sees inside the state house again,
Upon further reflection, if it must come
@ that. will even give up Leedy's place.
as much for the people as a Populist,
1t least. the action of his state committed
rust be so interpreted. He knows whether
believe it were he not convinced it would
be true as between him and a Democratic
,Geee 5S s,vi Wha fsst then otf you'd Populists
,rat?, We ave his own word for it that it
would make no difference whatever. Boyle
lis office, and. of course, he knows better
han I can know whether a Democrat as
attorney general would do all he would do
have something like an equiva-
for the wear and tear they endure in !
masses. Let them have the offices of gov. {
amor and attorney general-the offices {
veil filled by Democrats. and which. there !
ore. there is no real reason for not Civ {
re up. t
Why n Pop Party ut All. !
Come to think of it. I would even yield
p the state committee. with all the coun- t
ers, shelving. etc. What use have we I
or a state committee? Is not free silver 6
only thing to be commended foro And Y
ocs not the Democratic party stand for I
hat? Why should We longer divide our I
What excuse is there for three c
ORGANIZATIONS all with the same sin c
le-issue platform? If we have really got e
o harmoniZed that 1t makes no difference v
0 the people whether Il state officer is a
'opulist or a Democrat, pray, why should c
'e not all be in one party? The Demo- T
rats won't join our party, because they
%ntertain the foolish notion that there is a e
between DEMOCRATS and Popu- a
SITS. But We are more liberal than thew. il
.et US join their party. We must have
union of reform forces, and what slrer S
'ay than this of securing it? You can q
lake peace with even a highway robber t
you will be pleasant with him and give p
p all you have. If we do not have har- k
.ony; it is our own fault. l have not dis j.
ohnson and Love. and. of course. I can, r
OF speak with authority: but. knowing i,
mi tla oh rarfar ,nf tIa