The Globe-republican., 1898-09-08
HITS LEEDY HARD.
Eenator Sheldon, Z Leader In the
Kansas legislature

kays He VIM Net Vote fee Lesdy for 0ov.
ssnoF ef the tusAowsr state and
Givss HI Reasons There
Senator Sheldon, in an interview last
Sunday morning: denounees Gov.
Leedy and says he will not vote for
him. Mr.. Sheldon IL now state soma
tor from the senatorial district Of
franklin and Coffey counties and was
. populist leader in the last session Of
the legi slature. Senator Sheldon said:
II cannot vote for Mr.. Leedy because
have no faith in his populism. He
has made no attempt to carry ont .
single pledge of the Abilene platform;
he has even used his influence to pre-
vent the legislature from passing laws
which would have redeemed tho
pledges made to the people in our cam
paign Of 1896. Gov. Leedy has not
only been faithless to his party, but
Tecreant to his most important duty
- governor. He has been blind to
every one of the numerous opportuni-
ties he has had to carry out platform
pledgeA He has been the most arrant
enemy of populist principles, and his
administration has. in my Judgment.
been the severest check the growth Of
the populist party has ever suffered
His total disregard of his oath of
Office in relation to the enforcement
of the prohibitory law is sufficient
reason In itself, if there were NO
others, why l should not cast my
vote for Leedy, and how any fair
minded, self-respecting man. having
always in view the welfare and honor
of the state. can q second time cast
lis vote for such . man is beyond my
comprehension.
II voted for him in 90 hoping and
believing that he would stand up
squarely and execute in good faith
and in accordance with his oath Of
Office all the laws of the state. He has
fooled the people once. but he can't
do it q second time.
Zone Of the chief pledges Of the plat.
form upon which Leedy was elected
committed the administration to the
support of corrective railroad legisla-
ton. Leedy's action in relation to
this was anything but that of true
populist A true populist when he
wants anything goes straight for 1t.
Leedy's whole course from start to fin
ish in railroad matters has been that
of q man trying his best how not to do
it But believe the people have fallen
on to his little game. and when No
vember comes he will find that he can
not even fool some of the people all
the time.' In his recent Valley Falls
speech Leedy is reported as saying
that it was not his province to pass
upon the constitutionality of any law,
as that was the prerogative of the SUI
preme court, yet in the very next
breath. while trying to defend his
veto of the maximum freight bill he
said: Il vetoed the railroad bill because
knew it was unconstitutional
.sThis reminds me-" added Mr.. Shell
don, ''of what Senator Young recently
said to the effect that every scoundrel
brought to bay Immediately attempts
to seek refuge behind the unconstitu-
tionality Of the law."'
snow, would not attempt TO say"
continued Mr.. Sheldon. that the max
imum freight law was perfect But in
tho main 1t was . good law, and every
legislator will agree that It would
have been much easier to have amend
ed this act than to have passed an orig
inal bill at special session, n Leedy
suggested. During the legislature We
urged Gov. Leedy to tell rs whether
there was anything Objectionable to
him in this original bill, but he &C.
clined to do so, or to give the legisla'
ture any hint of the kind of q bill he
desired passed, although he was fire.
quently importuned SO to do. He sim
ply, without giving any warning or
reason at that time. vetoed bill which
had been before two former legisla-
lures and which had been solidly voted
for by the populist minority in each 0;
those two legislatures, and which he
himself had voted for on q former oc-
casion, while acting as senator from
this district He, pretending to be =
populist governor. ignored the COM
mands of the convention which nomi-
mated him, and vetoed the only pOpu-
list railroad bill ever passed by the
Kansas legislature. Now, am not
going to say that Leedy sold out to
the railroad corporations. but I'd like
to have some smart Alec explain tc
me how q man can better serve the
railroad corporations than has Leedy
during his term of Office"
Continuing. Mr.. Sheldon said:
1.-THE populist platform of 1895 do
manded law reducing the rate Of in
terest In accordance with that DE.
mand introduced bill providing
for q reduction of interest from ten to
eight per cent and providing heavy
penalties for any violation of the law.
Now know of no time or place where
in Mr.. Leedy ever expressed any SYM
patty or desire to have such q Lew
passed. He made no such recommends
ton in his message. nor do believe
he had any wish or desire to see such
q law enacted. We talk of the savings
to the people of the textbook law;
~ Il