Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-10-12
Record Made by the Present
Popul1st Officials,

=
was before the people. 1t won and the
people can well be congratulated on
Its victory. There was great contest
going on. 1t was a 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 r1dicule 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
II 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would be withdrawn, its people would
flee like refugees from a ,astilential
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 il
has never had credit equal to that Of
today 1t has increased in population.
through the grace of providence and
no
condition was never more prosperous
from financial standpoint. Its banks
are overf1owing 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
arch1sts. 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
1naugurated the state owed over
100000 to eastern CAPITALISTS: today
1t owes only s25. 900 and an effort was
made tn nav that. hut the holders of
the debt would not accent it because II
wasn't due. In some instances indi-
vidual citizens of the state could not
paw their debts before they were due
without making affidavit that the
money was the product of the encum-
bered prOperty. Previous to the inaug-
uration of Populism as the governing
party and power of the state creditors
were continually nagging debtors for
the fulfi'lment of the bond in many in
stances before it was due Then the
b,
today foreclosure is a 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 mon to grid on his sabS ! In the
cause of peace
THE PUBLIC SERVICE BET Erred.
The Populist party has reJu tnated
Kansas. It has dignified and improved
its public service. Wherever a barna-
Gle was found he was removed and a
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
exacted by the administration, has
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 man in the
legislature, but the majority were
above the influence Of bride as is evil
denced by the number of laws on the
statute books, the passage of which
could not be prevented by the 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 a 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-
enca enforced upon them Those who
! overstepped the prescribed limits have
been punished without fear or favor.
I In word the Populist administration
drove the corporations out of politics
but 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
interest and profit.
GOVERNOR LEEDY.
Governor Leedy. in times Of war -
well as in times Of peace has been q
worthy leader In tho cause Of the peo-
pie. He equalised every man, black
and white, rich and poor, before the
law.
He insisted that the old selGisF had
a right to defend his country a. many