The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-10-21
CoNvICTS DO THE WORK.
The Populist Campaign Managers Use tbs
Convlcts at the Peuitentlary rs Die
tributors of Literature.


Nominal headquarters of the popu-
list state central committee is at
Topeka, but the work of the campaign
is mostly done at Lansing within the
walls of the state peniten tiarv, by un-
paid convicts who are supported by
che taxpayers of the state without re-
gard to political affiliations.
In the face of the declaration of the
Abilene platform against putting con-
vict labor in competition with free
labor. populists who would like a job
even at small wages during the cam
paign are made to stand aside while
unpaid convicts do the work of the
state central committee. The lead
ers of the reform movement in Kan
sas have never been accused of being
short of cheek, but this thing of using
the enforced and unpaid labor of Grim
inals to conduct n partisan campaign
is an exhibition of gall that is well
nigh sublime
Having heard that the work of the
state central committee was being
done at Lansing a reporter for the
Leavenworth Times started out to
make quiet investigation. Before
he reached the penitentiary he noticed
n convict dressed in good man suit
on his way to the Lansing post office
with sack of papers on his shoulder.
This was campaign literature, sent out
from the penitentiary for the purpose
of instructing the people of Kansas to
vote the populist ticket twas after
ward learned that this trusty had been
employed for weeks in packing cam
paign documents from the office of the
chief clerk of the peniten tiary to the
post office, although he is supposed to
be laboring for the state and not for
any political party.
onicer. Draw Pay While They Camuaign.
On reaching the office the reporter
made inquiry for Warden Lands and
found that he was out in the southern
part of the state making stump
speeches. 1t was also found that w.
4. Upton, the chief clerk of the peni-
Tertiary, was Mt Topeka putting in his
entire time as secretary of the popu-
list state central committee. Both
these gentlemen had been away for
weeks, but each one had been drawing
his salary with regularity, the warden
at the rate of $4,000 year and the
chief clerk at the rate of 81, 200. 1t
might be mentioned here that when n
| guard who draws salary of $50 a
month is sick for even day, or loses a
| few hours from any cause, he is locked,
| but when the chief officials are away
| for weeks at time, neglecting their
| duties, they draw full pay. This cir
/ cumstance shows the extreme partial
/ ity the party of reform has for the
poor laboring man and humble guard.
In the Office of the chief clerk of the
penitentiray was a big pile Of pam
phlets, bundles of literature and other
campaign material, part OF IL addressed
and ready for the "trusty" TO mail. A
number of prisoners were at work ad.
dressing and stamping Warden Ian.
dis report which contains an alleged
official write-up of the workings OF
the prison, but which should be called
a populist stump speech instead of q
wardcn's report. 1t contains Il polit.
ical argument in favor of Lands
management and, incidentally, the
populst party. OF course the state i,
paying the postage on this docu ment
which is scattered broadcast over the
state at the taxpayers expense.
Some Of the campaign literature /,
prepared and printed by the editor o.
the Lansing News. While he is pre-
pairing literature for the populist com
mittee he is drawing a salary as extra
guard" Among the documents thai
the convicts are now sending out foi
] ha ~ ing /.
of Kansas, are the speech of Altgeld
of Illinois, and pamphlets treating OF
such familiar populistic phrases al
''cause and cure for panics" "real
money and standards" "the colder
vampire" 1.-The silver cornucopia,
what must we do TO be saved?" "th'
long hidden secret brought to light
why bankers oppose sound and suth
cient currency made clear at last"
How Populists Make Employees Put Up.
While the warden Is out campaign
ing and also drawing his salary, Will,
the convicts are employed in distrib
uting campaign literature among tn,
people, the warden's office Is left il
charge of his stenographer. Thi
young lady, in answer to an inquiry
lIbki bhS iSPciNSit BhNo a AibbAS iHbUA
esting information in regard to popu
| list campaign methods. She said
"There Is not much doing now. l hav,
been busy writing and working TO
the state committee, and finally jus
: refused to do it any longer for moth
ing"
ibid they make you work for moth
ing?" was asked.
( "Yes they did. The committee take
/ $3.50 of my wages every month an
then wanted me to work for nothing
E "Do they assess you every month";
9 Eyes, every month since January
They take five per cent a month Of
D the wages of every employe here an
= with me 1t amounts to $3.50. w
wouldn't mind IL for just one month
E but when 1t keeps up for year II
0 different wish this old politics wa
over We are all tired Of paying an
working for nothing"