The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-02
RIDDLES REASON
POpUlist State Chairman Has
Figured On the Returns
And Finds the Cause of the De-
feat to Be
34.793 STAY-AT-HOMES
In the POpuIist Party : Plans
For 1900.
Counting On Them All to Vote
in That Year.
54,793 STAY-AT-HOMES

The Populist state central committee
have at last completed their work of
going through the election returns.
They have compared them with the
vote Of 1896, taking each precinct sep
arately, in order to see just where there
were gains and losses and what brought
them about, and Chairman Riddle today
issued his statement concerning the
cause of the defeat of the Populist par
ty. He says:
There is a lesson in the returns of
the recent election in Kansas. 1t is a
lesson which ought to engage the
thought Of every man who. by his apa-
thy and indifference, permitted election
day to pass without recording his con-
VictiOns at the ballot box. Forty
three thousand voters in Kansas de-
clined to vote on November 8th. Had
the "a, 1913 voters who cast their ballots
for Governor Leedy in 1896 gone to the
polls this year, the adninistra ton which
has accomplished more for the people
than any other in the states history
would have been endorsed by over
10000 majority, as it deserved to be.
1.-THE returns show that the total vote
cast for governor is 286, 90S, a shortage
from the 1896 vote of about $4,000. In
forty counties the Republican vote was
slightly Increased over that of 1896,
amounting in the aggregate to 1857
votes. This number largely comprises
new voters. Taking the precinct re-
turns of the recent election as a basis,
an analysis shows that about half of the
Prohibition vote went to Stanley, a to-
tai of 1852 votes. AS near as can be
estimated 1857 fusionists voted for
Stanley. Governor .Leedy received
about 1000 of the new voters and 2309
Republicans. PETER received less than
200 Republican votes. Therefore, if
1852 ProhibitiOnists voted for Stanley,
PETER must have received 2,746 Popuiist
votes. The middle Of the-road vote
went to the Socialist ticket almost SOL
idly, a few of these voting for Stanley.
After deducting the Populist vote
III ,1,~ hot ,f,aR7
went to PETER, there are still "a, 1893 vo-
ters who supported Leedy in 1896 who
stayed at home this year, as the Leedy
vote is that much short. PETER secured
his POpulist vote because of his person
al standing and not because of his posi-
ton at the head of the Prohibition par
This vote will return in 1900, as well
as those who voted for Stanley this
year. am confident that the 2,309 Re
publicans who voted the fusion ticket in
November will be in line for the great
battle for the people two years hence
There are hundreds of young men in
Kansas who will cast their first vote in
1900. That they will begin by affiliat-
ing with the forces which stand for the
rights of the people as against the or
ganiZation dominated by the trusts and
com binatiOns, there is not question of
doubt. Briefly stated, the recent re-
turns show that if the voters who stood
for the principles upon which the Pop
ulist party is founded, and those who
stayed at home, come together two
years hence for the principles laid down
in the Chicago platform, victory will
crown their efforts by more than 10000
majority.
Therefore, the lesson Of the recent
election is as plain as the monday sun
The opposition to the Republican par
ty in Kansas, when tremendously COM
bined, is able to defeat that party cas-
lily. A victory cannot be achieved,
however, when over 10000 of the men
of Kansas who have been crying out
for protection against the greed and
corruption of the Republican party, de-
Hberately stay at home.
THE Republican organization during
the last campaign was the best and
strongest in the history of the state.
Republican voters have been taught to
obey the mandates of the leaders. They
can be rounded up like so many sheep
and voted in accordance with the die
tates of the leaders. The Populist party
is composed of very different class of
men. They are independent, and refuse
to be driven into the shambles and
branded. They left the Republican par
ty because of gang rule and disreputa-
bic leadership, and for this reason, more
than for anything else the Populist re-