The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1898-10-28
CONvICTS DO THE WORK.
The Populist Campaign Managers Use che
Convicts at the PenitentIary as Dis
tributors of Literature.

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
the taxpayers of the state without re-
gard to political affiliations.
In the face Of the declaration of the
Abilene platform against putting con-
Wet labor in competition with free
labor, populists who would like 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 u 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 a quiet investigation. Before
he reached the penitentiary he noticed
O 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 pcnitentiary 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 peni Tertiary 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 CamTaign.
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.
Z. Upton, the chief clerk of the peni-
Tertiary, was at 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 $1,000 year and the
chief clerk at the rate of $1,000. 1t
might be mentioned here that when
guard who draws salary of $50
month is sick for even day, or loses
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 it addressed
and ready for the "trusty" to mail. A
number of prisoners were at work ad-
dressing and stamping Warden Lam
dis report which contains an alleged
official write-up of the workings of
the prison, but which should be called
populist stump speech instead OF
warden's report. 1t contains a polit-
ical argument in favor of lands
management and, incidentally, the
populist party. OF course the state is
paying the postage on this document
which is scattered broadcast over the
state at the taxpayers expense
Some of the campaign literature is
prepared and printed by the editor OF
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 that
the convicts are now sending out for
the purpose of instructing the people
of Kansas, are the speech of Altgeld,
of Illinois, and pamphlets treating on
such familiar populistic phrases as
'cause and cure for panics," real
money and standards" "the golden
vampire" 1.-THE silver cornucopia,"
what must we do to be saved?" "the
long hidden secret brought to light;
why bankers oppose sound and sufh-
cient currency made clear at last"
How Populists Make Employees Put Up.
While the warden is out campaign
ing and also drawing his salary, while
the convicts are employed in distrib-
uting campaign literature among the
people, the warden's office is left in
charge of his stenographer. This
| young lauy, IN answer W an inquiry
from the reporter, gave little inter-
esting information in regard to popu-
list campaign methods. She said:
''There is not much doing now. Ihave
been busy writing and working for
the state committee, and finally just
refused to do it any longer for moth
ing"
ibid they make you work for moth
ing?" was asked.
"Yes they did. The committee takes
81. so of my wages every month and
then wanted me to work for nothing
DO they assess you every month";
ayes, every month since January.
They take five per cent a month of
the wages of every employee here and
with me it amounts to $3.50. We
wouldn't mind it for just one month,
but when it keeps mp for year it Is
different. l wish this old politics was
over. We are all tired of paying and
working for nothing"