Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-09-01
Judge BOtkin ROaStS Stanley.

ulcIS Vi tue state, hdS grown hiSuly ihiPatiSHl
over the fact that the Klondyke murder hole is
still Aourishing in front of the Soldiers Home
at Leavenworth. He has written letter to
General Hudson, OF the Topeka, Capital in
which he does not scrupe 10 express himself
plainly.
81 desire little information," he says.
"Do the jointists and thugs at the Leaven-
worth Klondike have more influence with the
state administration than do the forty thousand
old soldiers of the state? If not, then pray tell
us why the governor has not already closed up
and driven out the scoundrels who are preying
upon the inmates OF the Soldiers Home? Is
Delaware township in state of rebellion
against the state? Then, why does not the
governor use the supreme power that the
people have lodged in his hands for just such
emergencies? All this talk by those Leaven-
worth lawyers about the lack of evidence to
convict the Klondikers is calculated to make
sensible people very tired Our friend Dave
Leahy is reported to have suggested that the
Twentieth Kansas be turned loose against the
Klondike when the regiment reaches home,
lust to show the people how Philippine town
looked when they got through with it. The
suggestion is all right, except that there does
not appear to be any reason for waiting tor the
return of the Twentieth. Where is the
National Guard?
Now, let me humbly suggest, as an amend:
ment to Dave Leathys motion, that if the gov
ernor is afraid to act, for fear he may "pi'
the political "forms" in Leavenworth county,
then that he turn the matter over to Depart
ment Commander Coulter of the G. A. R.; then,
let Coulter arrange for a Grand Army picnic
under the trees just outside the Home gate.
He can get very large and enthusiastic turn
out for such All excursion at any date he may
fix upon. If this suggestion should be acted
upon, there would be no further necessity for a
further consultation with those Leavenworth
lawyers, for them to be everlastingly having
themselves interviewed and thereby calling at
tention to the evident fact that they were EN-
ployed to find excuse for not attempting to
close up the Klondike.
There are forty thousand old soldiers in the
state, and thirty-nine thousand of them are
demanding that the infamy which is going on
up there be stopped On which side is Cover
nor Stanley? Does he imagine that lie can fool
all these old veterans all the time? There are
tens of thousands of the people who are grow
ing suspicious that it was never intended to
clear out that nest of villains, and it does not
help the case with them for some political
iackdaw to interview himself and talk grandi-
oquently about the difficulties of getting
evidence. The way to close up the Klondike
is to close it up. Now, it may seem that l am
impatient. Well, l am; and why not? 1t has
been two summers now since in my report to
the Wichita encampment of the G. A. R. at
tention was called to the villainy that is being
practiced on our old comrades at the Soldiers
Home, and the resulting demand OF the
encampment that the intoerable nuisance be
abated. It was said that Leedy would not
move in the matter for fear he would lose the
Klondike influence in the next election; and he
did not move in the matter Then came the
present administration. 1t has been in power
nearly eight months. Nothing has been done
by it, except the wagging of mouths. Is this
administration also afraid of the Klondike
political influence? If not then let the con-
trary be proven by some sort of move that
means business. Klondike cannot be abated
by talk. Action-swift. certain, and uncom-
promising action-is the only remedy.
"Now, without suggesting that the Klon-
diker who wrote that letter defying the COVER
nor to act in the premises, understood the Still
alton to perfection, l will close"