The Wichita daily eagle., 1899-07-19
B|N INGALLS, lost H
Story of a Fateful Pledge That
Never Was Made.
BILLY BUCHAN UNDERTOOK
To Make Him Senator If He
Would Make the Promise.

tired correspondent of the Tribue of a trip
to Topeka when the Populists held the
balance OF power in the Kansas legisla-
ture, and elected Mr.. PETER to succeed
Mr.. ingalls, in the United States senate.
''It was cold and cheerless, and there
was something in the atmosphere which
made the town look as IL II was far away
from civilization" said the correspondent.
81 could not bring myself to realize that
I was in a state capital; that its legisla-
ture was on the rim of an important
event. The majority was composed Of
men who had not come to enact laws
that would benefit the commonwealth,
but they were there to satisfy personal
grievances. The usual rivalry between
leading political parties was absent There
was an air Of stealth in the whole town.
There was a feeling which you couldn't
shake of that every man you met was on
a still hunt with a knife I'D his sleeve
THE Populists have possession Of the
state house. They had barricaded the
doors. and put their own kind on guard.
Sentries stood along the corridors leading
to the chamber of representatives. On
the steps of the state house, more guards.
At the gate of the capital grounds two
guards scrutinized all who passed.
MANY Popullst members slept in the
chamber Of representatives. Their meals
from cheap boarding houses were brought
to them. They affected to believe that
the Republicans were trying to get poss-
ession of the state house 1t never occur
red to them that in such an event they
had legal recourse and redress. They did
nothing, said nothing during the session
to indicate that there was any other
method of accomplishing their end than
force. Populist member would not go
into the street alone. They travelled in
blocks of three. or five. or eight. When
one was approached by a reporter the
others interfered and cut off communica-
tion.
when the night came on these blocks
or groups of statesmen went into dark
places and caucused 1t required a pass
word and grip to get recognition. When
the caucus was over the groups came out
and looked into the night, disintegrate1.
and the smaller groups went away in diff
ferent directions like the three geese IN
the rhyme of Mother Goose. and slept
several in a bed. This was the gather
States senator. These are the men who
defied the Republican party in Kansas;
the party that had delivered the territory
from threatened bondage; that had
fought for 1t and gave 1t all the history 1t
ever had: that enacted every law on the
statute books; that had stood the taunts
and Pro-Slayery and Democratic parties,
and lastly. the guerrilla.
THE Republicans, a small band. num-
erically, had few rooms in the Copeland
House. George D.. Anthony, than whom
there was never braver man. had come
up from Leavenworth, not so much be-
cause he loved ingalls, as because he
loved Ingalls, as because he loved fair
play. Old Dan" Anthony was also there.
Between him and the other Anthony
they were cousins-there was as wide n
space as that between Dives and the
thirsty rich man. But they could stand
together for party.
"Major J. X. Hudson. always cool and
sauve. but firm. was on the scene. His
party had sometimes used him for foot
ball or a door mat. but when his party
needed friends he was there And It was
a strange situation that the Republican
party of Kansas stood in need OF frien Is,
Some OF the old guard came down from
the Solomon and up from the Arkansas
rivers. But they were useless except for
counsel. hTe glory Of the old party lad
departed; at least It looked that way.
"One night as George Anthony sat be-
fore a big fire place IN the Copeland he
looked into the embers as they whitened
and said to Burton. only volunteer in
the service then. We are retreating from
Moscow. II was wolves that beat the
French in that awful campaign. And 1t
is wolves that will beat the Republican
party in Kansas this winter. You youngs-
ters will have to com con here some day
and right this wrong. BY God. I abjure
you to do It under a black flag
'Ingalls arrived from Washington one
cherries. desolute Sunday. He came IN
der protest that was what made some OF
the old guard luke-warm. They hated a
man who camped. ingalls, was not ex-
actly n camper. nor was he ever a lott
erer. but he knew the situation was hope
less. ingalls, had never fought for a for
lorn hope except in his own ranks He
had always been in the cavalry. But
when he came upon the fight for his last
seratorship things had changed The
wCo1S were thick and full OF an enemy
that could not be reached by cavalry tao
tics
a young senator from the Wand q
district was in charge OF ingalls, cam
paign, il such a word could be usd IN dis
cribing that situation This was Billy
Buchan. He was a pupil Of ingalls,. He
was more-he was a worshiper. He was
true 10 his idol. but he had never been IN
a fight like this.
AT the first conference Ingalls, sa.d:
Billy. you can't win. Nobody can vin
this fight for me There can be no COM
binations with such an enemy. VIII is
sue a manifesto. or whatever you say. 20
the party and re wifi end It here. Yoa can
preserve the party organization Dy voting
for your caucus nominee. but 10 fight
against this movement with the hope Of
wining Is Madness
81 do not pretend to quote Mr.. ingalls,
accurately. I only give what one II his
followers told me. But Buchan uas
young: he wanted to fight. To wln the
senatnrship for his party at that time
would have made Buchan the Foremost
political captain IN the west He asked
ingalls, to wait while he made pre;ense
Of attack INGALLS, laughed. walked orr of
the room and went below 20 his iiiIaer.
where he chatted with former friends
about the weather. about Topeka ard
about the good dinners which Re cd
Scotch landlord Of the Copeland 20 Id
get up
The night before the day OF the tint
session TO elect BHchan had final CON
ference with InEalis. Al which B1-hzn
pledged himself T. reflect ingalls, if IN