The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-06
POLITICS AND THINGS
That are Done in an Unusual
Way in Kansas.
CONTEST FOR THE SENATE
How Insurance Business and
Salt Industry are Worked,

Wichita correspondence of the Chicago
Record:
Wichita, Kan, April 81 have said very
little about politics in Kansas, because
there is very little TO say. The masses Of
the people are so busy getting rich and
so well satisfied with their condition that
they do not take much interest in any,
thing else and the professional politicians
the walking delegates who organize re-
form movements-are not as popular as
they were a few years ago.
As a rule the people Of Kansas are fond
of political discussion. They read and talk
and think on abstract subjects more than
any other community in the world They
like TO theorize and experiment and are
progressive in their ideas as well as in
their methods. A Kansas farmer will ride
farther TO political meeting than any
other man in the world. Hence they are
easy prey for demagogues, particularly
when times are hard, prices low and things
don't go to suit them; but no one can fool
them for d great while at any time They
require ocular demonstration within rea-
sOna5le limits, and when they discover
that a theory or a machine doesn't work
they take it 10 pieces and generally find
out what is the matter. They are fond
of novelties in all branches of life and
lines Of experience and are willing 0 give
almost anything trial.
For the last few years they have been
trying Popullsm. They have been told that
the theories advanced by the leaders Of
that party We're universal panacea for
Gil ills that human kind IS heir to. and at
one time they were almost convinced that
the free coinage Of silver at a ratio Of 1s
to 1 was absolutely necessary TO restore
prosperity in this country and secure
prices for wheat, corn. cattle, hogs and
poultry that would make their cultivation
profitable
A period Of prosperity such as they
never before experienced AMI scarcely
hopel for has blessed the state without
the aid of legislative action, and they see
the fallacy Of the theories they have been
advocating with so much ardor As a re-
cult the POpulist party in Kansas Is prac-
tically extinct, but the leaders are making
heroic efforts to revive and reorganize If |
with new issues that are very close to
socialism. The Advocate Of Topeka. the |
leading organ of the Popultst party, of
which ex-senator PETER was the editor
for many years, has already renowned |
PoVulLsm and declared for socialism 1t |
has large following in the state. The |
other Populist newspapers regard 1t as an |
oracle, and although Senator PETER has |
nothing to do with it now it retains the !
odor of sanctity and the reputation of
wisdom.
They're alter number Of Populists are !
Crawling back into the tents" of the old |
parties and their former associates permit /
them to do so without recrmination. BY /
common consent when a former Democrat |
or Republican renounces PopuIism no re-
marks are made and no questions are |
asked.
I'VE lose a good deal Of fun by our for
bearance," said one Of the local leaders at
Cherryvale the other day, land sometimes
1t is impossible to prevent the boys from
'joshing' those who have been particularly
prominent in the Populst or silver move
ment.- Some of the returning prodisaIs
are good natured and inclined to take a
humorous view of their experience. 1t
happened the other day that our Repub-
ncan club voted sixteen in favor of a GER
tain proposition and one against il, where
upon. when the result was announced.
an old chap who had been very active in
the free coinage ranks and has only re-
Gently returned to the Republican party.
arose, and with a grin or his face, re-
m arIrnT-