Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1899-01-28
OUR Topeka LETTER.
Roxand Still Illuminating and Reminiscent
Third Degree Exposed-More to Fol-
low.
Topeka, Kan, January Is, 1899.

Topeka, Kan, January Is, 1899.
Pm almost persuaded to jine, or re-
jine, the Republicans. I've been a
wanderer without any steady abidin'
political refuge for nigh onto or about
27 years. Away back in '72, in the
anti-crime days of '73, some of us fol-
lored off after Greeley, the patron
saint of Senator Jumper. Greeley
made mistake but he was IL good
man and deserved a better fate.
Aside from the violence done his
memory and his fame the evils men
do are visited upon their survivors
and succeeding generations. We was
called ''liherals" then. We soon seed
our mistake. Some of us jined the
regular dimmycrat party and some
went back to the G. o. p. More of US
would have gone back but we was
afeared to own up and face the boss
laugh. In rs to rs we al caught the
Greenback fever, or it caught US, and
then there was more hOsS laughin'.
After that we organized or new
parties which promised well and turn
ed out well-for Il few leaders. Along
in the early '9Os we discovered the
Great Read Dragon and the Crime
of 'I3. This was one of the, Seven
Sisters, the Political Pleiades, the
most baneful constellation in the sky
of conspiracy. They had been sleep
in for twenty years but were about
to awake from their lethargy and feed
race of surfs to the Devouring
Dragon. Something had to be did.
Our leaders, who had knocked the old
rotten party dust from their sandals,
soon organized new reform party
with special inducements to farmers.
Its promises and performances have
been like the others-good for few
only
In the 27 years our country has seen
its best days, its most prosperous
years and its most glorious period.
While we wandering in the wilder
ness of mental and verbal calamity
the country has made it's greatest
progress and achieved it's grandest
victories but we have little comfort
in the reflection. We didn't predict
these things. Our prophecies were
off color. We got on the wrong side
of everything and the hoss laugh was
our only reward. Now we must or
ganize new party or go back to the
q. o. p. The reeform business is pee
term out and I'm almost ready to go
back and face the equine hilarity.
The political prodigal deserves better
veal
IThe repentant prodigal who real
ICES how he has been taken in by the
pretence of reform may return and be
welcome to the best in the house.
Ed
The organizer gives the following
Instruction in the. work of the third
degree:
Should you be travelling and desire
a lodging place, just ride up to door
and sing out, s'Hay There!" If the
brother is at home and true to his
pledge he will answer, 'sSeed Herer'
and you will exclaim, s'Howdy brother
Haiseed.' denoting fraternity. You
will then be 'staken inn by him as you
are now by us. THE organizers fee
is Sc. OF which 81 goes to the Grand
High Scribe and the Keeper of the
Inkhorn.1
When two strange brothers meet
the following catechetical examina-
tion takes place. You should make
your responses exact or you may be
branded as an impostor:
Questions; whence came you?
Answer; from the lodge of the Dis
grunttled on Bitter Creek.
@. What is your pretence?
A. Agriculture.
O. What is your object?
A. To learn to subdue my patriot
ism and improve my passion for pub
lie pap
Q. Then you are Reformers