The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-09-23
Late Political Views of Mr..
and Mrs. Lease.
HEX DOUGLAS DEMOCRAT
While She Has Become q
Mckinley Republican.

deserving Bryan. which are hereunder at
tached.
People in this city who are acquainted
with Mrs. Leases husband, Charles L.
Lease, have always regarded him as hav
ing a good deal to do in shaping the
course OF his distinguished wife. as
Lincoln would have said, he has influence
with the administration It was this
idea that caused a reporter for the Eagle
70 call on Mr.. Lease last night TO get
his ideas on the questions Of the day.
Mr.. Lease was found at his place Of
business on East Douglas avenue. He is
manager Of the Rock Island drug store.
which was crowded with customers.
When Mr.. Lease finally had time to talk
the reporter asked him If he had heard
OF Mrs Lease coming out for Mckinley.
He laughed and said he had heard some
thing about it But" he added, Il
never bother about Mrs. Leases poIiti-
cal affairs"
How do you stand on that question,
Mr.. Lease?' asked the reporter.
Il am a Democrat" answered the
Wichita druggist with much emphasis.
II am an old Douglas Democrat. When
Lincoln and Douglas held their great de-
bate at Freeport,. III. in 1858 I lived on a
farm near that place. I went to town
and stood for three long hours listening
10 Honest Abe and the Little Giant
Those were times that stirred mems
n
triots: they were for their country first
and party after.
yes, I am Democrat" he repeated,
and then after a little reflection, 'out
I am an expansion Democrat I want
to hold all those islands and give them
a territorial government Ike Oklahoma
ana other territories in this country.
Then I want the government to build
some more big battleships Ike the Ore
gon. I think the United States are the
greatest nation on this earth and I want
Il TO be stu greater. Before the war
with Spain we were Ike a big overgrown
boy. Nobody knew what was in Us.
Dewey got into a little naval scrap at
Manila and SchIey and Sampson down
at Santiago. and We surprised the whole
world including ourselves.
II is al foolshness to talk Of letting
the Philippines go. We might as well
tax about letting some foreign power
have California and oregon. The Amer
fcan people are intensely loyal and the
people OF this -try viii never haul
down the stars and stripes where II has
been placed at cost Of American blood.
I want a larger navy. More big battle
ships so that no other power can haul
old glory down. We do not need a great
standing army but we 90 need a great
navy.
Eyes. am a Democrats Douglas
Democrat
Mrs. Lease, in her interview for Nc
kinney. says:
II am with the Republican party now.
primarily for the reason that as I take
it the issue has resolved itself into the
old issue Of apprehension versus Re
puolicanism. and as the daughter Of an
old Urion soldier I fell that my place is
with the Republican party. The Demo-
cratic party is anchored still 70 the OBJ
solete and worTn-eateu doctrine Of state
rights. 1t is a party Of Degation and
obstruction purely, with no issue except
that Of retroEression and opposition to
Republicanism.
Mr.. Bryan-weu, I thought him a sin
cere man four years ago. a man devoted
70 a principle and with the courage TO
maintain It in the face OF opposition.
Rut. alas. events have forced me TO the
sorrowful conclusion that my erstwhile
idol IS simply an ordinary man with an
abnormaIy developed presidential bee IN
his bonnet, whose seductive huns have
made him forgea principle, consistency,
and duty to his country and fellow men.
1T really makes one sad who believed
in his sincerity four years ago 10 COM
pare his fearless and consistent utter
ances then with his cheap demagosism
OF today. I have heard even some Of his
followers say that his present speeches
did not seem TO ring as true as those Of
four. years ago and that he faiIed~~s i'm
press them as he did then. This is sim
ply due TO the fact that he is talking
what he does not believe IN his secret
heart.
AT the same time I do not believe he
has any great hope Of succeeding this
year. His game is &c become one Of the
new senators from Nebraska. believing
that he can IN this way keep himself
before the public eye until the elections
Of four years hence He is going TO re-
main in Nebraska during the greater
part OF the campaign for this reason. aud
from what know already of public sen
tiraeat IN thai state. I think his re=olu-
ton Is q wise one. for the people q that
state are not with him IN his and-ex-
pansion policy. They are for expansion
because they realize the manifest bene-
fits 81 IS going to hiring. not only 70 their
state but to the whole country.
To my mind the a1ti-ex7ausion or Al
legged imperialism policy Of the Democrat
IS party presents the most unPst-l0tsc.
ZIMMERMAN. unwise issue from g pure
" material poiBt Of view that has ever
come before re People Of this country.
There Is, OF course. one exception. the
issue presented in 81. bat It Is the sdT7e
old spirit. the same old -co9perheaitsn
O. that day watch is now demanding the
Endorsement q the American people. Ex-
paRsion has come as a natural develop
mept and has come 70 stay. The people
OF Nebraska and the west generally are
Progressive intelligent people. and thew
are not with Mr.. Bryan on This issue
Neither are they frightened ty his b.
Eey' % uilitarism which he IS trottsrs
out for the special de.ectati0n Ct the
German-Americans He S not making
the impression On their minds he thinks
n Is when he talks about the ha-dshius
F.yfSzs. F7a5TT