The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-09-05
Che aaaishita nap gaaIe aaedresdau g0rna 1900

| committee. i was mis- secretary au(
know whereof 1 am speaking because O
my recollection of an occurrence wherein
he was approached late at night in thu
| ways and means committee room. L
! was impressed upon my memory be
cause I had esteemed him SO mild and
equitable that / would have and did
anticipate from him softening words sc
arranged in method as to let the bribel
| down easy. Instead he became pale with
! anger and trembied with Indignation
While threatening to chastise the man he
| threw open the door and accelerated his
! exit
| Governor Lewelling was a large heart
ed man, broad in his views and liberal IN
| his appraisement and bestowment upon
man. If he had fault 1t was his sin
cerity and belief in his political friends.
| Being true himself. he doubted no one.
| He was well informed. a great reader
and professional thinker, besides a pub
| lie speaker of impressive and pleasing
address Had his advancement been
placed in kindlier hands than his own
party held out to him, he would have
been a great and useful man, not alone
to his party, but to the commonwealth
in which he lived; I know this from his
frequent out-linings when We were alone
at night in the committee rooms.
WAS DEVOTED TO WICHITA
''As state senator he erred in his de-
votion to Wichita, giving it almost sing
ly his then great influence and favor,
neglecting matters of grayer Importance
to the state which would have given him
fullness of honor, praise and greater
place Instead his efforts and sacrifices,
his time given to Wichita Hobbies to Sc
cure state normal school at Wichita
and its failure brought to bare upon
him the ,basest weapons of ingratitude
and calumy. In his great soul and heart
he knew it and made mention of it to me,
but he held no malice because Of it nor
ever uttered an expression that betrayed
a revengeful thought or a desire for
retaliation. His nature was loving and
forgiving; had he possessed any OF the
cold incincerity of the politician whose
punishments are more swift and sure
than their continents, he would have
been esteemed greater among that grow
ing class known as the 'knifers," who
seem Iaterly to control political success.
Taken as a husband and father, so
public had his affectionate nature be-
come, that the community that he so
honored as citizen and neighbor had
but one voice in testimony of the nobil-
ity of his character. In both public and
private capacities every one ascribes to
him in his association with his wife and
daughters in public Difference and
gallantry. But few men possessed his
industry and unfagging zeal in pursuit.
He was tireless and sleepless when eff
fort was required.
His belief was in universal law made
and pronounced good from beginning-a
law of love, life and intelligence of ul-
innate universal reclamation. He knew
God was better than he, yet, himself
could not think of punishment without
recon at its lack Of intelligent clviliza-
ton. He has gone to needed rest and
a great reward for patience, tried and
true. He has, as there is no death, sep
arated the curtain between a material
and substantial world and gone on to
higher and nobler work.
About three weeks ago Governor Le-
yelling had decided to give up the fam
Gus written agreement between himself
and George r. Peck, which agreement
prevented bloodshed in Topeka in 1898
This agreement has. it IS claimed, never
beer copied by any one, and its exa It
language apparently was unknown to any
one except the siGners. When II Nas
told that Governor Lewelling was will
ing to show it. a reporter for the Eagle
called upon him and asked him about it.
Governor Lewelling said that il was true
that he intended to give 1t to the State
Historical Society, but he refused at The
moment to let the Eagle publish it, He
evidently believed that there was some
political intention in wanting its publ
cation, or If not that, that his partisans
would put that sore OF construction on it
Whether or not he sent that document
u the State Historical society is not
known.
EX-GOVERNOR LAST INTERVIEW.
One Of the last, probably the last, inter
views Mr.. Leweling had was with an
Eagle representative who introduced him
last Thursday evening to Dennis Flynn
OF Oklahoma on the Santa Fe depot plat
form.
Is it really true" asked Flynn, that
You are affiliating with the Socialists,
GOVERNOR"
Il have always had socialistic tenden-
cies," said Mr.. Lewelling 80 have we
all We must all come TO it. l am not
particularly af1iliating with them, though
admire many Of their tenets."
Flynn and Lewelling got to talking
about politics. There is no happy live
lihood in politics." said the governor. ~
have held Office for years and have nor
gained by it. had put in business
half the energy I put into politics
would be rich. I started holding Office
in Iowa and have been at it ever since"
Did You know Senator Gear?' asked
Flynn
''Of course I did. The old man IS gone
He was rugged and pure gold. I must
tell you of my first interview with him.
1 was az the head Of public institution
IN Iowa and I called on Gear and stated
my case He answered my question and
as l fingered a little he waved his hand
toward the door and said, 'Propel.'"
The governor went on TO say that he
was in poor health. He did not know
Just what allied him. His face was asbep
and he appeared letharsic.
Governor Lewelling came to Wichita
from Iowa. where, as a Republican 10
had for number of years filed he Office
or superintendent Of the Industrial Soboo,
for Girls When he left Iowa for Ko,-
sas he was president Of the board Of 81 /
reStors 81 the State Normal school g.
Des Mc+nes. He was born at salem,
Henry county. Iowa, December u 7sts
and resided continuously =, ~. -.
until he came 20 Kansas. He landed in
Wichita April l 1875. and at once ensas- !
:" IL tiie commission business. The 4