The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-24

these conditions, and in hope of relief.
country cast their ballots in 1892 for
Grover Cleveland, only to discover later
that in so doing they had plunged deeper
into the quagmire of financial distress and
social disorder. While one of the great
parties was engaged in charging the ca
lamitous condition to over-production and
agricultural extravaganza, and the other
to high protection and official prodigal-
ity, a new star appeared in the political
armament and new declaration of eco
nomic doctrine was published to the
For years a great many honest, sin
cere men had continued to affiliate with
that would bring relief, until they We're
forced to the awful, but truthful conclu-
fore 6ha within hi igef ang rrved at
this point, they severed their connections
parties of their own early manhood days.
and proceeded to organize upon new
principles and governed by new methods.
This party in representative convention
assembled in the city of Omaha the
4th day of July. 1892. nominated ticket
and adopted declaration of principles.
which have had greater influence in
American politics than many of the pro-
motors realize, and far greater than old
party advocates are willing to concede.
At that convention the Peoples Party
declared the money question to be the
paramount issue before the people. The
old parties pressed the tariff question to
but in We verffi inca Of the Correctness &C, Of
the Populist position, the president called
months after the Omaha declaration to
settle the financial problem, and true to
his pledges to the money loaners, succeed
ed in repeating the last vestige of law fav-
orable to silver. This plunged US to the
bottom of the ditch, and reached the
modern history.
During the period just referred to, the
Peoples Party proceeded to educate the
people upon the real question at issue, and
succeeded to the extent of causing the
Democratic party to desert its Republican car
name platform. The influence of Popu-
lism was such that all over the east. and
in many instances in the west the Chi
eago platform was charged with being
Pqpulistic and even anarchistic
this state, am proud to call your atten-
ton to some of its beneficent legislation.
1t has compelled the owners OF coal mines
to pay the miners for their entire output
and prohibited them from sitting. out a
good share of the workman'S diggingS.
1t has prevented the stock extortioners
at the mouth of the Kaw from perpetu-
ating their robberies against the stock
raisers and shippers of the state.
1t has given a law regulating banks
and building associations, which protects
buttons, and enacted other wholesome
laws, some of which have been abrogated
by Republican courts.
This party gave us the best superintend-
ent OF insurance this or any other state
that gentleman to the place which the
present governor fired him out of with
out warrant OF lay or shadow OF reason s;e
This party has given us the best bank
commissioner in the United States, and
the ablest chief Justice that has ever sat
on the supreme bench of this common
wealth.
This party has furnished the state with
some very faithful representatives in the
lower house of congress, and with one of
the most efficient members of the upper
house that ever occupied a seat in that
body. Did it ever occur to you that had
it not been for the Peoples party, the
state would have no Senator Harris.
have saved a sufficient sum In the sale
of the Union Pacific railroad to purchase
ten million Filipino. slaves
This party has given the state two of
the most economical Illustrations in
its history, and will now proceed to give it
the third.
This party has declared for government
ownership of public utilities, a doctrine by
the opposition, first ridiculed, next fav-
ored and finally, in a measure, embraced. |
election in Topeka, the strong hold of |
Republicans, was the public ownership of |
the water works, and upon that issue Mr.; |
Drew, a staunch Republican, was elected |
the city's mayor.
This party demanded a greater volume |
of money with which to transact the bust |
laughed and said we had plenty of money;
said that what we needed was more tariff.
Now that the currency has been increased |
over $500 900 during the present admin
they point to this with pride as
the cause of better times. In this I feel /
a little like the old lady who thanked the
lord for a loaf of bread even if the devil
did bring it. However, the fact that ma
ture has furnished US a greater output of
did of both gold and silver in years gone
by, can hardly be credited to the Republi-
can party If Mr. Mckinley be RESPONSE
his administ ration, 1 presume that he
would be equally responsible for short
crops elsewhere.
The truth of the matter is the two !
great political parties have exchanged po-