The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-08-26

politicians of this country is Mrs. Annie
Diggs, journalist and orator of Topeka
and present Kansas state librarian. Shit
is a small woman, with gift of logic
and eloquence that her state has beer
willing to reward in spite of the fac
that she belonged not to the franchiset
sex. Although not much bigger thar
minute, Mrs. Diggs has a good dea
! to say about almost everything in To-
peka. She is liked by Republicans
Democrats and Populists. Once, when
Mrs. Diggs wanted some metal shelly
! ing for her library, she convened a
meeting of the state officers and the
| governor to discuss the question
/ There was no money to buy shelving
and Mrs. Diggs did not wish to remove
the books into their new and spacious
rooms just completed unless better
shelving was provided. The governor
and officers wished to temporize, but
the state librarian wanted her own
way.
She said, eff you have no money, we
will not move until you get it,
| They got it,
The story of her famous oratorical
duel with Mrs! Lease is history. Mrs.
Lease arrayed herself in opposition to
Mrs. Diggs, publicly protesting her
belief that Mrs. Diggs was disloyal to
the cause of Populism. One evening
the two women were engaged to speak
at the same meeting at Topeka. Mrs.
Lease spoke first, and her arraignment
of Mrs. Diggs was a bitter one. Mrs.
Diggs waited quietly until Mrs. Lease
had finished her speech. AS Mrs. Lease
donned her hat and cloak to leave the
hall Mrs. Diggs was introduced to the
audience. Turning toward Mrs. Lease
she looked her sQuarely in the face
and, pointing one finger menacingly
at her, said in low, intense tones:
Woman. you have ned!"
The audience, carried away by the
dramatic rejoinder, arose to its feet
and cheered Mrs. Diggs to the echo.
Mrs. Lease, not knowing what to do,
hurried from the hall, showing every
evidence Of CONSERVATION. Since then
Mrs. Diggs has held the first place in
the affections of the Kansas Populists,
a position which no attacks or ISLANDERS
have in the least shaken
Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Lease, with
Mrs. Annie Diggs, was instrumental
in removing Senator ingalls, from con-
gress. They reused the people by their
speeches denouncing the good faith Of
the senator in supporting the farmers
interests in the senate. His downfall
subsequent to their campaign Of fiery
eloquence was like Lucifer' s-swift and
terrible, for he fell never to hope
again. Mrs. Diggs is stanch sup
porter of Mr.. Bryan.
Mrs. Lease is a picturesque figure.
She is not beautiful and she is not
graceful. but her great violoucello voice
and her magnetism may be counted
upon to sway the popular audience as
the cyclone stirs the Kansas corn Her
successes are never negative; her au-
diences are either carried away IN
storms of sympathy or opposition. She
wears Paris gowns and hats and likes
them She is interested in spiritualism !
and sometimes lectures on the subject |
On her mothers side Mrs. Lease is a 1
descendant of the Scottish Murrays. |
whose family head is the Duke OF \
Athol. Her father was an Irish gem 1
tleman compelled 70 leave his country /
for expression of sentiments antsgo- /
nistic TO the English government. Mrs. |
Lease lives at Wichita and has several |
children. all OF them bright and well l
brought I'D. Mr. Lease was at one
time q farmer. and then a drug store
keeper. He was not an unqualified sue
Tess in either calling.
Mrs J. Ellen Foster. the president OF
the National Republican Wornen's as
ISOLATION, is an Iowa lawyer who enter
ID politics as q speaker for the Prohi-
oition party. Later she transferred her
allegiance TO the Republican party and