The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1901-07-19

lists defeated by Democratic treach
cry. The thinking Populists, anc
especially those who had previously
been Republicans, soon began te
see the drift of things-to see thai
they were being led into and corral
ed in the Democratic camp. This
did not meet their approval, and by
the thousands they stayed at home
or voted the Republican ticket.
Then the issues of the Spanish
American war came up, and despite
the frantic efforts of the would be
leaders, the Populst party was in
tensely loyal and supported the
government in its war measures.
1t soon developed that a great ma
jority of Populists were expansion
lists and favored a protective tariff
They had advocated free silver be-
cause they honestly thought the
business interests of the country de-
manded more money. But when
they saw that Republican policies
brought an abundance of money
without the adoption of free silver
coinage, they were Populists only
in party alliance, and voted the Re
publican ticket.
Notice what ex-senator PETER,
the one time Populist leader, said
in his Topeka letter;
"Kansas will never become Demo
cratic. The state is naturally and
logically Republican. 1t was Re-
publican detection that disturbed the
states politics eleven years ago; bu
the emigrants were not hea ded for
the land of Democracy, and now that
Populism has finished its course and
is assing out of view, the old Repub.
licans that made the Peoples party
are letting go. They see that the
things they set out to do have been
settled against them, or either being
done outside party politics, OF, under
the changed conditions, are either not
essential or are impracticable.
"But note the change which has
fob n nt n inr .
Whereas, under the old regime, Il
panic among the spectators fright
ened the treasury officials at Wash
lngton into paying out greenbacks
only to be used against them in the
future, or to buying up bonds at a
high premium and advancing interest
on Others still out, or to selling new
bonds outright, now, under present
methods, the treasury is In no danger
from the specializing fraternity. A
panic In the New York Stock Elk.
change has no more effect on the ma
tional treasury today than an Okla
homa cyclone. This has been demon
strated clearly. Only few weeks
ago stocks were flying like leaves in a
whirlwind, but there was no scare at
Washington. Indeed the panic had
so little effect that had not the news
papers displayed the fact in large let
tiers, even the people of New York
City would not have known anythin Z
about 1t. So far then, as the influence
of the money power on the national
treasury Is concerned, that has been
disposed Of. And the matter has been
settled, too, while the great body of
the people were at work and the bust
of the country prospecting. n
Another strong point with the old
Republican Populist was reduction
of interest. Money is now being
placed on Kansas real estate at four
and half per cent, and the last issue
Of the government bonds authorized
bears the rate of per cent. 1t is a
fact, too, that the average rate of in
terest now realized on the marketable
bonds is less than 2 per cent.
1.-THE national bank note Is now, for
all practical purposes, as good as legal
tender paper; and the national bank
is advanced from the state bank ad-
vocated by the Democratic party, at
least 50 per cent of the way to the
government bank which is the Popu-
list ideal.
Public ownership and operation of
public franchises is coming about un-
der business conditions wholly indie
pendent of party politics. This is a
utilitarian age, and the people, in
stead of losing power, are steadily
gaining in that direction. y"
Mr.. PETERS conclusion that Kan
sas will never become Democratic
is believed by most Democrats as
well as Republicans. As he con-
cludes, the Populist party has made
its fight, and its work is done. 1t
will maintain sort of an organiza-
ton nrnh.h1u e. $3.50 .;..o -