Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-10-04
Kansas Politics



The following, written by Henry j.
Allen, while containing some local
references, is general and compre-
hensive presentation of the position
in which populist voters who were
formerly republicans, now find them
selves. 1t is worth reading:
1.-TWO years ago there were cast in
Kansas 81 ,220 populist votes for John
Prudential for governor At tl4e
same election there were cast in
Franklin county 1888 populist votes
These figures at this time repre-
sent something more than the result
of one party's efforts in the last cleo
ton They signify the number of
Kansas voters who find themselves
to-day without q political home In
Kansas there are more than 1000
men, and in Franklin county there
are 1,2SS men, most of them former
republicans, who entered the popu-
list party with the hope of bringing
about certain reforms which they
conceived to be needed. who still re-
tain the populist faith.
''The story of this political move
ment is q familiar one, and the fact
that the movement has come to fl
nal end is too well appreciated by
any further emphasis. The situation,
now that the movement is at an end,
is, however, one without q parallel
in the record of political events.
Eigthy-one thousand voters are stu
ated politically as though their dwell
ing place had been burned around
them and the entrance barred to the
ground where the late residence
stood. A designing guide stands in
front of the ruins of populism and
points the way over the hills to the
democratic poor house.
'Two opportunities are open to the
Populist who at this time is forced to
seek an abiding place for his political
faith
with the free silver issue elimina-
ed, as it now is, the democratic par
ty represents nothing that appeals
to the populist who left the republi-
can party ten years ago. The GER
tainty that the future national pol
icies of the party are to be dictated
by Cleveland, Hill and German will
prevent any populist who retains a
spark of his old political convictions
from affiliating with that cause. The
certain knowledge that the party
has been insincere and unpatriotic in
all it's positions in the past cam
paigns, and that it has deliberately
plotted the ruin of it's own organiza-
ton will turn the popu1ist in disgust
from democracy.
1.-The !, 200 populists who voted their
ticket in this county for the last time
two years ago, know that these
things are true of democracy.
"In sentiment the majority of
these homeless voters are in harmo-
ny with the republican party. To
most of them it is the old home
place. Most of them can remember
the pride with which they cast their
first ballot, with it's name at the
head The achievements of the re-
publican party prior to ten years
ago were partly their achievements.
The positions taken by the party on
matters of national policy in past
tions. In it's past campaigns they
marched and sang and shouted in the
strength of their young enthusiasm.
They believe to-day in the sincerity
of the republican party. They have
seen the proofs of it's ability to gov
ern wisely and well. They are in
sympathy with it's stand for the up
holding of national honor in foreign
lands. They respect the American
soldier and love the flag. They are
proud of republican achievements in
recent international disputes. They
are grateful for the prosperity which
it has provided. They believe in pro-
lection and progress and every man
of them trusts and admires the
craftsmanship and manhood of Presi-
dent Roosevelt. They are impressed
by the success of the republican adj
ministration in Kansas and they
realize that the republican party has
proved its fitness above that of any
other party to govern the affairs of
this state.
''The $1,000 populist voters in the
state and the 1900 voters in the coun-
ty viii not comply with the terms of
sale by which they were bargained
to democracy Their pride revolts at
such deal They are not democrats
at heart. They will not become dem
ocrats. Most of them will turn to the
republican party for home"
THE EU.ECTTnr Ua~