The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-23
GOV. ELDER WRITES.
Populist Veteran Discusses Major Har-
vey's Conversion.

To the Editor of the State Journal:
In the midst of the heat of June days,
] have been reminded of old Popuust
days and times by reading in the State
Journal of the 18th inst a column state
meut of cur old and amiable cOmrade,
Governor Harvey in the late Peoples
party. together with the half dozen
special head lines indicating his present
and future political status. A more ami
able and companionabIe gentleman,
lawyer and politician, I have seldom
met in my long political career
Claiming as L do to be one of the
founders of the Peoples party and be-
ing on the retired list I claim a right to
a brief hearing. This once successful
party had its start and origin in Frank
lin county several years ago 1t was
here that the first election was held un-
der the euphOneOus name Peoples
party, made up as it was from the rank
and file OF the old Republican. Demo-
Graf and Greenback parties The Green
back Union Labor was fiercely driving
its fangs into the ranks Of both these
old parties until a new name was nee
essary to calm the nerves Of the aver
age Republican and Democratic adher-
ents. The Peoples party won in that
county election and has for IS years
been able to snatch from that all pow
erful party some or all of the county
offices. This encourages me to ask for
brief space to speak of the rise and fall
of Populism.
am stfll proud of some of the empty
honOrs the Peoples party has placed
upon my brow. I am still proud that
presided over the first state convention
that organized the party and nominated
Its first state ticket. The contests have
been numerous and exciting enough to
preserve and oerpetuate. the name of
the Peoples party. Why does my ole
conrade in arms drop out2
Governor Harvey says in his inter
view, 1T is useless to continue the
POpulist state organization. The PeO-
pies party has run its course. 1t has
done quite as much as its leaders have
ever hoped and il would be the climax
of folly to continue the farce of meeting
in state convention and nominating u
state ticket next year"
This candid statement does not sur
prise me or his many friends so much
as does his vain attempt to place the
old Republican party in the attitude OF
reform party absorbing our dear old
principles Is ii not q fact that the
growth and career of the Peoples party
had rejuvenated the Democratic party
until they had adopted many of our
reform measures and had cO-Operated
with our party in the state and con-
greSsional contests, eliminating in the
nomination of the irrepressible Bryan IN
1886 and 1902 No instance or measure
can be recalled wherein Democrats and
Peoples party members did not vote
A1EEAllSI ElNlGI III the SldLE Ut AAtlJlldl
legislature. Nowhere can be found q
single measure when any sympathy OF
assistance was given by Republican
members on reform measures. This ma
Jority party was always decrying Oul
measures instead of absorbing or adopt
ing them. This press, public men anC
courts were found against any reforms
presented by this party.
When this old party finally regaineC
power In Kansas the legislature auC
fr7Gfrfa1 1r6 Of v4r1x
every Vestige of reform we ever enacted
and left a political stencil behind which
has been partially diluted by thu
spasm of reform in the election of Gov
ernor Hoch and the victory of the bos
buster element Governor Harvey veU
well knows that every measure to con
troll railroads, combines and trust
passed by the national house have beef
by the senate, composed as it is of rail
road lawyers and cOunSellOrS and alder
and abettOrs Of trusts Has not a Re
publican senate prevented the admis
sion oS three territories to the column
of states fer no other reason than
fear that these new states would b
Democratic. This was the object. en-
and aim oe the old slave holding Dem
ocrats for years in keeping Kansas on
OF the union, believing that it would b
q free state Now the Republican stat
IS doing the same thing and a Kansa
senator is abetting the outrage. Doe
any old time PoDulist see any reforT
banner hanging out of a Republica
window. On the other hand every Dem
Ocrat in the senate or house has siren
uOusly favored the admission Of thes
territories. Whatever leaf you turn owe
you must admit that the reform come
from the Democratic party as led b
the heroic Bryan.
The ruin of the POpulist party wa
the cowardly anti-fusion law disfran
chising over 10000 honest voters at eV
cry election. Does Major Harvey Sc
any reform in the cowardly eIectio
laws. For so years have been fightin
something I thought was wrong. mos
of the time in the minority. Consider
ing how young and ambitious my frien
IS living as he does in a county an
city largely Republican I can see wha
fnclines his anxious thoughts to the Re
Dublicans. There are many others VIII
ran well for q season amidst the allure
neuts OF success, who have fallen frOl
the old coach and henceforth win b
found pushing behind the old part