Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-10-11
NE BETRAYED HIS PARTY.

hi BETRAYED HIS PAklL
COLONEL HARRIS LEAD PoPuLIsTs
TO SLAUGHTER IN 1897.
J Killed Rate Bill Which Sounded Death
knelI Of PopuIsm-Rewardea BY
Railroad support for Senator.
Colonel Harris has found II neces-
sary within the past two weeks tp be-
gin denial Of the charges that ne be-
trayed the Populist party on maximum
freight rate legislation at the 1877
session of the legislature. Previously,
Col. Harris ignored the charges on the
theory that the voters would not be-
lieve them. He has learned that the
voters are well informed regarding MS
official record and that they under
stood his present pretensi0ns to DO
absolutely opposed to mis- Yong record
Of ultra friendship for railroad cor
operations.
In 1896 the Populiss and Democratic
parties, allied 10 fusion, made their
campaigns In Kansas on q platform
pledging the enactment Of maximum
freight rate legislation. Col. Harris
was elected a member Of the state
senate ON that platform. He was
made chairman Of the Senate railroad
committee. Throughout the session
the senate committee on railroads was
the principle stumbling block in the
way Of maximum freight rate legisla-
ton.
Shortly after the beginning Of the
Legislative session Col. Harris became
candidate for election as United
States Senator. He wanted railroad
support. He was in position to pay
for this support. Until after the cleo
ton Of W. A. Harris as United States
senator, the senate committee made
no reports, either favorable or un-
favorable, on railroad legislation of
material Importance. Within one
week of his election as United States
Senator, Harris as chairman OF the
committee, presented adverse reports
on three or four railroad bills to the
passage of which the Populist party
was pledged. Among these bills ad-
versely reported were an anti-pass
bill, E,bill regulating Pullman charges
and several others Of minor import
ance. The authenticity 0f this state |
ment can be positively established by
reference to the journal Of Senate
proceedings Of the 1897 session Of the
legislature.
A maximum freight rate bill In aCt
cord with the platform promises was
prepared and passed in the House.
This bill was reported unfavorably BY |
the Senate committee. Senator Harris
opposed it and today acknowledges |
that he did so without explaining by
what authority he opposed carrying |
out the promises of the platform on
which he was elected.
Harris, himself, prepared railroad
bill. This bill was reported favorably
by Harris. The. records show that he
led the fight for the passage Of that
bill. He did not find fault with a
single provision Of the bill at the time
it was pending before the legislature.
The senate passed the Dill and it went
to the house. After long considera-
ton and much grimacing the house
passed the bill, not because It was
good and adequate, or because the
members favored It, but because the
members feared to return home to
their constituents without having
passed some sort of railroad law.
Thirty-nine Populist members Of
the House voted for the passage Of
this Harris bill after affixing their Sig
natures to a written protest, after
ward spread on the journal Of the
House, stating that they opposed the
bill because It had enjoyed the full sup
port Of the railroad lobby and had been
prepared at the suggestion Of railroad
attorneys. Governor Leedy vetoed the
bill, finding seventeen reasons for so
doing in the veto message which he
sent to the legislature. In that mes
sage Governor Leedy declared that he
believed the Harris bill would be
worse than no law at all. These things
are facts beyond controversy and Col.
Harris will not attempt to publicly
deny them.
With regard to the charge that the
Harris bill was prepared at the sug-
gestion Of railroad attorneys a state
ment made by Horace A. Keefer of
Leavenworth county, the Populist can
didate for Governor, is ample. Keefer
was Populist member Of the House
in 1897. He and Harris were both
elected legislators from Leavenworth
county. Mr.. Keefer tells his own
story In a convincing way:
in 1896 Harris wanted to be the fusion
nominee for Governor" he says. "Earris
mas asked me TO become a candidate for
state senator from Leavenworth county.
Harris was defeated az a candidate for
Governor and came home from the Abb
lene convention and In order to hep
him In his scheme to be elected United
States senator / withdSoY - . candL
Through the iniusns1 al ye1S$lS q Ssis
OF my Populist MIA d "a Va SS-64S1
state senator and val hAlS / gSnsbc,
Of the house, - :,
After the electftA Eaafg a. u mo &c
come down to his a M 2xf 1SSefpass
IN 9 conference rega1d ah4 proposed raik-
there and he said Judge Robinson and
few OF the boys
"'Do you mean Judge Emu Robinson.
Of Kansas City7' Il asked.
"Yes,' he said.
why replied, he is a Missouri Pac-
iflc Attorney
81 knsw that said Harris, but he Is
n go6d fellow and he is my brother-In-
law. HI viii give Us some good pointers
ab0ut legislation next winter. You bet.
ter come down.
''From that tine on became suspicious
Of Colonel Harris could not under
stand how he expected to profit or do