The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-10-05
He BETRAYED HIS PARTY.
COLONEL HARRIS LEAD PoPULISTS
TO SLAUGHTER IN 1897.
Killed Rate Bill Which Sounded Death
kneI of PopuIism-Rewardad by
Railroad Support for Senator.


kneII of PopuIism-Rewardad by
Railroad Support for Senator.
Colonel Harris has found 1t neces-
sary within the past two weeks to be-
gin denial of the charges that he be-
trayed the Populist par y on maximu n
freight rate legislation at the 1897
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 his
official record and that they under
stood his present professions to be
absolutely opposed to MS ;ong record
of ultra friendship for railroad cor
porations.
IN 1896 the Populist and Democratic
parties, allied in fusion, made their
campaigns in Kansas on a 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 i'll 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 us United Sta es
senator, the senate committee made
no reports, either favorable or I'M
! 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 I'd
vegsely reported were an anti-pass
bill, bill regulating Pullman charges
and several others of MINOR import
ance. The authenticity of this state
rnent 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 ac-
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 a railroad
bill. This bill was reported favorably
!, 7 II,
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 TIE legislature
The senate passed the Pill and it went
to the house. After long consid9ra.
lion and much grim cine the hlllse
passed the bill. not because it was
good and adequate, or because the
members favored it, but because the
members feared to return home tt
their constituents without having
passed some sort of railroad law.
Thirty-nine Populist members Of
the House voted for the passage q
this Harris bill after affixing their sig
natures to written protest, after
ward spread on the journal Of the
House, stating that they opposed the
bill BECAUSE it had enjoyed the full SUI
port of thelrailroad lobby and had bee
prepared at the suggestion of railroad
attorneys. Governor Leedy vetoed thu
bill, finding seventeen reasons for s,
doing in the veto message which ht
sent to the legislature. In that mes
sage Governor Leedy declared that ht
believed the Harris bill would bt
worse than no law at all. These thing,
are facts beyond controversy and Col
Harris will not attempt to pub,icI,
deny them.
with regard to the charge that thu
Harris bill was prepared at the sue
gestions of railroad attorneys state
ment made by Horace A. Keefer al
Leavenworth county, the Populist can
dldate for Governor. is ample. Keefe,
was Popu1ist member of the Honst
IN 1897. He and Harris were hotr
elected legislators from Leavenwortf
county Mr.. Keefer tells his oxvr
story IN a convincing way:
IN 1896 Harris wanted to be the fusior
hhomlnee Tor Governor" he says. ''Harri.
state senator from Leayenwortb co,,- toi
6arrls was defeated as a Candidate ~,
SSOvernor and came home from the Ali.
bir e C.; eon I've and in order to heir
cd
states senator I withdrew as candi
nate Tor state senator in his favor
lnrougn the influence Of myself ana SONS
OF my Populist friends he was e,ect,s
state senator and 1 was made a membeI
| OF the house. ieiiioei
AFTER the election Harris asked me &c
voine uown to his house and participate
IN conference Regarding proposed rail
road legisiation. asked who would ne
mere ana he said Judge Robinson and a
| few Of the boys anu q
DO you mean Judge E1fhu Robinson
OF Kansas City, Il asked.
| Yes he sati
| ific attorney ac-
II know that said Harris. but he ,s
a sood Fellow and he is my brother-fn-
law. lie viii give us some good pointers
about legislation next winter. You bet
| ter come DOWN
From that time on became suspicious
OF Colonel Harris. I could not Under
| stand how he expected to proft or ID
the people good from pointers which he