The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-25
3StNKEf HEARD FROM.
Old Time PopuIist Leader who Does
MT Agree with Mr., Hanna.

The meeting of the LEADERS, of the Pop
ulist party which has been called for
Topeka on December q promises to be
an interesting one, for 1t viii determine
the fate of the Populist party.
Indications are that the party will not
entirely go out of business, as some of
the leaders advocate, but win continue
to exist in some form, either as an tnde-
pendent political movement or as a dis
tinct political organfza ton.
The meeting was called by George W.
Hanna. chairman of the state commit
tee after he found that the PopulisIs
had polled only about LEGO votes in the
whole state of Kansas in the recent
state election Mr. Hanna felt that the
PopuIists might as we'll line up with
President Roosevelt and the Republican
party, but there are a large number of
Populists who, while they are friendly
to Rooseveltisn. do not believe that
Roosevelt represents the real principles
of the Republican party The following
letter from r. A. Sankey Of. Wichita,
one Of the Popuiist leaders of the state,
sets forth his idea of the difference be-
tween Roosevelt and the Republican
party:
II observe that Geo. wv Hanna has
given notice that there is soon to be
meeting Of the official representatives
Of the Populist party, to formally dis
band the party organization, and that
the Populists will then join the Repub-
lican party.
IF Mr. Hanna made the statement
that the Popu.lsts would join the Re-
publican party he IS talking without
knowledge, and has a very dull compre-
hension of the existing state of things.
He may control his own vote and be
able to deliver it to the Republican
party but l doubt that he can do more
The reason given by Mr.. Hanna for
his intention to join the Republican
party. is his desire to support President
Roosevelt. He fails to distinguish be
tween the President and the Republican
| party The reforms urged by the Pres
/ ident are not contained in the lsepubif-
can party platforms, nor have they been
advocated by the leaders of that party
! On the contrary, what the President mas
/ accomplished has been done over the ac-
tive opposition Of the prominent leaders
Of the party and had 1t not been for the
active support given the President by
the people Irrespective of party, he would
have been unable to accomplish any
ing.
$50 grievous had become the burden
Of the trusts and monopIies, and so
numerous the complaints. that sixteen
wears ago the Sherman antitrust law
was enacted. Since then both of the
old parties have been in power Did
either Of them attempt to enforce the
law? III the meantime trusts. Illegal
combinations. over capitalization OF
corporations, and excessive exaction
Of tolls levied on the people, multi
plleQ q nunuT6Q 1OtuS ana no citO1t was
| made by the Republican party to en-
force the law On the contrary the
legislation It has enacted has been
rather to restrict trade, add to its bur
dens. increase monopoly and build up
monopolists.
1T was the character and tendency
of legislation, and the despair of OBJ
tanning relief through either of the old
parties that caused The birth of the
Populist party. Haathere since been
sufficient change in the leadership. or
the legislation OF the Republican par
ty, to justify belief IN its reformation?
Or any evidence that its leaders have
/ ceased to be the efnp1eyees of the
trusts and compromising History
teaches that 4f6--1T5 oTiFfeef~ party or
church .orgap izatipn@ has been reform
ed from sthe inside.st Can Mr. Hanna
point out an exception
president Roosevelt does not owe
his advancement to the leaders aud
managers of the Republican party He
was nominated for governor of New
York over their opposition. His nom
inatfn for vice president was urged and
brought about by the. same leaders for
the purpose of retiring him from New
York politics Had President McKin-
ley and Mark Hanna lived he would
never have been president. Circunn-
stances. not the choice of party lead
ers. has made him president. There
fore he is not under obligations to the
leaders Of his party for his elevation.
and the party is not entitled to credit
for his being president. Yet in order
to save to his party the credit OF en-
acting the rate bill he accepted an
emasculated abortion that will prove
a delusion il the end. In the effort
to enforce the antitrust law, he con-