The Saturday Evening Kansas Commoner from Wichita, Kansas • 1

1 I A KyKy-i kyAX Ay vv I Government Of the People, By the People, For the People Shall Not Perish." A. Lincoln. WICHITA, KANSAS, THUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1890. WHOLE XUMBER, 2 70. VOLUME 14.

CLOVER TO PERKINS. STRUGGLE FOR THE RIGHT. ance folks could run the one having the largest vote by the informal ballot as their candidate. Such a plan would soon be found a great improvement on the caucus. Business men, professional men, mechanics and laboring men would soon find that they could have a hearing on this plan, and it would become a great element of strength to the party adopting it.

It would take politics out of the hands of- machine politicians and place it in the hands of the whole people. This would make politics respectable. J. G. Malcolm.

wmmm LESSONS OF VICTORY. UjTJV- T-l." 5 1 1 Vv 1 "We want no flag, no flaunting rag, For liberty to fight; "We want no blaze of murderous guns 'f To struggle for the right. Our spears and swords are printed words, The mind our battle plain; We've won such victories before, And so we shall again. We love no triumph sprung of force They stain the brightest cause; 'Tis not in blood that liberty Inscribes her civic laws. She writes them on the people's hearts In language clear and plain; True thoughts have moved the world before, And shall do so again.

We yield to none in earnest love Of freedom's cause sublime; We join the cry of "fraternity!" We keep the march of time. And yet we grasp not spike or spear, Our victories to obtain; We've won without their aid before, And so we shall again. We want no aid of barricade, To show a front to wrong; We have a citadel in truth, More durable and strong. Calm words, great thoughts, unflinching faith, Have never striv'n in vain; They've won our battles many a time, And so they will again. co, progress, knowledge, brotherhood, The ignorant may sneer, The bad deny, but we rely To see the triumph near.

No widow's tears shall load our cause, No blood of brethren slain; We've won without such aid before, And so we shall again. Ciiaiu.es kky. mi JERRY SIMPSON. OUR NEW CONGRESSMEN. Mr.

Funston, cf the Second district, Absolutism has been rebuked. The people have spoken, and political tyrants tremble. The election of November 4 was a notable event in our nation's history. False to the ideal of our fathers, recreant to every sacred trust of popular government, contemptuous of the rights of citizenship, the republican party has received the defeat that it has courted in its every act during the last two years. The brazen effrontery of its corrupt leaders, defiant, blatant, demagogues--challenged the people to assertion of their supreme power, and nobly have the people responded.

Thomas Heed, in his flatulent pomposity of self conceit, now realizes that he is not the government. Minnesota's congressmen evidently thought that he was, but even their stupidity has been enlightened. One of the most satisfactory results is found in the pricking of this "windbag from Maine," this pompous ass, whose brayings have been an insult in the places where Lincoln and Sumner, Wilson and Giddings pleaded for human rights, and popular government. Nothing more surely marks the decadence of the republican party, than the character of its present leaders. The sway of King Caucus is doomed, and the party lash will soon fail to drive recreant representatives, like coward curs, to do the bidding of plutocratic councils against the people's right.

Libertv will be re-established Kansas Farmer. Very naturally and very properly the recently-elected congressmen in Kansas are the subjects of gsneral discussion. The people whose votes elected them were well satisfied, in the beginning, with their choice of candidates, and have had no reason since to modify their judgment in that respect. They are all men of high character," and as a body will move on a high level of intelligence. John Davis, of the Fifth district, the oldest member cf the new delegation, is the best informed man in Kansas in history and political economy.

He was a neighbor and intimate acquaintance of Abraham Lincoln, early imbibed some of the best of that great man's views, and during the last twenty years he has been a constant studeiit of political history. His collection of "clippings" from newspapers, magazines and books photographic views of contemporaneous events fill eleven large volumes with as many more unbound. Mr. Davis is May, 1859, and located in Topeka, Shawnee county, which has since been his home. For several years he was engaged in the practice of law, and was at one time a partner of W.

P. Douthitt, of Topeka; but he has abandoned it since 1866. He was a member of the volunteer infantry company that went out from Topeka at the time of the Price raid. He supported the Republican ticket from the organization of the party until after General Grant's first election. Since that time he has been a straight Greenbacker.

He has been a member in good standing of the order of Patrons of Husbandry for over seventeen years, and is also a member of the Farmers Alliance and Industrial Union. For two years past he has been Lecturer of the Kansas State Grange. WILLIAM BAKER. William Baker, congressman-elect from the Sixth district, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, April 29, 1831, and lived on "his father's farm until he was twenty one years of age. He then entered Washington college, at Waynesburg, graduating in 1856.

For several years afterward he was engaged in teaching school in Pennsylvania and Council In 1878 he removed from Pennsylvania to Lincoln county, Kansas, and has since resided upon his farm in that county, being engaged exclusively in farming. JERRY SIMPSON. eremiah in the Seventh district, was born in New Brunswick, March 31, 1842. When six years old he moved with his parents to Oneida county, New York. When fourteen years old he left the parental roof to become a sailor on the great lakes.

During the winters, when navigation was closed, he worked in the lumber woods of Canada and Michigan. When the war of the rebellion broke out, he enlisted, in Chicago, in Company Twelfth Illinois infantry; August 31, 1861, he was discharged. After recovering from chronic diarrhea, which he had contracted in the army, he returned to his old calling on the waters and advanced rapidly, and at the age of twenty-two he was promoted to first mate of a large barque. Later he was captain of several vessels. In the fall of 1868, while commanding a large vessel, the James H.

Rutter, the vessel was wrecked at Ludington, on the east shore of Lake Michigan, where his heroic conduct saved the ship and crew from total loss. In the winter of 1878 he sold his interest in a farm he and his brother owned in Porter county, Indiana, and moved to Jackson county, Kansas, where he bought a farm and lived on it five years, when he moved to Barber county, Kansas. Here he pre-empted 160 acres and purchased a section of land four miles east of Medicine Lodge, where he has since been engaged in farming and stock-raising. His wife's health failing, he was forced to move to town that she might have rest and medical treatment. Originally Mr.

Simpson wa3 a republican, casting his first vote foi the second election of Abraham Lincoln. During the past twelve years he has been voting affiliating with the Greehback and Union Labor parties. B. II. CLOVER.

CANDI- NOMINATION OF DATES. The following letter from B. H. Clover, member of congress elect, explains itself fully: Cambridge, Nov. 15, 1890.

Hon. B. W. Perkins, M. C.

Dear Sir Pardon the liberty I take in calling your attention to some matters that seem of great importance. During the campaign just ended, I found great complaint from the ex-union soldiers and others, to the effect that the administration had not properly recognized the soldiers in regard to the distribution of official patronage. I mention the postoffices at Arkansas City, Columbus, tCherryvale, Win field and many other places, as examples of the idea I wish to convey. The laws of our state say that all else being equal, the soldiers shall have first consideration, and it is claimed that the now existing state of affairs, is a violation of the spirit, if not the letter of our laws. Examination of the books and reports show a very great discrimination between the number of pensions and ratings of the different states, notably, Kansas and Indiana.

Kansas, at same ratio as to numbers and rating as Indiana, would have more than four times the number of pensioners she now has, and.should draw fifteen or sixteen millions of dollars, whereas she only draws between two and three millions. Kansas people, being an agricultural people, complain that through the tariff system of taxation, by which the pension fund is created, they pay into the fund far more than their soldiers get back, and as they derive no benefit from "protection to home industries," they think a very great wrong is being done the whole people of Kansas as well as her soldier citizens. You know our honored president has said, "It is no time to weigh the services of the soldiers in apothecary's scales." Another matter I beg leave to call your attention to, is that of the opening of the territory to settlement. The question as to the ownership of that country has been thoroughly discussed and decided, and it does seem as if there could be no excuse for further delay. Thousands of the citizens of Kansas, as well as other states, have lost their homes through the mortgage system of distributing money, which has been in vogue for the last twenty years, and they are anxiously looking forward to the time when they may begin anew.

I am unable to see why this should not be done at the coming session of the present congress, and allow settlers to go in not later than February 15th to March 1st, so as not to repeat the folly of keeping them out until too late to put in crops, as was the case with Oklahoma. This great government can be trusted to pay to the Indians whatever proper investigation should show to be the country is settled or not. These seem to me to be matters of great importance to Kansas and the west, and I ask your consideration of them from the fact that you will have an early opportunity to act, and an early consideration of them seems necessary. Again begging pardon for what may seem an intrusion, 1 am, Respectfully, B. II.

Clover. a strong man naturally, and he is in but he knows more about what the people want and he will work harder for them with less display than Funs-ton would. Mr. Clover has had less training, perhaps training in the direction cf legislation than any other of the new members, but he is by no means without experience in political affairs. He was long an active man in local politics, and his connection with the Alliance has been of great service to him.

While he would not take rank at once as a leader among experienced statesmen, he would fall right into line among the workers and go quietly about his duties, working and learning, learning and working, doing as much for his district as any man could do, and not expecting to have his daily doings telegraphed to the world. Mr. Clover is a large-hearted man, in close sympathy with his fellows, and is big enough to appreciate the fact that this country is bigger and better worth saving than any political party. Unassuming, industrious, ambitious to be useful, affable and true, with deep-rooted convictions of right and of duty, Ben Clover will in usefulness until the end. These are the men elected by the People's party.

The Kansas Farmer believes them to average quite as well intellectually and morally as their predecessors did when they were elected. What is more and better, they are all farmers. Mr. Davis is the only one among them who does not actually perform manual labor on his farm. Politically they were all formerly republicans.

Below we copy brief sketches of them as printed in the State Journal, a Republican paper of Topeka. Hon. Case Broderick, member-elect in the First district, is a lawyer, standing well in his profession, of good private character and unblemished public reputation, a party man, yet conservative and progressive in his views. He is an industrious man of good habits, has had much experience in public affairs, is well fitted for legislative work. Upon the tariff and silver, he probably will work inharmony with the other new members.

If he does not, he will end his congressional career at the end of two years. Here are the life sketches: JOHN DAVIS. John Davis, one of the new congressmen from Kansas, who will succeed Anderson in the First district, lives at Junction City, where he and his sen, Charles, conduct the Tribune. close sympathy with the people. He is strong in acquired knowledge, well equipped in every way for the work he has been chosen to perform.

He is the equal of any man who will oppose him in the Fifty-second congress. John G. Otis, of the Fourth district, is a first-class man every way much above the average. A college graduate, learned in literature, histpry, law and politics, with practical knowledge of agriculture and long experience and observation among the working classes. He is a worker, untiring, persistent, honest and conscientious.

He will be worth half a dozen band-box men in It is well known that our present system of nominating candidates for public oflices is very defective and thoroughly unrepublican and undemocratic. The great mass of the best citizens do not take any part in it. Caucusses are attended mostly by machine politicians, office-seekers, wirepullers, heelers, splicers and hirelings. The great mass ot good citizens, business men, professional men and mechanics have neither time nor inclination to attend caucusses or conventions. Why could we not adopt a more simple and more satisfactory plan? Why not adopt a plan that would enable every person to indicate his choice without going to a caucus and without spending more than ten minutes time? The caucus and convention system has no place in law, and there is nothing to hinder the citizens of any place and at any time from resorting to any other method of nominating candidates when they see fit.

The only way that all the voters could take a direct part in these nominations is that we should have an informal ballot taken of the whole people. We should first have-the Australian system of balloting. The tickets should be printed by the state, and for the informal ballot they should nave no names on Each voter should lill in the names to suit himself. The ballots should then be counted and so many of those having the highest number of votes should be taken as to secure three-fourths of the entire vote cast. The names of these candidates should then be printed on new tickets and a formal vote taken.

If all parties could agree upon this plan of nominating candidates in any municipality or electoral district there is no reason why it should not be adopted in some modified form even without the Australian system of balloting. Money could be raised by private subscription to print the informal ballots, and the expense of election in the National congress. The assumption of autocratic power will no longer prevent representatives from expressing the opinions of their constituents, and representing their interests. The highest tribunal in the land has heard the case of The Nation's Toilers vs. The Protected Cormorants, and the decision is unmistakable.

The tariff must be revised down, not up. It is the turn of the tide which marks the dissolution cf the prolific promoter of injustice, "indirect taxation." The Force bill has probably received its quietus." The country is in no humor to condone a revival of sectionalism. The republican party has no honorable future. Its speedy death will possibly secure forgetfulness of its twenty-five years service to the greed of incorporated selfishness. In defeating the republican party the country has not expressed confidence in the democratic party, for confidence in that party does riot exist in the hearts of the people.

The supremacy of the latter, is an incident of the contest, not a reward of virtue. A permanent return to power of the democratic party would mean retrogression of government. It is damned congress. William Baker, of the Sixth district, is modest man of good address, ith a liberal education added to a large fund of practical common sense. Cool-headed, deliberate, conservative, honest, a hard, persistent worker, familiar with toil, close to the people.

He is one of the men who wear well and who are never lost or bewildered in the enemy's fog. He will grow big among his fellows. He will be creditable to his constituents and a growing pleasure to his personal friends. Jerry Simpson, of 'the Seventh district, will probably perform more work and receive less credit for it than any of our new members. He is a plain, blunt man, affable, friendly, accommodating, generous, and yet does not need a moment's training to reduce him to his fighting weight.

He is well read in history and politics, is a fearless, forcible speaker, and states his case well. He is a plain man of the people, always among them, in line with them, quick to see their wants, LOOKED SUSPICIOUS. B. H. Clover, who will succeed Judge Perkins as congressman in the Third district, was the president of the Farmers' Alliance of Kansas and is vice president of the National Farmers' Alliance.

He lives on a farm in Cowley county and was one of the first settlers in the Arkansas valley. He has never held office. He is fifty-five years old, and was born in Ohio. CASE BRODERICK. Judge Case Broderick, of Holton, who defeats Moonlight in the First congressional district, was born in Grant ounty, Indiana, in the year by its history, and yet it believes in that history.

Its faith in its past, is its condemnation in the present. We fear that it cannot change. The leopard may change his spots, and the Ethiopian his skin, but Satan will never allow the democratic party to change, it suits him too well as it is. The star one of the prominent "labor reform" organs. He was a prominent worker 4n the Gjange, aid has always been allied with the farmers' movement.

He has been a candidate for congress on two previous occasions without sue- i Never before in the history of Kansas have the election returns been held back as they were this year. It is strange that the Republican committee at Topeka was not willing to give out the information in its possession. Such reticence was. to say the least suspicious. It is unfortunate that any suspicion of the honesty of the count should have arisen but the Republican state committee, by the stupid course it pursued, led many to 'believe that an effort was being made to doctor the returns.

Leavenworth Times. ready in resources and prompt in re sponse. A man of excellent judgment, eminently practical, a hard worker and a close student, Mr. Simpson will rank among the most useful members of the house. He will not expect to travel about the country during the progress of political campaigns and electrify the nation with his speeches, but he will speak for his own people when sreakinar is needed: he will sneak in- cess.

He is well educated. He has lived in Kansas since 1872. He was born near Springfield, 111., August 9, 1S26. JOHN" O. OTIS.

John G. Otis, elected to congress on the People's ticket in the Fourth congressional district, was born February 10, 1S38, in Rutland county, Vermont, of, Quaker parentage. His ancestors 1839. His early life was spent on a farm, and his early education was much more thorough than most of the farmer's sons received in those days. He came to Kansas when nineteen years of age.

The war breaking out soon afterwards, he enlisted in the First Kansas battery of artillery, in which he served until the end of the war. His first public position was probate judge of Jackson county, to wiiich office he was elected in 1868, and was twice re-e'ected. He next served two terms as county attorne, of the same county of political redemption, does not rest over the democratic camp. There is ho use of giving it advice either, admonition and chastisement are alike futile. To be relieved from republican misrule, we are compelled for a season to suffer the supremacy of this political imbecile.

The hope of the country, the inspiration of reform, is found in the apparent disintegration of parties, and the organization of- their advanced and patriotic elements into a newcombma-tion for the service of our common cause, the emancipation of the industrialists, the establishing of economic liberty. The great party of the future is born. Its birth is in the natural evolution of human affairs, and its cradle cry is the "Onward of God's eternal purpose." Industrial Age. The late report of the secretary of the State Board of Agriculture ia Kansas shows that twelve counties would be no greater than now. The residents of each ward could hold a meeting and elect tellers or men to take charge of the voting.

A day should be appointed a month or two before the election. Balloting should be done strictly on the Australian system. That is, each voter should be compelled to fill out his ballot in secret and band it in so that no person could tell how he voted. This would prevent the purchase of votes. The Alliance might adopt this system of nominating candidates next spring if it chooses.

If either the democrats or republicans or both should refuse to join them, and should nominate their candidates on the old plan, the Alli Johnson, Miami, Franklin, Douglas, Leavenworth, Shawnee, Osage, Coffey, Waubunse, Lyon, Greenwood and Butler produced one-third of the entire corn crop of Kansas this year. telligently, plainly, saying just what on both sides were dairy farmers. His he means in good, old-fashioned Eng- academic education was received at lish, and he will stick to his friends i Burr seminary, Manchester, Vermont, closer than a brother. His work will He spent one year at Williams college, tell. i Massachusetts, and afterward attended Ben H.

Closer, of the Third district, Harvard law school at Cambridge, in is a man in some respects resembling the same state. He came to Kansas, for two years. After serving four years in the state senate. President Arthur appointed him associate justice of the supreme court of Idaho, which position he he'd for over five years. Upon returning to Jackson county he resumed his law practice.

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