Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 October 1892 — WHY HE LEFT. [ARTICLE]

WHY HE LEFT.

HON. BEN HATCHETT, SPEAKER PRO TEM OP THE KANSAS (ALLIANCE) HOUSE, EXPOSES THE PEOPLE’S PARTY. IN AN ABLE SPEECH AT NORTON KANSAS, HE SHOWS HOW THE FARMERS WERE LED INTO THE ALLIANCE UNder'false pretenses, how they HAVE BEEN BETRAYED BY POLITICAL SCHEMERS OF THE ORGANIZATION, AND DECLARES HE IS IN FOB THE REPUBLICAN TICKET. , mm ....... The Hon. Ben Matebett, of Osborne Co., Kansas, who two years ago was speaker pro tern of the Kansas House of Representatives, to which he was elected as an alliance or People's party man, made a speech at Norton, Kansas, last month, and toid why he had left the People’s Party, and was back in the Republican ranks. Much of the speech will be very instructive reading right here in Jasper county; and it shows that exactly the same dishonest tactics were pursued in Kansas as in Indiana to humbug Republicans into joining the alliance under the pretense that it was a non-political organization, and then to use all the force of the organization to dragoon them into going into the People’s Party. The following are extracts from Mr. Matchett’s speech, copied from the Osborne Kansas Farmer:

“I am not a politician, and never made a Republican speech in -my life, lam not here to give you thunder, but to state my political situation to-day. I believe that every citizen should be conscientious in his beliet I believe t hat if the Democratic party sub--1 if, better principles than any ot her party, you are under obligations as loyal citizens to accept them. If those ideas are not right you should reject them. The same may be said of all parties asking our support and franchise. And upon these principles I propose to discuss the question, ‘Why I joined the Alliance and why I left it.’ “ Two years ago I joined the alliance, believing that the principles upon which it was founded were right and just. I was made to understand that as an organization *it was non partisan, nonsectarian, and no matter what one’s previous opinions were, nothing in the farmers’ alliance should or would conflict with them. Now my alliance brothers and sisters, don’t you know that such was the fact? Were you not so informed? Of course you were. The following was submitted preparatory in mv initiation: 'We assure you that there is nothing in thfl order that will conflict with your previous religious and political convictions; knowing this, are you ready to go on.’ “I believed that when I went in, but have the facts been verified? In less than four weeks my suballiance began discussing the merits of a candidate proposed by another sub-alliance for county representative. I entered no protest. Did yon, my brother allianceman? No, like me you were blind. No one realized that in a year there would arise a power that would control it as it is controlled to-day. “In this Sixth district a conven-

tion met at Hill City, to nominate a candidate for Congress. How did it meet? With closed doors. Those not in the secret work were requested to leave before the business of the convention began. Mr. Baker was nominated for congress. Thus a new element is introduced into our free American system of politics,. that of secret conventions and organizations—an element that can not and never has and never will live npon American soil. Everywhere alliance speakers spoke of the two old parties with contempt, trying to persuade themselves into believing that there is no difference between a caucus and a secret session of the farmers’ allianoe. “I am brought to the conclusion that the People’s party of 1892 is the defunct deformity of the farmers’ alliance of 1890. It was necessary to make a change. They said we will meet in seoret as farmers’ alliance and adjourn to open doors as the People’s party And they did. Does this not prove that the People’s party came from the farmers alliance? “In the fall of 1890, the health of my family forced me to make a visit to the Pacific coast While i there, the People’s party placed me in nomination and elected me to the lowor house of our state legislature. Tho legislature convened. I was there. Many things came before us as yoor law makers. It is of a few of these I desire to speak. At the close of the legisature and

time of meeting I was informed that it was contrary to regulations, and therefore I must content myself by speaking behind closed doors. This I positively refused to do. I will never consent to defend my public acts in secret, and I did not “The question of finance, of the sub-treasury and land loan, etc., were submitted. When I began discussing these in open session I was informed that it was against the rules of the order to speak tif>* on these topics iu open session. You know how it was, my brother alliancemen. You know how we discussed these questions in our secret sessions, of course yon do. Irefused to support such schemes. Brother U. 8. Hall, of Missouri, did the same thing. What was the result in Missouri? Brother Hall has been sustained by the people, as all men will be, who sustain the truth openly and above board. » “What are some of the reasons for the unsurpassed growth of the People’s party? I believe that it is a law of nature that quick growth means short life. “ First—The universal drouth. It was everywhere. “Second—Deceptive arguments, such as government loans at one per cent Do you have such things now? No! Why? Yon are in the midst of one of the greatest harvests ever seen in Kansas. Who brought it about? Wasitau act of the legislature? No. It was nature.

“Third—The exemption clause in our greenbacks, which was one of the two measures that saved our country from utter financial min in’6l-5. “Fourth—T h e sub-treasury scheme will give only, with a SSO per capita, about 6 cents a bushel for our com. “Yes, my fellow alliancemen, we said that we would , have no lawyers, no bankers, no money loaners and no politicians. Of oourse, J. B, Weaver is not a politician; oh no i Mr. Le welling is not a money loaner. No, he never loaned money at 2 per cent. We will have no middle men; and when Mr. Lewelling could not loan money at 2 per cent, he bought grain. Iu conclusion I must support Harrison. He is my comrade. He will getjmy vote.