Executive circular to metropolitan police commissioners
Creator: Lewelling, Lorenzo Dow, 1846-1900
Date: December 4, 1893
With this circular, Governor Lorenzo Dow Lewelling of Topeka, Kansas, appeals to police commissioners of Kansas cities to show restraint in the prosecution of the unemployed. The governor argues that high rates of unemployment are a product of the industrial system of production and not the fault of individuals. Since jobs are not available to all employable persons, he argues, unemployed persons should not be treated as criminals. The governor denounces the vagrancy law for first class cities included in the General Statutes of 1889, and similar city ordinances, which allowed for the arrest, imprisonment, or fine of "all vagrants, tramps, and confidence men and persons found in said city without visible means of support, or some legitimate business." The Kansas Legislature originally enacted the law in 1881. Governor Lewelling was the first People's Party (Populist) candidate to become governor. Republican opponents of the Populist governor dubbed this letter the "Tramp Circular."

Governor Lorenzo Lewelling, Claims, 1893
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1893-1895: Lewelling)
Date: January 27, 1893
This folder contains correspondence on claims made in 1893 to Governor Lewelling's office. This specific claim deals with Price's Raid.

Governor Lorenzo Lewelling, Correspondence, Box 1
Creator: Lewelling, Lorenzo Dow, 1846-1900
Date: 1893-1895
These folders contain correspondence subject files with Governor Lewelling, twelfth governor of the State of Kansas, 1893-1895, and the first Populist governor of the state. Correspondence received includes general letters, official response letters and letters concerning State agencies and subject files. Some proclamations are also included. Subject files include applications, endorsements, and remonstrances relating to candidates for appointments to the Kansas State Normal School (Emporia) (present Emporia State University), the Kansas State Penitentiary (present Lansing Correctional Facility), judicial, & other positions; county organizational documents; and letters relating to counties, crime and criminals, justices of the peace, lands, military affairs, relief aid, Prohibition law, and other topics.

Governor Lorenzo Lewelling, Correspondence, Box 2
Creator: Lewelling, Lorenzo Dow, 1846-1900
Date: 1892-1894
These folders contain correspondence subject files with Governor Lewelling, twelfth governor of the State of Kansas, 1893-1895, and the first Populist governor of the state. Subjects included are applications for jobs, endorsements, and remonstrances, as well as appointments to State positions; bonds; charitable and correctional institutions; cities and towns; claims; counties and county organization; crime and criminals, extraditions, and rewards; fairs; immigration; Indians; invitations; Indian, school, railroad, & other land; legislation; federal and State military affairs; railroads; relief; aerial navigation, forestry, livestock, pharmaceuticals, mines, silk, the State soldiers (orphans) home, and the United States government.

Governor Lorenzo Lewelling, Correspondence, Box 3
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1893-1895: Lewelling)
Date: 1893-1894
These folders contain correspondence subject files with Governor Lewelling, twelfth governor of the State of Kansas, 1893-1895, and the first Populist governor of the state. Subjects included are fairs, legislation, military affairs, mining operations, oil inspector, railroads, resources for Western Kansas, and tramp letters.

Susan Orcutt to Governor Lorenzo Dow Lewelling
Creator: Orcutt, Susan
Date: June 29, 1894
A letter written to Kansas Governor Lorenzo Dow Lewelling of Topeka by Susan Orcutt of Mendota, Kansas, telling him about their depressed situation in Trego County. Orcutt tells Lewelling that she and her husband are starving because hail ruined their crops and garden and her husband could not find work.