The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-06-20
The PAGE and Eskr1dge Controversy.

We had hoped that the controversy which
was carried on il our paper soon after the
Legislature adjourned, as to "Who Killed
the University Bill 90 last winter. was at an
end; but last week, the following communi-
cation from Mr.. Page came to hand, which
we publish, Notwithstanding its great length,
for this reason: 1t will be recollected that
Mr.. Eskridge occupied our columns last, on
this subject; and that be branded Mr.. Page
as ''willful and malicious liar" and called
for the proof of statements which he (Page)
had made in his former letter. As the
charge is serious one, we feel compelled
to give Mr.. Page a hearing.-TED. News.
NEosHo RAPIDS, June 5, 1868.
EDITOR News: In your issue of the 18th
of March, the following article appears,
which I will quote:
Chow is it, Page Mr. Eskridge stated
in his speech, Tuesday night. that had it
not been for the action of Mr.. Page, on the
University question, we would have sue
ceeded in getting it located here. He said
the work was all done, and the votes secur-
ed, and everything in trim for the passage
of the Emporia bill, when Page flew the
track with proposition to strike out En-
Poria.' and insert Lyon county This
divided our strength, and procured our
defeat''
Upon this statement, and at your request,
l made statement of my action upon the
University question, and gave my opinion
as to the cause of the defeat of the bill. In
Mr.. Eskridge's reply, of the 1lth of April,
he says: 81 think I have not stated, pub
licly or privately, that he or any other one
man defeated me-" am told by gentle
men who were present, that he did make
this charge without qualification, and his
subsequent denial does not in the least
change nv opinion. The NEWS is my au-
thority believe have before stated that
his word was no evidence with me, and
do not longer propose to answer charges of a
man that has no regard whatever for his
word, and who will resort to misrepresenta-
tons and falsehoods. ''to cover his own
nakedness.' There are few statements,
however, that will notice. before proceed
ing. with additional evidence, to show that
Eskridge's course upon the University bill
graced any man, that would be guilty of
such contemplate conduct. He says: But
as the vote of the Legislature was lie on
that question. / did say that had he stood
true to Emporia," &c, DC. Now what
idea does the gentleman wish to convey by
this statement-that 1 voted against the
Emporia bill? No other meaning can
be placed upon this language. The gentle
man well knows that cast as many votes
for the Emporia bill as he did, and that my
proposed amendment was not offered Tor the
consideration Of the Legislature at all; and
he makes use of this language for no other
purpose than to convey the idea that l voted
against the Emporia bill Again, he says
| plead guilty to the charge made against
me, that proposed to strike out Emporia,
and insert Lyon county-just as though l
did not know Emporia was in Lyon county.
This NAV not be the language which he
uses, but is evidently the idea which he
wishes to convey; and which would be per-
fectIv consistent with his former actions.
gain, he says had hardly begun to move
my ''little boat before it capsized, and the
fight came off, as everybody looked for it to
come-between Emporia and Lawrence" I
must again correct the gentleman's treach
erous memory Ny little boat" lay at
anchor. awaiting the result of the contest
between the two last mentioned towns. The
Lawrence members-''my advisers were
very anxious to have me offer the amend
ment a, first, thereby creating division in
our ranks But my mulish propensities, to
which Mr.. Eskridge refers, would not allow
me to make such a ''foOlish and short
sighted" move, preferring to wait until all
enemies were vauquished, and then offer
the amendment, or ''liItle boat" against the
the geutleman's raft-which raft was lost
to the county. and Emporis. by the stu
pendous amount of wisdom which the gen
tleman displayed in swapping 1t, on a
smooth and favorable sea, and that, too, by
treachery, deceit and falsehoods-as l in
tend 10 show. before leaving this subject.
In my first article charged him with SELL
ing out southern members votes to the
Lawrence interest. This charge he does
not deny. but says that if l heard any
such thing, il was from my confidential adj
visers, the Lawrence men, who got up the
yarn to divide Manhattan men and our
selves. Now the truth is this: After the
combination had been formed with Manhat-
tan, and the whole southern delegation had
given their pledge of honor, Mr.. Eskridge
went to the Lawrence men and told them
that he was pledged. personally, to vote fer
Manhattan, but other southern members
would vote for Lawrence, if they would give
assistance on the University bill. If any
person wishes more proof of this statement,
will refer him to Hon. Geo. Ford of Law
renee. and others, who are willing to certi-
fv that II ic frua-tha stateme0f of Mr. Low
to the contrary Notwithstanding, wherein he
| says: 81 frankly say that no combination
had been formed. except lOith Manhattan, -
DC. If this was yarn, gotten up by Law
renee men TO divide the Manhattan men and