The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1870-08-18
From the Lawrence Journal. |


The meeting of the State Central Commit
tee opens the campaign. The first gun was
fired yesterday. The skirmishers were
thrown out, and the pickets of the enemy
driven in. More than this: the political
Weissenburg was captured; the French are
retreating to Paris; ''Our Fritz has won a
splendid victory. Clarke can in vain essay
the attempt of placing himself in the centre
Of his forces. His columns are broken at the
first onset.
All this is symbolized in the victory
achieved by the anti Clarke and anti-corrupt
ionists in securing increased representation in
the State Convention. There is more in the
victory than some may think. 1t is the
spiking of the guns Of the enemy. 1t pretty
effectually stops bribery and the buying Of
delegates at least in open convention. 1t
will require pretty lively times to get around
among two hundred and fifty delegates.
With the large convention and a riru roce
| vote it will be poor year for corruptiOnists.
Clarke's Generals made a mistake in Oppos-
ing the clearly expressed will of the people
in favor Of increased representation. All the
anti Clarke press favored increased represen-
tatiOn. The Clarke press opposed. But
so demoralized were their forces that
one Of their strongest advocates, Mr.. Martin,
of the Junction City Union, yielded to the
pressure, and introduced a proposition for
increased representation to the extent of dou-
ble the number of delegates in former con-
ventions. But this would he no fair repre-
sentation; consequently the proposition was
| rejected. The pOpulatiOn-the census Of
| ls70-is taken the basis for the election of
delegates. This gives our colorcd friends
j Il xt,a
OdiOus distinctions relative to color. 1t in
sures a right lively sprinkling Of colored
men in the convention, to give, as orr friend
| Langston says, color to the convention.
The committee met at two O'Clock in the
| larlors of the Eldridge House. The interest
felt in these preliminary movements is shown
men present from all parts of the State.
ford, Of Fort Scott; Capt. Slaughter and Mr..
of Paola; Hon. S. A. Cobb, Hon. Mr.. Cook,
Larimer, Web. Wilder, Colonel An
onel Moonlight, Mr.. Haberlein, Of
Leavenworh; Hon. f. J. jenkins, of Doni-
phan; Sam. LaPpin, Of Nemaha; Hon.
Thaddeus II. Walker, Hon. J. NJ. Spencer,
Hon. F. p. Baker, Of Topeka; Hon. J. X.
Wright and George w. Martin, Esq., of
Junction City; Maj. Adams, of Manhattan;
Maj. Elder, Of Ottawa; Hon. f. S. Niccolls,
Judge Sprigss, J. T. Lanter, Esq, of Gar
nett; DR.. Scott Of lola. There were many
others present from different parts of the
State, but as we write, we cannot give all the
names. No meeting of the State Central
1 - l~1c.. ,Snl
tentiOn.
Major Elder, chairman Of the committee,
upon calling the committee to order, briefly
stated the object of the meeting, and all pres
ent were very generously invited to express
their views upon matters that should come
before the committee, especially upon the
question Of increased representation.
Rev. Mr.. Twine, Of AtchisOn, stated that
he was delegated by the colOred people Of
Atchison to present to the committee the res
olutions ofthe LeavenwOrth mass convention,
asking for increased representation.
Mr.. Martin offered the form Of a call,
which provided for two delegates from each
Representative district.
Mr.. Osborn offered resolutions providing
for one delegate from each Representative
district, one for every 200 Republican voters
on the vote Of 1868, and one for every 200
cOlored citizens as shown by the census Of
1870.
Mr.. Crawford contended that Mr. Osborn's
plan was unfair, in not giving representa-
ton TO the thousands who have come here
since 1869. BESIDES, the cOlored men, he
claimed, asked no distinction on their behalf.
They wish distinctions on account OF color
to be obliterated, and all to he placed ON the
same level Of citizenship.
Mr.. Irvine thought colOred men should
be represented as well as allowed to vote.
Mr.. Matthews only wanted enlarged rep
resentatiOn. ColOred men will take care of
themselves. They will see that they have
their share of the Offices.
Mr.. Osborn claimed that his plan was the
only practicable one to embody the idea of
enlarged representation.
Mr.. Walker asked of U. S. Marshal
Houston, whether he had vet completed the
| census of the State.
Mr.. Houston replied that but ten districts
were vet officially reported. There are
eighty districts in all.
Col. Anthony stated that Leavenworth
County was united in favoring increased rep
re,entation, and he would propose population
| rs the basis, saw one delegate to each one
NEBaker proposed to elect BY counties,
ip proportion to population.
Mr.. Houston considered ii settled that the
Republican party demanded increased repre-
aent.fion. and the only way to arrive at II,
he thought, was On the plan proposed by Mr.
Martin, to allow two delegates to each Rep
resentstiye district.
Mr.. Speer thought the plan of increase of
representation based upon population was
unflir, N Democrats would then be counted.
Mr.. Sells believed that an increase to two
delegates from each district was no increase,
rs it dos not allow representation to the
thousands who have come here in the last ten
years.
Col. Moonlight wanted large CON
! veation; four hundred would be none too
small.
Nr. Haebersein also favored large con-
ventiOa. t 1sg g