The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1873-09-25
Convention, and Their
Ticket.

Ticket.
The ous-looked for event has transpired, and
Che decd is done. As we were one of those who
had M rights in the Convention, not even having
had the privilege of voting for delegates, we are
free to support the ticket or not, as we see fit,
and 70 express our ideas of the Convention freely.
We shall proceed to detail the thing, as we saw
it-for we were there, from the time the first mo-
tion on the temporary organization was made, to
the adjournment sine die.
-salk about wire-pulling! We never saw more
of it at any Convention; but most Of 1t seemed
to be of no avail. Delegates came IN the night
before and at once reported at the headquarters
of political ring, and were in consultation until
a late hour, planning how to run the Farmers
Convention, and to beat certain men. By that
very.act, they showed just how much they cared
for the farmers interests; but in the result, they
were beaten in everything they undertook.
Things were found not to h satisfactory, and
delegates were being chosen almost up to the
hour for the meeting of the Convention. Under
the call of the President Of the Troy Club, meet
ing was held "Wednesday and the number Of
delegates elected to which the Club was entitled;
but on Saturday, number of farmers were drum
med in to join the Club, and another meeting was
held, at which four or five delegates were chosen.
The Convention assembled, and was organized
without any trouble--tlIere not even being con-
test from Wolf River. A. Larzelere was made Pres
ident, and Thomas Henshall Secretary. The very
first move of this Con ventiOn, assembled for the
purpose of putting down corruption, was the ap-
pointment of committee to investigate the al
legged attempt of a delegate to sell his vote for
money. The investigation revealed nothing but
some big talk between a saloon keeper and del
egate who went into his trap TO get a snort, to
prepare him for the duties of the day.
One Of the resolutions adopted, required candi-
dates to pledge themselves If defeated, not to al
low their names to be used by any other Conven-
ton, or as independent candidates. Men who
had not been allowed voice in the election of
delegates, exhibited good deal of faith in taking
this obligation, and offered themselves as lambs
for the slaughter. The motto of the farmers was
proclaimed to be, that the Office should seek the
man, not the man the Office. 1t was surprising
to sec how the offices just went sloshing around
inside of that bar, seeking after men who were
delegates in the Convention. There were 104
delegates, and we think that Offices were seeking
at least 30 of them, or very nearly one-third of
the whole number. One of the resolutions read
that we now proceed to nominate candidates
from our midst" We presume it was intended
to mean from among the people of the County,
but it was almost carried out literally; for We
believe the entire ticket, except Treasurer and
Coroner, was mado up from delegates in the
Convention.
Sheriff came first on the list. Samuel Maquil-
ken, B. S. Campbell, Thomas J. Vanderslice, and
several others, were put in nomination. call
was made for Maquilken to take the pledge, but
be was not in the room. Then Campbell was
called. He marched up with a confident step.
He had been chosen to just scoop things, as being
of such immense popularity that he was utterly
irresistible. His look seemed to say, "Ths is l.
Look and tremblel" An enthusiastic delegate,
with very ragged coat, badly split down the
back, exclaimed: Here's Campbell-hes alSrdys
on timer Campbell took the pledge, when an
impudent delegate Inquired of him whether, If
elected, he proposed to live in Troy, and attend
to the office himself, OF put the business in the
hands of deputyf He replied that he intened
to come here himself-of course, lie did. The
others then came forward aud took the pledge.
A ballot was had, with no result, and the two
candidates having the smallest votes, Messrs. R.
w
next ballot stood: Campbell 36 Maquilken 3S
vanderslice 81. According to all rule, Wander
slice should have been dropped. But it was in
sisted that, IS the vote was so close between the
three all be allowed to go in on another ballot
In all fairness Vaf fderslice should have with
drawn; but he has such persistent set of friends
that they never will let him Of as long as there
is hope for Office. On the third ballot, the vote
was almost as close as before with the difference
that Maquilken had become the lowest. On the
same principle all three Ought to have been allow ed
another chance; but it was insisted and carried
that the lowest be dropped; and on the next bal
lot, Vandersice was nominated, receiving most
of Maquilken's strength, and beating Campbell
over twenty votes. We have not seen nor heard
ofCamboll since. Any information will be thank
fully received by his sorrowing friends. In not
a single other instance during the Convention
was this rule suspended. discrimination was
made against Maquilken only, of all the candi-
dates before the Convention. Had the rule fair
Iy been fsllowed, either Maquilken or Campbell
would have been the nominee; but neither of
them being a delegate, they had no opportunity
to contend for their rights. We presume they
will both stand by their pledge made to the Con-
ing number of delegates in the Convention, the
shystering in this case absolved them from the
obligation they had taken. When men pledge
themselves to abide by the decision of Conven-
ton, it is with the understanding that the Con-
vention act fairly, and resort to no sharp prac-
tice.
Treasurer was next on docket. Robert Tracy
and James E. Martin were placed in nomination.
Trscy ran so far ahead the first ballot, that We
think Martin mentally resigned before the count
was finished.
For Register of Deeds, there were q number of
candidates. Duncan Mcintosh and John Wilson
were among the slaughtered, and Albert Hazen
carried off the spoons.
For County Clerk, several nominations were
made. Mr.. Rappelye very sensibly declined
to pledge himself feeling that the thing was
spiked against him, and wishing to he at liberty
to run independently, if he saw fit. Thomas
Henshall was nominated on the first ballot.
For Surveyor, Henry Wilson and C. Y. Stur-
yeon were laid out, and Amos W. Waters won
the race.
For Coroner, DR.. J. Welsh, of Doniphsn, was
nominated by acclamation. That Office did not