The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-11-02
For the Eagle.
The REPRESENTATIVE QUESTION.
To tina Votsrs AT the Q2d District.

ED. EAGLE: Permit me to say to
the people of the 92d district. through
your columns, that still live, and am
rapidly regaining my health and
strength, all rumors to the contrary
Notwithstanding; also to express my
regret that was prevented by my Sc
rious illness from taking part in the
the campaign, and meeting the people
on the stump, in advocacy of the prin-
ciples, men aud measures of the Re-
publican. party. This duty has been
done, and well done, by honest and
fearless men, such as the party always
has numbered in its ranks by the thou
sands, land we may confidently look for
ward to another National victory at
the polls.
But amid the excitement OF 4 Ma
tional campaign, we cannot afford to
ignore important al.interests. The
people of Sedgwick county have a
paramount interest depending on the
action of the State Legislature, at the
approaching session. refer to the
Harvey County Bond CrooSedness."
1t is well known that in 1872, the Leg
islature passed an act, taking from
Sedgwick county 322, $50 acres of fine
agricultural lands, containing so miles
of railroad and created out of it the
new county of Harvey, thus depriving
Sedgwick county of a princely source
of revenue, and largely increasing for
all time to come the burden of taxa
ton upon our people. Let it not be
forgotten that this was done in def
ance of the known wishes of large
majority of the people, by the only
Democrat that has every represented
this county in the Legislature OF the
State, and done too, not in the interest
of the general public, but in the inter-
est, aud upon the demand of few
land spectators. The same law at
tempted to provide for the levy ofthe
just proportion of the railroad bond
Indebtedness of Sedgwick county,
amounting to 100000, and the annual
interest thereon, upon the detached
territory. The authorities and people
of Harvey county resisted the levy OF
this tax. and carried the matter to the
supreme court, which decided that
the law was defective for that purpose,
as was also the subsequent legisla-
ton by which it was sought,to cure the
defect. But the supreme court has
intlmated in its decision. that proper
and effective legislation can yet be had
TO relieve the people of Sedgwick
county. with her diminished resources,
from the gross injustice of paying of
the principal and interest of said in
debtedness during the next thirty
years, of more than $250,000, in taxes
which rightfully devolve upon the
county of Harvey. Whoever will take
the trouble to calculate it, will find
this statement not exaggerated, but
rather below the mark.
Having been nominated by the Re-
pubicans of the 92d district of Sedg-
wick county, for Representative, l
suppose | will be elected, and if so, |
will leave no effort untried TO secure
the enactment of law which will
stand the scrutiny of the courts, and
place this burden of unjust taxation
upon the territory of which Sedgwick
county has been robbed for the benefit
of Harvey county. IT. and must be
done.
Another considerations desire brief
IL to refer to. We have been congratu-
lating ourselves upon the fact that we
have now two representatives in the
Legislature, and that the power and
influence of Sedgwick county upon
the Legislation of the State has been
doubled. Now my opponent William
Grinenstein, is a Democrat of the
strightest sect, and is as true as steel
to his party. He must. if elected, be
elected by Republican votes, and he
will vote on all political questions with
the Democrats, thus neutralizrng the
vote the Republican Representative
from 93rtl district. and rendering our
county a political non-entity. For in
stance, a Republican United States
Senator is sure to be chosen. With
one representative voting for him and
the other against him, it throws open
an opportunity for other localities to
cultivate his friendship, and perhaps
secure through his influence, the re-
moval of the United States Land office
from Wichita. Shall we commit the
folly Of sending two men to the Legs
lature to steadily kill each Others votes
upon every measure | apprehend
not: have too much confidence in the
good judgment of the voters OF the
district, to believe any such result
possible.
Thanking you for your courtesy, l
am very respectfully yours,
VIM BALDWIN