The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1877-01-25
Mowry ms Letser-writer.

MOWry ms Letter.Wr1tef.
A. j. Mowry has appeared in the character OF
o ready letter-writer His efforts are direcsed
toward annihilating Gov Osborn; and, strange
as it may appear, be selects Democratic papers
of Missouri as mediums for reaching RePnoii-
can Legislature of Kansas. Last week, o eens-
fihunication, dated at Wathena, appeared IN the
ST. Joseph Gazette, bearing Mowry's ear-marks,
conveying strong hints against Osborn relative
tn the orcanizatiop of new Counties. About tho
same time. or tlay or two aftsrwsrd. long let
tar appearsd i'm the sKausss CITY 1SRe, over
Mowryis signatur-, making his charge direct.
From something contained in late Legislative
re,orts We indigo that he has also favored the
House with all epistle upon the same subject.
For his own credit, and out of respect for his
friends. he had better kept still. The Chief, for
one, has stood by Mowry, in what it believed to
be an unjust persecution of him, and has given
him tbe use of its columns, whenever he asked
it. and without stint limit, to defend himself.
But now, for the mere purpose of revenge, he
openly confesses almost the worst things that
have been charged against him.
Mowry started out with a series of indisc retions
that be should have been too sharp to fall into.
1t was imprudcnt, in the first place, to make the
race for Representative in the late campaign
under the circumstances. But if be thought his
own vindication depended upon it, he should have
moved cautiously. But at the outset when his
case at Topeka was nolled, he wrote note to
Gov. Osborn, notifying him that he wonld pay
him his compliments in the joint convention of
the Legislature for the election Of . United
States Senator; and then, for fear the public
wonld not hear what he had done, he caused
copy of the note to be published in scurrilons
sheet at Topeka. This, Of course, made every
friend of Gov. Osborn's an active opponent OF
Mowry's-and the Governor happened to have
large number of friends in Mowry's own District.
His commencement of libel suit in the m idst of
heated campaigu was another mistake, and did
him no good. But the upshot was, that an out
and-ont Osborn man was elected to the Legisla-
ture over him, by considerable majority, al
though there was Democratic candidate in the
field, and the Republican vote was divided.
Not being able to fulfill his promise Of attend
ing to the Governor in joint convention, Mowry
goes into the confession business. The short Of
his story is this that Comanche and ether South
western Counties were organized for the purpose
of securing members of the Legislature to vote
for Osborn for Senator, three years ago He
knew they were frsudulently organized, and az
sisted in the fraud, upon the stipulation that he
was to be appointed one of the Commission
ers of Comanche County, and was to be al
lowed to dictate the location of the County
Seat, (as a matter of specuatiou;) and he
was to be elected to the Legislature from
the County; and he repeatedly pledged himself
that if elected, be would vote for Osborn for
Senator. He confesses that, after the other side
had kept faith with him, he violated his pledge
to vote for Osborn; and his ground for exposing
Osborn now, he says, is because the Governor
and his friends would not come to his rescue in
his bond troubles. He says he knew the County
and other bonds voted in those new Counties
were utterly without the authority of law, and
fraudulent Yet he knew those bonds were be-
ing sold to innocent purchasers, and himself aid
ed in selling some of them, and received and
conveyed the proceeds of some of them to the
forgers Of them.
We remember, when Mowry's case was before
the Legislature, and our sympathies were enlist
ed warmly in his behalf, we were suspicious that
the Governor had something to do with it; and
we distinctly stated our belief that Secretary
Smallwood was party to the new County
frauds Mowry personally assured that nei-
ther Osborn Smallwood had anything to do
with it. But in his recent Confession" he ad-
mits that Smallwood was party in securing his
pledge to vote for Osborn, a condition for ad-
mittng him to q fraudulent seat
And all this is for revenge! Osborn may not
be elected Senator, but doubt whether Now
ry's revelations will change single vote. What
he says of his own connection with the frauds,
will be accepted true, while his charges against
Osborn will be imputed to malice and spite. His
confession s too late to affect any else, while
it effectuslly Winds mp Mowry's political career
in Kansas. He can expect no ''vindication," after
this. 1t will not now depend upon what sumo
body else has charged him with, but what he
has voluntarily fastened upon himself 4