The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1878-09-05
fhs state Cenve.,ion.

Now a-days, everything is conducted on gam
blers' principles. Gambling was once thing OF
ITSELF but the system has become so widespread,
that not only prize fighting and horse racing are
reduced To simple gambling, but political con-
ventions, elections, business transactions, and
cases at law, all ,iscde,i by gamblers rnies.
The choice of the people is almost invariably
thwsrted by combinations and gambling de-
vices. James g. Blaine, the peoples choice for
President, was compromised and gambied out OF
the nomination, and disgrace given the POSI-
ton. In these combinations and trades the par
ty almost Invariably suffers. In the recent Re
publican State Convention, the result OH Gov
ernor was obtained by gambling and compro-
missing. As it happens, it has resulted in the
choice Of a very good man /; but for all that, he
was not the choice of large majority OF the
people, and they did not intend or anticipate
such result, when they elected delegates
Col. Martin was undoubtedly the choice Of q
majority of the Republicans Of Kansas, aud had
by far the largest number Of delegates. Col. st.
John was third in point of strength, with COM
parativeIy small following. A large number
of the delegates elected for Anthony, had but
little choice between him and Martin, and were
expected by their constituents to vote for Mar
tin, whenever it was found that Anthony could
not succeed. But convention composed Of 80
large number Of delegates, always contains
many who manage to worm themselves in, in
order to make what they can out Of it. These
fellows were there in force, and so were those
who were ready to use them. Car loads OF rail-
road lobbyists, and all manner Of rngsters, in
cluding leading Democrats, were OH hand, in the
interest of Anthony. With their money, their
influence, and their promises of position, they
succeeded in buying up the foaters, until An
thony's strength was almost equal to Martins.
They were taken into caucus, "sat up with, !"
bulldozed, and every other appliance used, until
they became zealous in the cause of Anthony,
that when the time came he actually transferred
them in herd, like 50 many cattle, with a few
exceptions. Men whose choice was Martin, and
whose constituents expected them to vote
for Martin, allowed themselves to be turned
over by Anthony, as helplessy as a sack full
of kittens. In return for all this, windy reso-
luton was passed, telling what a,bully man An
thony was, who could not get a denomination
from the men who voted for the resolution. 1t
is said that q part of the bargain was, that st
John was to use his influence to elect Anthony
to the Senate. He can hardly deliver the goods
The 81. John men in the Convention were origin.
ally few, and majority of them were perempto.
ly instructed to oppose Anthony first. last, and
| all the time. st. John can hardly induce the
same Counties to elect Anthony men to the Leg
| islature.
The Convention was tired out by the time thu
| Governorship was disposed of, and delegates
were inclined to slide ont as soon as their favor
| ite candidates were safe. In this way, Judge
Price was sacrificed. The first ballot was with.
out result. In half an hour, another could bt
completed; but the delegates got finincky Il
start home, and commenced leaving. The Judge
was defeated by only nine votes, and not less thai
| fifteen or twenty delegates from Northern Kan
sas, all for him, had left the Convention, wheI
| they could have remained until their name
were called, and then made the trains. 1t does
man no good to have friends, if they desert hin
just at the moment when they could do him som
| good.