The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1878-07-25
VillainOus Msfrepres entatiOn.

When q man honestly tries to bolster up a
desperate cause, his work is sufficiently onerous
but when, from the popularity of his position,
he is compelled to defend something that is in
defensible his efforts are painful to the last de-
gree. Such is the predcament in which Prertis,
of the Topeka Commonwealth, finds himself. He
could write Q defence of Russia with much bet
ter heart than of George T. Anthony but he is
employed by F. P. Baker, with she understand
ing that the CommoHrealth is George 7. Anthony's
organ, and he has to put in his best licks in that
direction.
The Commonwealth, o few days ago, waded into
the Chief for an assertion we made-or rather a
query, rs to whether the Commonwealth didn't
know that Anthony ran IL 900 votes behind the
Republican ticket, two years ago. 1t says the
Chief knowingly states falsehood, and all that
sort of stuff; and then uses up almost column
In showing that Anthony did not run quite 10,-
OOc behind the ticket-9,20O is the figure. Now,
the fact is, although we knew that Anthony had
run behind the ticket fearfully everywhere, We
never examined the tables to ascertain what
the number really was; but having seen it re-
peatedly placed by other papers at 1900, We
supposed it was correct, and accepted that as
reduced to hair-splitting, we are not particular
Without yet having examined the tables, we ac
cept its figures, and say that Anthony ran 9 200
behind his ticket. That is sufficient for our pur-
pose. 1t shows that he was so obnoxious to his
party, that even in Presidential year, when
discipline prevails, and party lines are drawn
tightly, thousands of Republican voters refused
to be persuaded or driven to his support. Since
then, the feeling against him, instead of subsid-
ing, has become more widespread; party discip-
line will be less effectual now than it was then,
and he would run still farther behind the ticket.
Why should Republicans run the risk of weak
ning their ticket, and encouraging the wide
spread disaffectiOn, by nominating such a man
II be were the only man in the party fit for the
place, there would be some excuse; but there
are thousands just as fit and far less obnoxious.
The head of the ticket should be the strongest,
sipstead of the weakest The Republican party
OF Kansas owes George T. Anthony nothing, that
they should be forced to pack him, simply be-
cause he wishes it, and his paid organs keep up
q racket like ox-drivers on the plains. The Com
mon,Veaith, about the same time, contained an
editorial castigsting certain editors, and sccus-
ing them of lack of grit, because while speaking
well of Anthony, they would not persist in
'bulling" him through, in spite of public opin-
ion. These papers are working for the welfare
of the party. They know that the people are
opposed to Anthony, and their grit is not of the
sort that would risk the welfare of the party for
the purpose of gratifying the personal ambition
of Q man who has no claims upon it. There is
nothing about the man to justify attempting to
force the people to do that which they are de-
termined not to do. 1t matters not what the
reasons Of the people are for dislking Anthony;
the dislike exists, and if the Republican party
wishes to show forth its best strength, it will
lose no time in unloading him. This, We think,
the party will do, at the very earliest opportuni-
ty; and the Commonwealth may as well spare its
lectures on grit and its efforts to show that An
thony is immensely popular, because he ran only
1900 votes behind his ticket, instead of IL 900.