The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1879-02-06
The Senatorial Election.

The Senatorial Election.
The contest for the United States Senatorship
ended on Friday last, by the reelection of John
J. Ingalls, who received sc votes, to 70 for Judge
Horton, for the old fraud, Elder Mitchell, and
for John r. Goodin. By the aid of excellent
'hindsi the opponents of Ingalls, can now
see where they made mistakes, which might
have been avoided by reasonable exercise of
foresight which a number of the leading men
on that side have been supposed to possess.
considerable majority If the Legislature went
to Topeka opposed TO Ingalls,, either as first or
secon choice; bu, the opportunities were vast
ed, and Ingalls, walks of with the prize.
In the Rrst place, and as the main cause Of
failure, the anti-Iugalls forces was sadly mis-
managed. Some half dozen men more con-
fdently expected te be struck by the lightning,
nearly all Of whom were less ct for aud worthy
of for the position than Ingalls, Foremost
among these was George T. Anthony, who could
not reconcile himself to giving up . twelve
years death-gri upon Office. Having assisted
in bringing about q certain result in the late
State Convention, he imagined that it was ow-
ing wholly to his immense will-power and tai
ent for organizing, and that the same tactics
would carry him into the Senate. Others felt
the same way; and SO they met, voted, and ad-
journed, day after day, taking but single bal
lot day, each hoping that caucusing would put
him in the lead. If they had remained in ses-
sion, the first day of the joint convention, until
at least half dozen ballots were taken, as they
had the power to do. and then adjourned, gone
into caucus, and remained there until some one
was agreed upon, they would have trinmphed
the next day. But they kept fooling along un-
til the wavering became impatient, and the i'm
mense Ingalls, lobby, with their money and other
appliances, began to win votes, and until a
stampede had in a manner commenced in favor
of Ingalls,, then they went into caucus, and con-
solidated upon n man. But it was too late.
Having procrastinated until ingalls, was within
dozen votes of an election, the desire to be on
the winning sde-to say nothing of other con-
siderations-was certain to bring him the neces-
sary recruits to insure his success.
The Kansas City Times was another powerful
auxiliary in favor of Ingalls,. 1t helped him, by
opposing him. An ultra Democratic sheet, with
out honesty or scruple, hailing from outside the
State fresh from its advocacy of the rebel Crisp,
was o poor institution to dictate to the Republic
cans of Kansas. 1t carried the canvass on
the high.pressure system, bullying and debating
to the Legislature, and acting as if it were run
ming the whole machine. 1t is charged that q
large proportion Of the money for carrying on
it's war against Ingalls,, was furnished by George
T. Anthony. man against whom the basest
criminal charges had been made and reiterated,
without any serious attempt upon his part to re-
fute them, was the wrong man to take the lead
In circulating similar charges against another.
They may find ont, after awhile, that the Kan
sas City Times doesn't run the Republican party
of Kansas. Yet the Topeka correspondent of
that sheet, with all the pomposty of a bull-frog,
threatens that he will prevent Ingalls, from get
ting his seat, and that he will even expel Sens-
tor Plumb from the Senate!
The Topeka Blade was another heavy piece of
ordnance. 1t is nonenty, supplying a want
that never existed. 1t is purely 'on the make"
1t came out for Ingalls, in q manner that carried
the conviction that it was paid for it; and in
the heat of the contest, it suddenly turned
against him-so suddenly, in fact, that the first
issue contained articles both for and against
him. 1t was an open secret that it was paid for
this. But it exercised no influence, except by
disgusting men, and that resulted favorably to
Ingalls,.
And last, but not least, the hnal triumph was
accomplished by buying up Democratic and
Greenback members like many sheep. Re-
publicans have frequently been charged with
being bought, but it was only said to be by one
Republican against another; the most dismal
howler against the "Rotten Commonwealth
never asserted that Republican had been |
bought to vote for o candidate opposed to his
party. But last Fall, the Democrats and Green |
hackers made q campaign in partnership. their |
whole stock in trade being denunciation of Re- |
publican corruption. They wanted to inaugu- |
rate an era of Reform, aud overthrow the cor |
rupt Radical ring that controlled Kansas. WE'LL |
together they succeeded in electing over forty |
members of the Legislature; and when the tug |
of war came to defeat the man whom they de- |
nounced the loudest, he bought mp enough of
them to insure his reelection. Yet, we were |
told, only the other day, by one who now is no
more, that the Democrats and Greenbackers
ought to pool their issues, in order to defeat the
Republican corruptionsts, and inaugurate re-
form and honesty. Yes, let us have more of
these precious Reformers!
Aud SO Ingalls, is Senator for six years longer