The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-10-27
THE CONVENTION AND TICKET.


of their individual claims, that it stirred up an
interest among the people to come and see
whether the country was to be allowed to go to
the dogs, by disregardirg these claims.
As for the Convention itself, it was by all odds
the most disorderly that we ever witnessed.
large ngmber of the members seemed to take de-
light in making confusion, (perhaps for a pur-
pose while n number of persons in the lobby,
Democrats as well as Republicans, and men who
ought to have had more sense, kept up noise
and racket, occasionally giving yelp, or call
ing out some smartness during the proceedings
of the Convention. Then, a couple of the mem
bers of the Convention, filled with their own i'm
pOrtanee, consumed half the time that ought to
have been devoted TO work. in making windy
speeches. They seemed to have an idea that
somebody wanted to commit a fraud, and kept
elattering about fair play-at least of them
having himself been elected by fraud, if charg-
es are true. They wrangled for half an hour
about the manner in which Burr-Oak should
YOte-there having been tic in that Township
on delegates These gentlemen thought that
vile fraud was concealed in the report of the
Committee on Credentials, and after they had
amended the report TO suit themselves, Burr
Oak voted exactly as procided in the original
report of the Committee. One of these windy
fellows, in the midst of a speech extOlling his
own unflinching Republicanism, went of into
long apology for having voted for Horace Gree
ley. He pronounced Greeley one of the truest
Republicans that everlived when he knew that
Greeley was nominated for President only be-
cause he had bailed JEFF. Davis, which, it was
thought, would insure him the solid Democrat
fa. nr,S La Il l..
The attempt to defeat Republican candidate
last year, and virtually asserted that the only
way to secure hearty support for the ticket in
his Township this year, was TO nominate a can
didate that they were specially pledged tO-and
even then, he promised united support of only
that candidate, saying nothing of the whole
ticket
On the floor, lobbying, were preachers, dea-
cons and class-leaders, who would probably
have bolted the ticket had not their church
member been nominated, and who may still bolt
other candidates on the same ticket, if they have
half a chance. But, worse than all, there were
one or two delegates who came for the purpose
of selling themselves out at the higoest market
price, like q string of catfish 1t is known that
one of these men sold himself Some men in the
lobby, ascertaining this fact laid plan to test
him. vote was in progress in which they had
no interest, but happening to see his ticket, one
Of them exclaimed: ''FOr Gods sake, don't vote
that ticket. We must have just one more vote
for -. I'll give you fifty dollars if you vote
for him." The fellow threw down his ticket,
and had one written for the other candidate in
great haste, and got to the hat just in time to
deposit it before the ballot was declared closed
T.. ~
dropped back into the crowd and tried to es-
cape from the room, when he saw the delegate
bulging after him, reaching for him, and ex-
claiming: "Here, where's my fifty dollars ?"
''S'pose you go to hell and get your fifty dol
larsp was the reply.
The Committee on Rules and Order of Busi-
ness reported in favor of voting by ballot,
which, after short contest, was carried. This
meant that too many members were there who
wanted to go back PROMISES made. 1t has
been the rule, for years, to vote viva voce, and
has become the almost universal practice in all
such bodies. Its adoption showed purpose to
60 back on promises. During this discussion,
one of the windy gentlemen, who had been a
member of the Legislature, moved to lay an
amendment an the table. This carried the
whole report to the table, but the report was
declared adopted without the amendment, all
the same. The other windy gentleman, who
had also been a member of the Legislature, OBJ
jected to a call for the ayes and nays on ques-
tion, because rules for voting had yet been
adopted-when he ought to have known, that
in the absence of rules, parliamentary usage al
ways govern proceedings. But that objection
also preyailed-there were too many present
IL Al
nations to be made by ballot. However, after
the three principal candidates had been nomin-
ated, they lost all interest in voting by ballot,
they suspended the rule, and voted viva voce
Sheriff and Clerk were the two offices on which
nice playing was to be done, and for which the
rule was adopted.
full delegation made II members of the Con-
ventiOn. But there was vacancy from
Geary City, leaving the number 20. However,
on several ballots II votes were cast. Whether
this extra vote was slipped in by one of the gen.
tleinen who were SO fearful of a fraud being CON-
mitted, we are unable to say. However, this
extra vote, and that of the gentleman who was
for sale, did not affect the result any nomina-
tion, so that no special injustice was done.
The reason why no official proceedings are
furnished us. The Secretary bundled up a hat
full "a big ping hat) of papers, and sent them to
US, consisting of poll lists, credentials, memo
randa, and notes of committee reports; but as
we were not Secretary of the Convention, nor
even a member, we do not feel like taking up
day sorting out papers and writing report of
the proceedings, which was the Secretary's duty
to do. If he had devoted the time that he con-
sumed in useless aud tiresome buncombe speech
es to writing ont the proceedings, it would have
been much better, all round. As it pow stands,
there is no official record report to show that
a ticket was nominated, or that the party has
an organization for tho next year; for there is
no list of Central Committee. We find a few
scrawls Of names which we suppose to stand for
Committeeman for several of the Townships:
but we find none at all for Union Township, and
no record of the organization of the Committee.
The foregoing not very fiattering account ap-
plies to the proceedings of the Convention, but
not to the ticket. That is as good ticket as
has ever been nominated, if it did come out of
confusion and disorder. With the exception of
Sbesiff, the nominees are all present incumbents
of their Offices.
S. n. johnson, for County Treasurer, had no |
opposition in the Convention, and will have
none at the polls.
n. C. Bailey, for Sheriff, is the new name on
the ticket. His nomination was made on the
first ballot, but by a close majority. As Deputy |
Sheriff for the past four years, he has been ac-
tive and efficient. If elected Sheriff, he win |
fearlessly do his duty at all times
Mr.. Morse was re-nominated for Clerk, on the |
fourth ballot. Ho also will have little or no OPP
uT.. 60 har-
ranged the plans fer an independent ticket, |
and spoiled slate that it cost much hard work |
to arrange.
Mr.. Dixon, for Register of Deeds, was re-nom- |
mated on the first ballot, by large majority. |
His present term has given satisfaction to the |
public.
Charles Corbusier is re-nominated for Survey |
or. As he said in his speech to the Convention, |
whom he sets his compass, and finds where the |
line is to run, he will run it there, if it goes |