The Fremont County record., 1882-11-25

During the late campaign Hon. j. B.Chaf-
fee was the subject of great deal of abuse
from several influential papers, and an OPP
position to Campbelrs election was fostered
upon the ground that he was Chaffee's can
didate. Elsewhere in this paper will be
found Mr. Chaffees address to the members
of the republican state committee, in which
appears his side of the case. The state
ment is well worthy of perusal, as it is a
plain statement of the case from Mr.. Chat
fees standpoint We believe that Mr.
Ehaffee laborcd to the best of his ability
for the success of the whole ticket He
says he did not desire to be the chairman
of the committee; that it was forced upon
him by those who did all in their power
against him after he had accepted the
position, in direct opposition to their pledge
to help him. 1t is a well known fact that
the delegates who had succeeded in
nominating Campbell had decided upon
G. w. Tankcrsley as chairman of the COM
nittee, and he would have been elected
supported by E. O. Wolcott, that Mr. Chat
fee be the chairman. While we are willing
to concede that Mr.. Chaffee worked faith
fully and contributed literally of his
means to secure the success of the whole
republican ticket, yet, in our opinion, the
fatal mistake of the campaign was his cleo
tion TO the Craftsmanship. He came to
Colorado for the openly avowed purpose of
downing" Hill, out of revenge for wrongs
which he claimed had been done him by
Hill and his friends Az private, in the
ranks, he had right to favor or oppose
any man for governor, but it was not right
to make him chairman of the committee.
That position should have been occupied
by one who would have run the campaign
for the benefit of the whole party not for
or against any man or faction. Mr.. Chat
fee, rs chairman, did not attempt to con-
ccal the fact that he intended to beat Hill
two years hence, if he lived and had the
power. 1t is generally believed that Secre-
tary Teller will seek Senator Hills place
in the. senate npon the expiration Of the
latter's present term. 1t is well known
that as between the two Mr.. Chaffces
choice would be Mr.. Teller, and Senator
Hill had reasons for believing that under
Mr. Chaffee's charge the campaign would
be run in sfr. Teller's interest and against
him Under such circumstances Mr.. Hill
could hardly be expected to give very
cheerful support to the chairman Of the
state committee 1t was not Mr. Chaffee's
fault that he was placed in the position by
false pledges Of support, but it was a fatal
mistake, nevertheless. Had the chairman
of the state committee been . man with
whom all factions of the party could have
co-operated the whole ticket would have
been elected by good majority. Thous-
ands of republicans voted agaius. Camp
bell, thinking they were thereby stabbing
Chaffae. They were taught to tlIink thus
by the Tribune and Republican, but the
fact was that Campbell's election or defeat
was nothing to Chaffec. His only schcme
being the defeat Of Hill, and as that can
only be accomplished through the legisIa-
furc, the defeat of Campbell is of no signifi-
cance to him. While we do not think Mr.
ChafYcs deserved the abuse he received
during he camraign, We believe II would
have bean be$ter for the republican party
Of Colofado n ~ had not been in the state
during fhe cnmpoien. When any person
sutcrs : 'oimpaiEk ~ the purpose or per-
sonnl reveuee ~ Influence cannot but
BE- drtfImeufnl 70 ~ tert interests Of the
Panty. -