The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-05-18
J.V. RANDOLPH,
u. T. SNEDIkER,
CHRIS. WISE,
County Committee.
THAT MASS CONVENTION.
Mr.. Eskridge Calls q Meeting
at Americas, May 23.

at Amer1cuSS May 25.
There is q widespread feeling in the
county that the Republican central COM
nittee usurped the authority Of the Re-
publican voters when they appointed
the delegates to the district and state
congressional conventions. All except
u few interested feel ;aat il was an
outrage that cannot and will not be
submitted to, aAd that must be de-
nounced in the most positive terms.
The question of what was the best &C
ton TO take has been under discussion.
The editors of the Republican urged
that it was the duty of the Republican
papers of EmpOria TO call q mass con-
vention at once to elect delegates to both
conventions. From this view THE
NEWS dissented somewhat. While we
believe it the province of a Republican
paper TO inculcate Republican princi-
pies, 10 criticise Republican actions and
give voice 10 proper and authoritative
Republican action, it is no more the
duty of the editors of the two Republi-
can papers to call convention
than IL was the duty OF
halt u dozen other Republicans. We in
sisted that if call for mass conven-
ton were made, il should he circulated
among the Republicans for signatures,
that all might have a chance to assist in
making 1t q convention of the people
and not convention of the newspapers.
At this stage a consultation of such Re-
publicans as could be found last evening
was held at the Office of Buck s. Feighan.
After full discussion it was agreed
among all present but the editors of the
Republican, as follows:
First. Owing TO the short time inter
vcning between now aud the converting
of the district congressional convention
in this city next Wednesday; owing,
also, to the fact. that so far as known
there would be but one candidate before
that convention; that probably in ma
jority of the counties delegates had
been appointed by the county commit
tees; that there is general fear existing
throughout the county in reference to
the smallpox in EmpOria; that mass
convention called here would be essen
TALLY city convention, IL was deemed
best not to include in the call for the
proposed mass convention the election
of delegates to the district convention.
Second. 1t was deemed best to
await further action on the part
of the committee. 1t was
stated by one of those present at this
consultation that three of the commit
tee, il was now believed, would unite in
call for convention. If they would
do this great confusion and trouble
would be prevented by postponing the
calling of mass convention for another
week.
Third. 1t was the unanimous conclu-
sion that il the committee refused to
call county convention for the election
of delegates to the state convention,
call would be issued for 8 mass conven-
ton for that purpose next week, in
which call all the Republicans should
have q chance to participate, and the
call would therefore be relieved from
any accusations OF having been made al
the instance Of any newspaper or politi-
clan.
This was the way the matter stood
last night at 10 O'Clock. We were
informed this morning that a conference
in the Office of Scott Il Lynn yesterday,
of Mr.. Eskridge's own seeking, reached
substantially the same conclusion; and
yet, in the face of all this, the Republi-
can issued the call this morning for the
proposed mass convention at Americas
on Tuesday next.
We are authorilatiYely informed this
morning that three-a majority--of the
central committee will unite in call
for delegate county convention at an
early day for the election of the dele
gates to the state congressional conVen-
tion.
We believe the call for the mass con-
vsntion against the advice of all Repub-
licans who could he conveniently
consulted is hasty and unwar-
ranted that il is move which will only
add more confusion to the situation, and
Ee therefore advise Republicans TO
have nothing to do with it, but to await
united and harmonious action.
If the committee still insists in its
present course another week then We ad-
wise the Republicans to move calmly,
matter of holding mass convention.