The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-16
A Fatal Objection To A Plausible
Scheme.
"What a tangled web we weave,
When first we practice to deceive"

Such must now be the thought OF
those young mugwumpS who offered the
following resolution in the republican
county convention and got it adopted
"Resolved, That it is the sense OF this cOnven-
ton that there should be printed on all ballots
to be used at the coming election the words ''FoT
Resubmission," and Against ReSubmissiOn," and
that the vote in this respect should be an in
structiOn TO the Representatives OF this county
In both branches OF the Legislature"
The young mugwumps aforesaid, in
council, remarked to each other: THAT
resolution looks pretty; it reads nicely,
and the anti-prOhibitiOn republicans
will swallow it and vote the way we
want them to-"
But after all, what does it amount to?
The convention which adopted it was
composed largely of prohibitionists,
and one of them said: :" We put this
resolution in to allay i'll feeling; we
don't expect it to amount to anything"
Mr.. KOHLER, a very pronounced pro-
hibitionist, was endorsed for State Sena-
tor Mr.. MEEK, another very prOnOmc-
ed prohibitiOniSt, was nominated for the
Legislature from the 10Th district, and
Mr.. BURTON, the nominee for the Leg
islature from the 74th district, hasn't
yet been courageous enough to tell the
people what he will do if reelected.
Here is where the fatal objection to
the scheme comes in. Behind this show
of bravery lies the craven's smiling
heart. Behind this show of honesty
lies trickery and dishonesty. Behind
this seeming freedom of the republican
party is seen the clutch of the prohibit
tiOnists closing tighter and tighter upon
it.
All persons who are familiar with
the republican literature of this cam
paign remember that the prohibition
lists, when almost ready to bolt
the party, were gently soOthed with
these words: Remain in the party:
you can only reach the full effects of
prohibition through the republican par
ty; the republican party is the moral
party of progress and humanity, and in
time it will firmly establish prohibition
The prohibitiOniSts were persuaded to
remain in the party. Now the anti
prohibitionistS are in revolt, and the
same voice says to them: Remain in
the republican party; let us settle this
question within the party lines; resubz
mission can come through the republi-
can party as well as through the demo-
cratic party" Surprising that the re-
submiSSiOnistS remain, who will be de-
ceived How can the republican party
establish prohibition and at the same
time resubmit the prohibitory amend
ment?
The fact of the matter is, the repub-
ican party does not intend to resubmit
the prohibitory amendment.
Dickinson county is the only county
in the state we have heard of that has
adopted the illegal plan of putting For
and Against ResubmiSsion'' on the re-
publican ballots. The plan was adopt |
ed to catch the reSubmiSSiOn republi- |
can vote. How will it work?
The resolution was adopted by a con- |
ventiOn of prOhibitiOniStS, and the SEN |
atOrial and Legislative candidates NOM
mated are strong prOhibitioniSts. What |
tONo tiAAo UGlhS6ll Tile /
resolution and candidates mean? 1t |
means that if the ballots declare for re-
submission and the prohibition candi-
dates are elected, the proposition to re-
submit the amendment will never come
before the Legislature. Prohibitionists.
elected to the Legislature and instruct
ed by such plan to vote for reSubmis-
sion, will never allow the proposition to
come before them. Both branches of
the State Congress will be in the hands
OF the prOhibitiOniStS, who will appoint
all the committees, and the resolution
to reSubmit will never come from
room. This is the reason
why the plan of putting For and
Against ReSubmiSSion" on republican
ballots is dishonest and cowardly. 1t /,
means nothing but deceit, and none
but the foolish will be deceived thereby. {
On the other hand, the opposition ]
;andidates-HOn. c. B. HOFFMAN for ,
he Senate and MeSSrs. GEO. f. LIy-
NGsToNE and c. n. CoGGEsHALL for $
he Legislature-pledge themselves to S
cork Jcr and cote for reSubnliSSion. They f
ire honest and are to be trusted. They
will work and vote for resubmission:
hey will work and vote for a better
abroad law, and they viii honestly il
erve the people whose servants they t
viii be.