Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-10-24
ArALSEHOOD NAILED.
L. K. Pratt Heard From.
Hays Star Sentinel.

HAYS Star Sentinel.
The following letter was handed us by
G. w. Miller, Chm, Republican County
Central Committee, and fully explains it
self:
NORTON, Oct, 18th, 1885.
c. ". Miller, Esq,
DEAR SIR:-Your article of the 1Otl
inst, inclosing an article from the Ger
mGn-Ameyican 4dzocate entitled "Can HI
make an Impartial Judgey is received.
The article referred to says that while
in Hays City [ made the following state
ment in regard to secret societies:
'My experience has been, that when
ever man wanted to steal something OF
do some dirty trick, he joined some secret
society-in my county the Masons. There
is not man Of them there that will vote
for me. I have no use for them, Or an,
other secret societies"
In reply to the above, I will say that ]
gave expression to no such sentiment tC
any person or persons while In Hays City
Or at any other time or place.
[ presume this story is CARRIED yer.
sion of conversation had in the Reedel
Bros office, at which Nj. Fuller OF Ellis
and some other gentlemen with whom
was acquainted were present. at that
conversation Mr.. Reeder asked me if
was Mason. l replied that was not
and be asked the reason. ] gave as q
reason that there were certain members OF
the Norton Lodge who prostituted the OBJ.
Jet and aims Of the order to bad ends
and purposes. That I could not sanction
the acts OF some of the members of the
Lodge, and would not connect myself
with it as long as such men were allowed
to make such bad use OF the principles
Of the Lodge.
[ expressly exonerated the Lodge as a
Lodge Of any wrong doing, and acknowl.
edged that the constitution and by laws
and the objects Of the order were good as
far lis knew and that a large proportion
OF the members OF Norton Lodge was made
up Of our best citizens.
did not say that I was prejuGiced
against all or any secret societies. bat did
say [ do not approve of the action of some
Of the members of the Norton Lodge.
have no apologies to offer for anything
said III that conversation.
I did not say that the Masons of this
town would not support me. On the
other hand, they are my strongest and
most influential supporters. The chair
man Of my delegates at Milbrook and
nearly all the other delegates were Ma
sons. know OF only one Mason in this
county who viii not vote for me, and he
viii oppose me on personal grounds.
/ have never known or heard of any
member of any secret society finding any
fault with me for anything I have ever
said or done, with reference to such So
cieties. 7 have never had Or pretended to
have any particular knowledge of the
workings of any secret society.
I recollect now that told Mr.. Reeder
that know of a couple Of men in this
county who had committed criminal Of
lenses, trying to join the Masons, but that
they were not admitted.
think this story is fit companion to
the one started about the time of the
democratic convention at Leonora, chat
[ had been intoxicated continually since
my nomination at Millbrook." [ demon
strated by democratic authority that the
first was faisehood, and can call the
same witnesses land Masons at that to
disproye the second.
There was no reason for making either
of the charges against me that have been
made in your county.
Very Truly Yours,
LOUIS K PRATT.
OFFICE OF COUNTY ATTORNEY,
NORTON, Kansas, Oct, IL, 1886.