The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1886-08-11
Correspondence.
THE FIELD AT LARGE.
Certain Facts About Kan
sas-Republican Disaffec-
tiOn-Martin's Drug Store
DOdge-HOW it Works.

Having spent ten Gays IN CnlS
State, and having gone about con-
siderably, conversed with many
people, and learned good deal, l
am better prepared than when my
last was penned, to speak of facts as
here they exist. One thing may be
seen on the surface. There is more
Republican dissatisfaction than
ever before, and Republican sue
cess in the present campaign is at
least a matter of doubt. The Pro-
hibition party has excited wide
spread comment, and is creating in
some quarters positive consterna-
ton. Access1ons to it are coming
over every day, and from a fine class
of men. Barely outside its ranks
are thousands more who have
grown careless of old party ties,
and may be counted yet as neutrals,
but with tendency to join the
new movement. These are possible
recruits, even before November;
they furnish the party in power its
only hope Of further victory. If
any considerable number of these
Join US, Republicanism in Kansas
is doomed and with them it may
be defeated. Spite of conditions
which make third party work hard
in this State, its results promise
more largely than ore week ago |
could have believed.
Why is this so? The fact begins
to dawn upon genuine Republican
Prohibitionists that they are losing
ground. They find more U. S per-
mits or tax receipts on record in
their midst than three years ago.
They see that Governor Martin,
Republican though he is, has par
,doned more liquor criminals than
were pardoned by Democratic Gov
ernor Click. They point to a
brewery, running in defiance of
law, which under Click was closed.
They have seen the product of that
brewery borne about in the streets
of certain towns, and carried as
freight on the States railways
They behold Republican drug
stores filling the wholesome gap
left by Democratic saloons. They
search the records of their probate
judges, and learn how lax are
drug store notions of sickness and
medical needs. They grow dis
gusted, indignant, ashamed. And
no wonder.
Why was the drug store pro-
vision recommended by Governor
Martin, and legislated into law
Martin was never a Prohibitionist,
and his paper, the Atchison Cham
'pion, was the most bitter anti-Pro-
hibttion sheet Kansas had before
Prohibition succeeded through pop
ular vote. 1t is we'll known that
Martin took leading part in beat
ing st. John tor Governor, when
the latter had been re-nominated
for third term. He never re-
canted word or deed, merely de-
clared in favor of enforcing law,
hat he might become Governor
HlnS6ll anu Glou S6CuISu Iu6 re-
shaping of law SO that under its
loose letter, the spirit of it might
be violated everywhere, every day,
If the legal feature which Kansas
owes to him, and which now ours
es the State, was not a -blooded
sell-out OF Prohibition, it was a
stupid blunder for which John A.
Martin deserves political death
and eternal burial. Multitudes are
realizing the fact at last, and af-
frming their purpose to take part
in the funeral services.
Even Martins best friends ad-
NIT that he is put at a disadvan-
tage by his course concerning the
"Search and Seizure" resolution.
His party delegates passed that al
most unanimously; and with it in
the Republican platform, third
partyism could not have made
much Roadway this year But af-
ter its passage, the anti-prohibitio
character of Martin asserted itself
He would not run if that plank
were not rescinded. The word
went round Martin must not be
offended. His element was neces-
sary to Republican success. To this
l.