St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-08-03
KANSAS DEMOCRATS.

They Have n Fighting Chance for
Success in the state EiectiOn--Gov.
Martins UnpOpularity.
Special to the Globe
LEAvENWoRTH, Kan, Aug. 2.-There
has been no time in the history of Kansas
politics for the past twelve years when such
an independent feeling existed among the
Republican voters. There are many rea-
sons assigned for this state of affairs, but
the most prominent are the attitude of that
party on theProhibitlon question, and the po-
sition of Gov Martin on the great Southwest
ern strikes several months since. 1t has been
customary for the Republicans Of Kansas
to give the governor second term as an
Endorsement of the first. Gov. Martin upon
his election two years ago conceived the
idea that to ''stand inn with the politicians
of mis- party would be strong point, and
he at once commenced the work by dis
tributing the patronage at his disposal to
the ringleaders of the party, famous only
for controlling ward primaries and
county conventions. This policy was pur-
sued in his appointment of members of
state charitable institutions. penitentiary
board OF directors, private secretary and
even down to the most insignificant place.
This made him solid with the class above
indicated, and when the time came for
holding conventions in the various counties,
the machine was worked for all it was
worth. While there was strong under
current against his denomination, among
the better element of the party, the strikers
secured the election of enough delegates
early in the campaign to start popular
wave" for second term, and no other can
didate cared to make fight. Gov Martins
failure to enforce the law in the state when
the Knights of Labor were daily
destroying thousands of dollars
worth of property at Atchison
(his own home), Parsons, Wyandotte and
other points has created an Indignation that
will not be comforted or quieted. Many
Republicans will secretly vote against him,
while there are scores who. not willing to
vote for a Democrat, will cast their ballots
for the Prohibition ticket. The last named
will do this to rebuke the Republican party
because of its hypocritical course on the
Prohibition question. On his first nomina
ton Gov. Martin pledged the convention,
and declared from the platform in his cam
paign of the state, that he would enforce
that law and the two hundred saloons in
Levenworth and those in other towns and
cities of the state should be closed. These
pledges have been violated in every
instance and the people are tired
of such a hypocitical policy. The
Prohibitionists have placed ticket in the
field and Gov. st. John and other noted
apostles will make thorough campaign.
The vote of this party in Kansas this fall
is variously estimated from $4,000 to 35,-
900. This will largely come from the Re-
publican party and will reduce its majority
from the average-40, 600, to about 10000
or Is, ZOO. The Democratic state conven-
ton will meet in this city on Wednesday
and two-thirdS of the counties have in
structed for Col Thomas Moonlight of this
city for governor. He will be nominated
by reclamation. He is personally very
popular, was gallant officer in the Union
army, anil is one of the best campaigners in
the state and will poll the largest vote ever
given Democrat, except that for Gov.
Click four years ago. Well-informed poll
ticians claim he has fighting chance for
election, and taking into consideration the
fact that all the federal patronage that
amounts to anything in the state is now in
the hands Of Democrats the outlook for
Republican victory in November is exceed
ingly dark. The bolt of Judge Wilson in
the Fifth congressional district and the in
dependent candidacy of John A. Anderson,
present member, will not benefit the Re-
publican ticket in the state, but may result
in the election of a Democrat to represent
that district.