Wichita eagle., 1888-10-21
THE EXPOSE OF THE VIDETTES,

The Topeka Commonwealth, in a
strong and very long editorial, reviews
the expose which appeared in these col
umns Friday morning, and shows be-
yond question that not only were the
state and district Union Labor conven-
tons of Kansas controlled by the secret
political order of 49," to expose whose
secrets is death, but that they CONTROL ed
the national convention Of that party
held at Cincinnati. The Commonwealth
closes its article by taking up the Wich-
tia convention and as follows:
In this same council at Yates Center it
was moved and carried that the next
meeting Of the Atets Nuic'loc state
counciD should be held in Wichita one
or two days preceding the state conven-
ton of the Union Labor party.
The proceedings of the state council of
the National order of Videtts' at Wich-
ita, August 81, next claims our atten-
ton. In that council Mic (comrade) Sni-
der, who, by the way, is the Union La
Dor candidate for congress in the Sew
enth district, reported the platform of
the Union Labor party to be adopted
by the Union Labor party convention.
Some of the members of the order moved
that delegates who were not ''videttes"
be allowed to make suggestions as to the
platform, but they were overruled and
the only changes that were permitted
were those of verbiage. The National
Order of Videttes' then proceeded with
the nomination of state ticket for the
Union Labor party. 1t was intended to
nominate J. w. Bridenthal. of Chetopa,
for governor, as was agreed upon In the
Yates Center convention, but word was
received from Bridenthal to the effect
that he desired n complimentary vote of
the convention when he would withdraw
his name, giving as reason that 1t had
been stated that so great had been the
growth of the Union Labor party
in the state that it was
quite possible by sacrificing every
thing on the state ticket for legislature
and effecting a combination of all the
opposition elements in the Kansas legis-
lature. ''13" could control the election of
the next United States senator and
Briedenthal was wanted for the place.
This statement, it is reported in the pro-
ceedings of the nuic' loc, was received
with great applause and the state ticket
of the Union Labor party, as it now is,
with one exception, was nominated, care
being taken that true comrades were
selected.
Such were the proceedings of this
secret conclave. which on August 81, did
the work that on August % was ratified
by the Union Labor party of Kansas,
laboring under the suppositlon that, as a
political party, they were exercising the
rights and duties of American citizens in
a convention of the people.
The Union Labor convention at Wich-
ita had 251 votes on its highest count:
the ''Nidette" had control, remember, BY
an oath, violation of which is punishable
by death at the hands of their comrades, of
139 of those votes. 1t is thus established,
beyond perdaventure. that the Union
Labor convention at Wichita, which
that party and formulated its platform
was not convention of any party. but
merely doing the bidding of a secret,
cath bound. anarchistic organization.
1t is not necessary TO mention further
how completely the Union Labor party
is in the control of this secret and mys-
ferrous "13." but there is one more point.
Every nominee on the Union Labor
state ticket. with one exception, is q
member of the Ia their candidate
for congress in the Fourth district, John
Heaston, is member: their candidate
for congress in the Seventh district, one
Snyder, is a member: so far as can be
ascertalned. every executive officer OF
the Union Labor party In Kansas Is
member. and ali of their candidates for
important offices are members.