Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-18
"ANrI-BELLUM BooDLERs."

1t is said that Farmer" Smith in a
late speech designated the old Kansas
politicians, having especial reference
we suppose to the other gubernatorial
candidates, as the Anti-Belium Boodlers.
Farmer Smith is little off his base in
this attack it strikes US, especially when
some of his own trainers and hackers
are taken into consideration. Who is
Farmer" Smith anyway that he should
exhibit such abundance of virtue all of
a sudden? Upon what meat has this
bucolic Ceazar fed that he becomes
| the hygiantic censor to his acclimatized
| fellows Of the Augean stables? As a
cowkeeper, fancy trainer or multifaerous
cultivator and breeder, which, comes
he narrowing up the political stubble
field and winnowing the Kansas thresh-
| ing floor? From his posing he must in
cline to geoponics, or agronomy from a
landslide base Farmer Smith! When
| did he farm and where? We have heard
| that he has not done a HEX on his
so-called farm in two years, which has
been a mortgaged farm at that, but
which mortgage in spite of last years
crop failures and his entire absence from
its neglected fields, has been raised,
cleared off, SO to speak to the tune of a
couple Of thousand dollars. If going
about denouncing people as ''anti-bel-
lum boodlers, s" will lift mortgages there
are other farmers than "Farmer" Smith
who are ANXIOUS to try their hand.
IF running around over the en-
tire state for months and months
conducting an expensive campaign
beats field work for raising
mortgages, with railway passes furnished,
and farmer" Smith can demonstrate
the how, he will, indeed, prove of inesti-
mable value as husbandman. And
there is another little item, the charter
ing of the entire first floor of the big
Windsor hotel. GARNER" Smith as
cultivator and raiser is evidently no
SLOUGH, but if we were Farmer Smith
under the circumstances we don't be-
lieve we would go around dwelling too
loudly or too long on the pecadillos |
and shortcomings of brother Republicans. |
But more seriously, outside of Major |
Joe Hudson, whom we believe to be an |
entirely clean man, Mr.. Smith ought to |
be cognizant of the fact that some of his
hackers haven't the records of |
angels on the Doodle question nor upon
any other, and as all of the opposing
candidates and all the papers friendly to
them have been not only fair but lenient
towards Mr.. Smith, not even criticising
bis actions, he ought to go little slow
when it comes to denouncing men who,
10 say the least, will in brains
in political records and in
all other particulars, average
up to Farmer Smith. Farmer Smith
was The first man into the field, put
here by combination which has at
east had strength enough to run Kan
'as for lone while;" and, with the
friendly support Of the railroads who
much admired his fairness as speaker;
md, during all these months-pretty
we'll on to two years-no fight has been
made upon him by a single newspaper,
lnleSs the good natured though some
what carping paragraphs of the Com l
might be so designated; {
%, Farmer Smith, if he is
mart enough to be governor ought to
Know that as he has not enough votes /
'orralled to give him the nomination on I
he first ballot, that if he is ever nomi- {
lated be must have the vote of some 9th
+ candidate or candidates, and calling 1
hem 'ante bellum boodlers" is not the &
wifi smooth way to corral the needed S
Eli, Farmer Smith? 9