Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-08-24
The Union Labor County Con
ventiOn.

---C CA--I-- A4GDDL COA1LLH Cy44HE Gil
ton met IN Phi1lipsburg last Satur-
day and adopted a platform and nom
mated part of a county ticket The
nominations were: For Representa-
tive, H n. Boyd; for Supt. Of Public
instruction, L. F. Fuller Of Logan;
for Clerk Of the District Court, D. w.
Smedley; for Probate Judge, DIR.
Stephens. The offices Of County At
tOrney and Surveyor were left blank.
The HERALD's representative did not
get In in time to hear read the resoIu-
tions adopted and has thus far been
unable to procure a copy. We will
hereafter comment on them. We
happened to go in just as a certain
resolution was being discussed
That resolution was substantially as
follows: ''ResOlved that this conven-
ton Is unalterably opposed to any
fusion with either of the two old par
ties" It was plain to be seen that
there was a strong anti-fusiOn senti-
ment, and it looked like the resolu-
ton might pass, but Mr.. Fuller, who
Is really an eloquent talker, got the
floor and by his easy, plausible, per
suasive argument, succeeded in turn
ing the tide and by shrewd tactics,
got the resolution laid on the table.
Prof. Fuller makes it warm for the
''old parties in a general way, but
when it comes to bidding for Demo
cratic votes, he handles one old party
(the Democratic) pretty tenderly. In
securing the tabling of the resolu-
ton referred to he showed himself to
be a skiIlful politician. All went
smoothly now till it came time to nom
mate a candidate for Clerk of the Dist
riot Court. D. w. Smedley was put
in nomination. A delegate arose and
said he could not support Mr.. Smed-
ley TIL he heard him explain his po-
sition. He had understood that Mr..
Smedley's name had been announced
as a candidate for this position in the
Phillipsburg Democrat subject to the
action Of the Democratic convention
and that if Smedley is a democrat
the speaker would not support him
under any circumstances. Mr.. Smed-
ley was called on to explain his posi-
ton which he did by saying that he
was not a democrat and had not been
for two years and that he had not
caused the said announcement nor
authorized anyone else to publish it.
He was a sound Union Labor man
and had not asked for any nomina-
ton from the democrats. After Mr..
Smedley sat down other delegates
spoke saying they could not support
Mr.. Smedley if he was a democrat.
The chairman and others now vouch-
ed for Mr.. Smedley's integrity, but
some delegates were not satisfied till
Mr.. Smedley took the floor the third
time, and by the most solemn prOtes-
tations assured the convention that
he was not a democrat and had not
authorized the printing of said an
nOuncement In the Phillipsburg DEM
Ocrat. This statement of course calls
for a full explanation on the part OF
the Phillipsburg Democrat which
says ''we are authorized to announce
| D. w. Smedley &C." Here seems to
be a question Of veracity up for con
sideration. Then the Democrat says
that Mr.. Smedley will be candidate
for Clerk subject to the action of the
Democratic convention" Mr.. Smed-
ley denies it and says he is not even a
democrat.
The nomination of Probate Judge
being next in order, a delegate pro
posed that no nomination be made
but that we let the ''other party
name the candidate for Probate
Judge. Immediately a brainy look
ing delegate whose name we did not
learn, arose to his feet and remarked
that to skip this Office would be equiv
alent to saying the Union Labor par
ty had no man Of sufficient brains in
Phillips county to fill the Office and
he would not consent to any such ar
inference, SO the convention nominal
ed DR.. Stephens.
1t was apparent to a close observer
that there were two elements IN the
cOnventiOn-One a fusion element the
other opposed to fusion. The man