Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-10-09


The republicans fired the first gun in
the campaign here one night last week.
Judge Edwards was the first speaker
introduced. He spoke a nice little
piece in reality 1t was more of school
boy defamation than political speech.
Place man where he could hear, and
not see the speaker, and his only con-
clusion would be that he was listening
to prize defamation, and we intend,
at the next monthly examination in our
school, to recommend that the judge
be awarded reward card and two head
marks, unless some of the children do
better than usual.
DIR. Cloud, of Kiowa, Dobson's old
running mate, ex-rebel, ex- greenbacker
and ex-demOcrat, followed the judges
defamation with short speech. He
was very careful to say the least he
could against the democratic party, and
republican. The doctor made a strong
plea Tor democratic support for his
county ticket, and when he spoke of
Dobson, of Oklahoma City, he grew ell
oquent. and pictured in beautiful Ian
guage the great, blg-hearted man who
had squandered his wealth in Kansas,
and who is now asking the county to
give him lift. Will they help Jim
We think not
Chester |. Long was next introduced,
and to say that he utterly failed Is put
ting 1t mildly. He tried to discuss the
tariff, and after fiat failure In that, he
touched up the record of the g. O. D.,
and appeared, for few minutes, to be
happy; but by-and-by he got to the old
soldier question, and chOked down. We
supposed the trouble was caused by an
effort to swallow Commissioner Tan
ner. When he got to the adminlstra-
ton proper, he showed signs of great
suffering, but by heroic effort he took
it in, Malone, Tanner, Dudley, Quay,
Wanamaker and all. Then he came to
Kansas. He endorsed the last state
legislature praised them for reducing
the legal rate of interest, and even had
the cheek to say he was proud of its
record. We suppose he forgot the ac-
ton of the state senate in passing the
bill to reduce the age 1T consent from
Is to is years. The gentleman then
got TO the sugar question, and tried to
give the people "taffy" for few mo-
ments. But his browning act was when
he apolegized for not saying anything.
That was, doubtless, the only part of
his speech that was fully appreciated
by all his hearers.
w. I. Rouse, the gentleman who has
a perpetual claim on Barber county Of
fees, next entertained us. He gave us
avast amount Of valuable information |
He told us how many town lots were in |
Barber county, and how many tracts of |
land, and that he had to make out the |
book, and Mr.. Peck collect the money.
But he didn't tell us the condition of
the clerks books when he took his Of
fee. But the judge told us all about
that in his speech.
h. b. Peck was the next speaker. He |
spoke of democratic officers being inef
6cient; mentioned the great efficienc,
of some of the republican officers. bu,
didn't mention names. We suppose he |
was referring to the ex-clerk, ex-probate
Judge, ex-treasurer, and, possibly, to |
the present county attorney.
1t was evident, from the tone of the |
speeches, that they are, to some extent. |
in bad condition. They have nothing
to be proud of. OF the course Harrison
and Tanner have pursued, they are
afraid to say much. They are also |
afraid to say much about home affairs. |
for fear the people will get to asking |
questions about that $4,000 shortage
in the county treasury; or that 81 200 |
or 81 800 job of examining the treasu- |
rer's books. There are a good many
questions that the republican candi- |
dates don't want to discuss this fall. |
They would have better chance of be-
ing elected if they would tell us all they
about the former republica, officials ,
SO In, gentlemen. and give us a fun
history. Never mind che tariff, the |
trusts, the sugar works, or the old SOL |
der. They are all right, and will no |
attended to. Give us home news.
W. G. A.