davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-11
The Oklahoma Deception.

The false hopes which have been
created by sensational newspapers con-
corning the Oklahoma Utopia seem in
a good way to produce much suffering
and possibly bloodshed. The facilities
for acquiring government land have
been greatly exaggerated. The char
acter of the land has been grossly mis-
represented and the amount of it has
been enormously overestimated. Less
than ninety congressional townships
will be opened by the Presidents proc
lamation. This is less than $4,000
quarter sections of land which will be
subject to entry as homesteads, should
every quarter be at once filed upon.
Yet the ''Oklahoma editions of
newspapers have led their readers to
believe that the supply Of land to be
opened is practically unlimited, and
that all who want homes, including the
$4,000 foreigners who have landed in
this country since the bill authorizing
the President to open the territory was
enacted, can find farm by going to it.
There are more than enough now
with their faces toward Oklahoma, to
take every quarter section which will
be subject to a homestead filing. But
reporter who has just returned from
the territory, reports that ''the charac-
ter of the land is not at all as repre-
sented. Some parts of it are rich and
will probably make productive farms,
but the uplands are thin soil, short
grass and in many places the small
stones come to the surface. The land
will not average any better than the
lands of Southwestern Kansas"
With proper amount of rain this
entire new territory may in time be
converted into a farming community,
equal in area to about three average
counties of Kansas. But as long as
there can be bought better lands nearer
markets, with improvements in West
ern Kansas for very small sum of
money, there is no great probability
that the intense and undue excitement
about Oklahoma will continue more
than few weeks after the ''rush'' at
the opening.
On the other hand there will proba-
bly, be reaction, and as soon as the
lower and better lands are taken, the
prairie schooners' will turn their
heads northward, and the Wichita pa
pers and the Kansas City Times and
other journals which have led on the
delusion will be in danger of dynamite,
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-11
The Liquor Men Active.

1t is a favorite argument of the
saloon men to go into city or state
where prohibition is enforced and find
all the houses and farms that are for
rent OF sale and publish them to the
world as an evidence of the depressing
effect of prohibition. They have done
it in Des Moines and in Iowa. They
have done it in Kansas, and they will
continue to do so whenever oppOrtun-
ity offers. They assume in doing so
that the only empty houses and the
only farms to rent are in prohibition
localities. 1t is very easy in this way
to charge any amount of business de-
preston or financial distress, whatever
the cause may be, to Prohibition Des
Moines Register.
The agents of the liquor interests are
in Kansas today manufacturing lies to
show that prohibition has "ruined
Kansas" These men stop at nothing
to make their point. They send back
to Pennsylvania and Massachusetts,
every conceivable kind of statement
that will prejudice the voters. They
will spend 100000 to defeat the
amendment in these states.
AS far as Kansas is concerned we in
vite the people of Pennsylvania and
Massachusetts to come here and see
the workings and good effects of pro-
hibition. Let them visit Topeka, the
metropolis of the state. and talk with
our representative men, our merchants,
our mechanics and laboring men, and
from their statements form their con-
illusions. Let them go to the smaller
towns and cities of the state and talk
with the people and investigate the
records for facts.
No temperance man could, after such
investigation, vote to license the sale
of liquor. What the people of these
states need are facts, and the people of
Kansas who have friends there should
see that they have them Topeka
Capital.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-11
Neighboring schools invited.
A Talk by Mr.. Lebold.

Hon. G. II. Lebold will give a prac-
tical talk to men at the rooms of the
Young Mems Christian Association
next Friday evening the 18th, COM
mencing at o'clock, on the subject,
Elements of Success in Business. -
This talk will be given free. Mr.. Le-
bold's extensive relations with business
and his success as business man, is
sufficient proof to induce all VIII o
possibly can to take advantage of this
opportunity to hear one of our most
successful business men. on this sub
ject. All men are cordially invited to
attend.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-11
An Electric Light Middle.

AS will be seen from the proceedings
of the city council last evening the
electric light service of the city is being
discussed again. All sorts of rumors
regarding the status of affairs have
been afoat today and many seem to
labor under the impression that the
electric light contract has been de-
clared null and void by the council.
The history of the case shows that
on Feb. 1st Mr.. Smalley introduced
the following resolution: Be it
RESOLVED, That unless the Water and
Electric Light Co. will furnish the
light for lighting the streets as cheaply
as the same kind of light is furnished
in any other city in Kansas, on and
after the 1st day of April, 1889, the
use of its lights be discontinued from
that date.
A committee was appointed to in
vestigate and make terms with the
company prior to April LIST, but it has
done nothing except have itself con-
tinued from month to month.
April LIST has come and gone; the
lights still continue to hold out and
burn with their old-time flicker. The
council has decided 'sto inform the
company of the resolution" the COM
pany says that the resolution does not
affect them as they are already furnish
ing light as cheaply as any city in
Kansas What the outcome OF the
muddle will be is hard to prophesy.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-11

Some weather crank has been cudgel-
ing his wits and has evolved the state
ment that when you wish to know
what the weather is going to be, 60 out
and select the smallest cloud you see.
Keep your eyes on it, and if it de-
creases and disappears it shows a state
of the air that is sure to be followed by
fine weather; but if it increases take
your overcoat with you if you are going
away from home, for chilling weather
is not far OFF. The reason is this:
Wien the air is becoming charged
with electricity you will see every cloud
attracting all lesser ones towards it
until it, gathers into q shower, and ON
the contrary. when the fluid is diffus-
ing itself, then large cloud viii be
seen breaking into pieces and dissoly-
ing. "a q 4
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-11

An educated boy, says a writer in
the Nebraska Farmer, will pillow a
Straighter furrow, do more work with
team without hurting them, will not
water them when they are too warm.
will feed them regularly, and change
the kind of feed occasionally. He will
put his implements in a shed when he
gets through using them; he will rotate
his crops on his land; he will keep the
best grades of stock; he will be kinder
and take more interest in his stock.
and know what kind is the most profit
able to handle; he will not always feed
his hogs on corn alone, and keep them
in a yard where there is arotten straw
stack for them to lie in; he will get his
implements for his spring work ready
for use in the winter, and not wait till
the fine day comes when he needs to
use them; he will make live mana
happy man; he will feel real interest
in the plants around him; he will have
an assortment of apples in his orchard;
he will be better neightor; and hav-
ing had some experience and observa-
ton in his youth of other than farm
surroundings, he will be able to appre-
clate freedom and his comforts, and
knowing that he is well off when he is
so, he will be more contented man.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-11

Democrats are Democrats the world
over. The Colorado people have been
inflicted with some of the tactics of
which we spoke the other day as max
ing the average Kansas Republican
very weary. The Logan County AID
vocate says:
When Democrats are in the minority
they always favor the idea of mo use
to draw party lines in township, city
or county affairs" Many times they
succeed in-imbuing this idea into many
men who mean 10 be straight Republi-
cans. They will wibble and wobble,
struggle and fall out of line, and find.
when the election is over. that several
Democrats are elected. and the Demo-
cratic party puffs itself up, and claims
a victory. You seldom hear them give
any credit to the weakened fellows
who voted their ticket.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-11
Death mugs.

The farmers of Flora township are
determined to get rid of the chinch
bugs. From the proceedings of the
meeting held last Saturday in Manches-
ter we take the following:
Earnest talks were made, all being
in favor of burning grass, both in
sloughs and uplands. 1t is thought
well to burn corn stalks too. The high
ways were believed to be a prolific
source of chinch bugs and should be
fired every season.
There was lively interest mani
tested from the first, and the chinch
bug was voted the greatest pest of
modern times.
AS to the proper time to fire the
grass it was the sense of the club that
several warm days in succession should
precede for bugs to come to surface.
1t was moved to have another meet
ing next Saturday, April 6, at 8 p. m,
to decide day to make general burn
ing of grass in Flora township, and to
appoint COMMITTEES to superintend the
same.
Steps will also be taken towards or
ganizing permanent farmers club the
season.
There is considerable sense in such
action and if the farmers throughout
the county and state would unite fol
the purpose of fuIthering their inter
ests we would hear less grumbling
about 'hard times" Moreover, this
scheme of burning out chinch bugs is
undoubtedly more feasible than the
one of ceasing to sow wheat and it will
certainly be beneficial in that it will
burn over the dead-grass plats and Sc
lessen the danger from accidental
prairie fires.
The best clause in the proceedings
is, however, the last one. A perma.
nent farmers club should exist in every
township and every neighborhood
We believe that the day is not far dis.
tant when such will be the case.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-11

The rush in the settlement of the
Kansas border in 1854, says Milt Rey-
nolds, great as it was, was Insignificant
compared with the rush to Oklahoma.
There are now in and about the vicin-
ty of Arkansas City 10000 people,
most of them poor, and recruits are
swarming in daily from New England,
California, everywhere. That there
will be vast amount of suffering,
bloodshed and disappointment now
seems certain.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-11
G. A. r. Resolutions.

G. A. R. Post, No. So, met last even
ing in the court house. The following
resolutions, which were also adopted
by the Service Pension association at
its meeting April 1st, were unani-
mously adopted:
Resolved, That we, as comrades and
soldiers of the late rebellion are in
favor of the enforcement of the law
passed by the legislature of the state of
Kansas in 1886, governing the appoint
ment of soldiers to appointive offices:
and be it further
Resolved, That we are in favor of
having the law as given in the session
laws of 1886 published in our county
papers. r. A. BROWN, .
Post C0m'd'r Post 63, GA. R.
F. F. PETERS,
Adjutsnt.
W. l.. ALLISON,
Pres. Abilene Service Pension Assn.
W. T. DAVIDSON,
Secretary.
Pursuant to the above resolutions we
herewith present our readers copy of
the law referred to which is to be
found On pages 211 and 212 of the ses-
sion laws of 1885, and is entitled IAN
act relating to appointment and en-
ployment Of persons who served and
have been honorably discharged from
the army and navy of the United
States" 1t is as follows:
BE 1t enacted by the Legislature of the
State of Kansas:
SECTION l. In grateful recognition
of the services. sacrifices and SutferingS
of persons who served in the army and
navy of the United States in the war of
the rebellion, and have been honorably
discharged therefrOm, they shall be pre-
ferred for appointment and employ
ment to positions in every public de-
partment and upon all public works Of
the state of Kansas, and of the cities
and towns of this state, over other per-
sons of equal qualifications; and the
persons thus preferred shall not be dis
qualified from holding any position in
said service on account of his age, nor
by reason of any physical disability;
Provided, Such age or disability does
not render him incompetent to perform
the duties of the position applied for.
SEC. 2. In making any reduction of
force in any of the departments, cities
or towns of this state, the officers of
such department. city or town shall re-
tain those persons who may be equally
qualified, who have been honorably dis
charged from the military or naval ser
vice of the United States, and the
widows and orphans of deceased sol
diers and sailors.
SEC. 8. Any person knowingly and
willfully violating the provisions of
this act shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanOr, and upon conviction
fined not less than five dollars nor more
than twenty-five dollars for each
offense.
SEC. 4. This act shall take effect and
be in force from and after its publica-
ton in the statute books.
Approved February 10, 1886.
l hereby certify that the foregoing is
true and correct copy of the original
enrolled bill now on file in my Office.
Z. B. ALLEN,
Secretary of State.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-11
OUR NEIGHB0RS.
Special correspondence of the REFLECTOR.


HOPE, April s.
VIM. Blesh, of Lost Springs, spent
yesterday in the city.
We understand Louis Greiner and
sister, Miss Mamie, will soon start for
Oklahoma, where they intend to take
up land.
Miss Lizzie Irons started for Kansas
City last Thursday morning. She has
accepted a position with dry goods
firm at that place.
w. J. Bassler, of this city, has a
position as travelling salesman for j. L..
Mcdonald & Co., dry goods house of
Chicago.
Geo. johnson is very i'll at his home,
one mile south of town.
Mr.. Cent?, school teacher of Penn
sylvania, spent Sunday in the city, the
guest of r. Blesh.
Several new cases of scarlet fever are
in town. Great care should be taken
to prevent further scattering.
G. C. Keller returned home last night,
ill with a slight attack of pneumonia.
M. L. Burton, 81. E. Martin, J. w.
Keller and J. v. Roberts drove over to
Herington yesterday. The HeringtOn
people say when Hopeites are noticed
on their streets, slope is on the BOOM"
They are right, Hope has a healthy
boom.
A. j. Crosby and wife visited rela-
tives on Lyons creek yesterday.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-11
OLD VETS CELEBRATE.
The Campfire Held Last Evening
Most Pleasant and Enthusiastic
0na-Addrass IN Han q Rnr&on

The Campfire Held Last Evening q
4 Most Pleasant and Enthusiastic
0ne-Address by Hon. ]. &. Burton.
When the hour arrived for calling to
order the campfire held last evening
under the auspices of the Service Pen
sion association in the court room, the
audience present filled nearly every
foot of space available. The G. A. r !,
Sons of Veterans, the Relief Corps and
scores of old soldiers friends were
present to enjoy the evening.
To say that the occasion was emf
nently successful does not half express
it. The boys in blue seemed to enter
into the spirit of the thing most fully
and the heartiest of good will charac-
terized the proceedings.
W. T. Davidson presided. The new
band of the Sons of Veterans was pres
emit and gave several pieces in a man.
ner that showed careful training anG
wons rounds of applause.
Army songs were sung "as we used
to sing them, sixty thousand strong.''
off-hand speeches were made and reci-
tations and solos given. Mr.. E. G..
Putnam sang ''Old Shady with excel
lent effect and carried ''the boys" back
to the old days at the front. j. R.
Burton gave two recitations in his
usual thrilling style; Miss Cora Keller
and w. ]. Winfield also gave recita-
lions which were much enjoyed.
The feature of the evening, however
was an address by Hon. J. R. Burton
The day being the 26th anniversary OF
the surrender of Lees army at Ap-
pomatox, Mr.. Burton made the fact a
text for an hours brilliant talk, such
as our citizens know he is capable OF
giving. He would have the young
men growing to manhood impressed
with the lesson of that surrender and
realize the object for which our armies
fought-not for money, not for glory
but for patriotism aud the preservation
of the Union. He then touched upon
the subject of pensions and referred tc
the fact that although twenty-three
years have passed since the close
of the war the prisoners who lost theil
health and almost their lives in South
ern prison dens have never been prop.
erly recognized by the government Oh
received proper reward for their suffer
ings. He would have the pension of.
fees cleared of the red tape that i'm.
pedes their action and the claims OF
the men who fought for the flag recog
nized promptly and fully.
Mr.. 3urton's address was listened tC
closely and frequently punctuated with
applause.
The campfire was one long to be re-
membered. 1t would be well if such
gatherings could be held oftener; they
are beneficial not alone to the old sol.
diers but to the community as well.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-11

The order of the day should be. Break
the Irvine Trust! The farmers of
Iowa are changing their self-binders to
harvesters, rather than pay ten cents
advance. Irvine can be made and sold
at ten cents pound in large amounts:
and If some capitalist would build a
factory, he could make a fortune by
selling Irvine at ten cents. so mapy
hundred tons are Observation-Disclosures
Republic.
That is all very pretty to talk about
but just as soon as that man got his
factory nicely to running the other fell
lows would come down to his price and
nine-tenths of the farmers would leave
the new man and buy of the old deal
ers, When the farmers can learn to
stand together firmly and support one
another and their champions then they
will be independent of trusts and not
before.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-11
The Tribune's Silence.

The silence of the New York Tribune
in regard to the Halstead matter is
causing WIDE comment. 1t looks very
much as though Minister Reid consid-
cred himself muzzled by his own ap-
pointment. He could not be more
greatly mistaken. The mere fact that
man holds an official position by no
means incapacitates him from COM
menting upon the doings of the govern
ment. At least it does not in America,
however much the liberty of the press
may be abridged abroad. cr rl
Murat Halstead has made his fortune
by the rejection of his nomination by
the senate. He has more friends today
and is known to more people than ever
before. His cause has been made the
cause of the newspaper everywhere and
Republican and Democrat alike unite
in condemning the narrow-minded,
pusillanimous censorship sought to be
set up by the upper house of the United
States congress.
That the New York Tribune has
failed to speak either for or against
Mr.. Halstead shows that Mr.. Reid has
less courage than he has been given
credit for. Who supposes for a mo-
meut that if Mr.. Reid had not received
and did not expect to receive a posi-
ton under the government that he
would keep silent upon a subject which
is agitating political circles every
where? Who supposes that the sturdy
Horace Greeley in whose shoes MI.
Reid rattles around, would not have
lifted up his voice in no mistakable
tones regarding the insult to the free
dom of the press? Who supposes that
any restrictions of official position
would have withheld Mr.. Greeley's
powerful pen-no. not if he were in
the chair of the president himself
would he fail to give his views on the
matter.
+. 1t has been no easy task to keep the
old Tribune, by which our grandfathers
used to swear and which in their
minds stood next to the bible for infal-
libility and true doctrine, up to its
former standard. 1t has, to be sure,
held its place as the truest exponent of
orthodox Republicanism but it has
powerful and ambitious rivals for pres
tige and enterprise.
Its silence upon this newest phase of
political discussion will do much to
modify the Tribune's high standing
and Mr.. Whitelaw Reid will eventually
conclude that he made great mistake
when he failed to array himself on the
side of the press and preferred to give
the weight of his position to the truck
ling, revengeful politicians.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-11

Atchison Champion: The verdict of
jury cannot be received on Sunday
So the supreme court of Kansas held,
In case coming from Labette county.
The court holds that all judicial pro-
ceedings which take place on that day
are void. In this case the jury re-
turned a verdict on Saturday night at
about O'Clock, and the court says that
Sunday commenced at midnight.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-11

A Newton man advertises in the Re-
publican as follows: "Wanted-A good
six or eight room house by a family
without children, grand children,
mother-in-law, grandparents or hired
girl with a lover. House must be
within easy range of postofice. Leave
word at this Office That family should
be translated to heaven in a body;
they need not sin for they have no
temptations.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-11
FARMERS INSTITUTE.
Saturday, May 18th, Selected for the
Meeting Every Farmer in Dlckin'
son County Invited to be Present.

The farmers of the county are much
interested in the proposed Farmers' In
stitute which has been widely dis
cussed.
The date that has been selected by
several prominent farmers is Saturday.
Nav 18th, at which time the institute
will be held in the court house in this
city. A good program will be pre-
pared and announced later. Promi-
nent farmers from all parts of the
county will be present. Every one in
terested directly or indirectly in agri-
culture and the advancement of the
vocation is cordially invited to attend
and participate in the proceedings.
Hon. NJ. Mohler, of Topeka, secre-
tary of the state board of agriculture,
will be invited and will probably be
present.
Binding Irvine trusts, chinch bugs,
creameries and stock raising will be
among the subjects discussed. A per-
manent organization will doubtless be
formed. r
Let every farmer in Dickinson county
arrange to be present at the Dickinson
County Farmers institute in Abilene,
Saturday, May 18th. Don't come alone
but bring your wife, your children and
your neighbors with you.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-11

State Journal: The prevailing idea
On the southern border is that on Okla
homa day continuous line of passen-
ger trains will extend from Arkansas
City to Guthrie, and that the boomers
will be piled up in the cars like cord
wood, with their arms and legs stick
ing out of the windows; and that as
soon as the trains stop every boomer
will burst out and ''streak it" across
the prairie looking for a suitable
claim, without stopping for bat or coat