Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-08-07
THE DODGE CONVENTION.

THE DODGE CONVENTION.
Believing that the republicans of this
congressional district would do just
what they have done in past years, i. e.,
and office holders and not the people, we
attended their convention at Dodge
City last Wednesday arN Thursday, in
order that we might give D fair report
of the proceedings. A jolly crowd was
there, and big crowd; and the editor
of the DEMOCRAT has no criticism to
make of the way he was treated, or the
general sociability of OIx. friends the
enemy. One hundred and sixity-fve
delegates were present, and about 700
or 800 on-lookers, heelers, wire-workers,
and so on.
After calling to order and appoint
ing the various committees an adjourn
ment was made until the afternoon of
the 3Oth. These com1ittees did not
report until late in the afternoon.
About 4:3O the committee on creden-
tials came in, and the cSnyention was
called to order and proceeded to busi-
ness, with II. B. Kelley, of Mcpherson,
as permanent chairman, Will Carney as
permanent secretary, and w. 7. Walker
as reading secretary. Mr.. Kelley made
quite long address, saying 1--WE are
all farmers" and smany other things
that the republicans now feel forced to
say in order to taffy the alliance .ele-
ment. The reports of committee Oh
order of business and resolutions were
made and accepted AS the Tribune SO
tru:hfully stated, the set of resolutions
lis asLulu." AS to the resolutions
being republican they are nothing of
the kind; but simply a mixture Of the
democratic, alliance, greenback and
union labor platforms of the past and
present. They were set up . and
arranged to fool the people, but their
Inconsistency with the past ehistory of
the republican party only shows that
that party is scared, ratified, unsettled
by the uprising of the oppressed farm
ers and laborers, and hope to get few
of their votes with an omnibus set OF
resolutions stolen from the alliance
and democratic platforms.
A SET OF INCONSISTENCIES.
| The platform opens wi h long winded lauda-
ton of the republican party the only party of
principles ready to change its policy when such
change is demanded. 1t favors the free and
unlimited coinage OF silver and commends tue
recently enacted law 1t calls for the repeal OF the
national banking law longer needful anu
favors the issue of full legal tender notes in such
amounts as may be necessary for business OF the
1--WE favor such adjustment and deduction OF
tariff schedules as shall best subserve the varied
interests of great nation, keeping in view as a
matter of the first importance the prosperity OF
agriculture, oNr greatest Industry; SO adjusting the
to the ample products of our soil. And IN view OF
the steady shrnkage in the value OF such staples we
faver such reduction OF duties as shall, without
crippling our industries, cheaper the products OF
| factory and shop in ratio with cheapened farm
| products"
| The platform fsather conmends President Har-
rison's administration and goes into ecstacies over
Secretary Blans reciprocity policy 1t says oi the
| southern issue: 1--WE also recognize the growth OF
| the mutual interests of the western and southern
OF this union and believe that the policy
| suggested by Senat tor John j. Ipgals looking to
closer relations between these great sections OF our
country is wise and timely and should be upheld
and encouraged regardless of past political differ
ences."
The platform next calls for antitrust legislation
of the strictest kind and for laws TO prevent all
dealing Ill OF every KIM vi the railroad
question the platform says: without seeking to
cripple the goat transportation lines of the country
we nevertheless demand that all charges for trans
portatiOn of food products be reduced to such a
basis will pay reasonable rate OF interest upon
the capital actually invested in such lines, but
more. We demand of congress stringent legislation
for the regulat6bn of freight charges upon all inter
state tratic and providing for the prompt and
vigorous enforcement OF all DEGREES OF the inter-
state commerce commiss6N and such legislation as
will prevent the watering of the stock o raLroads
and other corporate companies
.loHo of
also permitting complete state control the liquor
trathc. notionaI bankruptcy law is called for.
Irrigation is declared of vital importance to
Kansas. The usual ''fair count" plan ksis followed
by one indOrsing Speaker Regis house rules. The
house of representatives is asked pass the senate
bill for u deep harbor ON the coast OF Texas. The
eighteenth plank declares: I'VE hereby absolve
the nominee OF this conNentlon irom the dictaiIon
of party caucus upon all economic issues. The
platform cluses with general Endorsement OF repub
lican officials, state and national especially Mr..
Peters.
After adopting the above, the con-
vention adjourned to o'clock.
The evening session opened with the
placing of candidates in nominstioEb
The candidates were: Col. Lewis, d
reconstructionist; C.GJ. Jones, of ''buf-
falo" fame; Capt. j. NJ. Johnson, OF
Kearney county; c. A. Swensson, OF
lJ Mcpherson; w. c. Edwards, the Paw
nee brave; John w. Jones, of Reno
who was announced as Il man WhG
: would not be oprohibitiosist i'll ene
locality and resubmisslonist IL
another locality" Col. j. Il. HaIlowell
Judge Theo. Botkin, the boozy, and
Thomas a. Hubbard, the pension com
missioner. Each speaker took pdrtic
ular pains to tell how his candidate
4 stood towards the old soldiers, ho@
: hard he fought for the suppression
OF the rebellion, and how hare
S he would fight, If slected, for pensions
e in cases where the candidate
S was not old aenouA to take part in tn.