Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-11-27
Why This Suspicion?

There probably never existed another
political party which openly distrusted
its own membership to such an extent
as do the leaders and managers of the
peoples party. Before the election
they were afraid 10 permit their MEM
bers to attend the meetings of other
parties lest some of them should prose-
Iyte. On the day of election, in many
of the precincts they marched them up
to the polls in body and permitted no
one to converse with them until their
ballots were safely deposited. In
number of the precincts they had their
members go to the polls and deposit an
open ballot that the brethren might see
that they were not being sold out by
each other. No sooner was the cleo
ton over than Chairman Chase began
to CRY ''fraud!" and we are informed
that he sent telegram to the leaders
of his party in each county, advising
them to keep strict watch over the
count of the votes, lest Mr.. Willis
should be slain in the house of his
friends. Notwithstanding the entire
election machinery of The greater num-
Der of the precincts throughout the
state was in the hands of peoples
party officials, yet Mr.. Chase for ten
DAYS after every sensible man in the
state had conceded the election of Mr..
Humphrey, kept up cry that Willis
was surely elected, and limited that
somebody was going to try and count
him out. And this was done although
neither Mr.. Chase nor any other men,
Der of his party could or did point to a
single specific instance in which they
suspected any one of wrong act.
Since the election the leaders and
the newspapers of that party are in
mortal dread that some of the repre-
sentatives whom they have sent to the
legislature are about to sell out their
party and cast their ballots for "black
republican, for United States senator
From one end of the state to the other
we hear the cry that Mr.. ingalls, is
going to buy some of u.s." The alb
sorbing question seems to be "how
can we keep from selling Ourselves?"
Under the influence of democratic
newspapers which are continually
urging this feeling of suspicion, they
have thrown doubt upon the integrity
of their own representatives. And now
to cap the entire climax of suspicion,
we are informed that the Supreme
Grand Council of the party has directed
that the organization in each county
send at least "two good and true men"
down to Topeka in January next,
there to remain until United States
senator is elected, whose duty it shall
especially be to watch their respective
representatives and see that the great
republican rascals do not, like troup
of Patagonian giants, rush in upon
these poor weak brethren and carry
them over into the republican camp.
The expenses of these ''good and true"
spies are to be paid by an assessment
upon the members of the alliance.
Of course, this is not our funeral,
but we cannot for our lives see why
these political brethren should be so
Internally suspicious of each other.
Why this great necessity for spies?
Why all this fear and trembling?
Why this doubt about the party fealty
of these gentlemen who have been
elected to such a high and honorable
position? Is it certain that these re-
representatives. are going to submit to
this espionage without protest? Are
thew slaves that they must have mas
ter? We have known Mr.. II. G. Har-
vey for long time. We know him to
be an upright, honorable gentleman.
We believe he will cast his ballot for
the man who he thinks will best repre-
sent the interests of the state of Kan
sas in the United States senate. And
we do not believe that Mr.. Harvey
will be Influenced in the least by "two
good and true men" whom the party
may send from this county to dog his
footsteps, lest he should do something
wicked. But we do believe that
Mr.. Harvey, and every other honest
man will tell these meddlesome gentle
men that he was elected to represent
his district in the legislature and that
the best thing that these true and
good men" can do will beto 60 back
home and attend to their own business.
1 Has anvona hazard of any thing aWful bap-