Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-07-16

AS the time approaches for the selec-
tiOn by the secret order of a candidate
for judge of the Eighth judicial district
it becomes more apparent that the
successful man is not going to travel a
path strewn with roses. There are
already five candidates i'll the field
with one or two counties get to hear
from.
Hon. r. n. Smith who has been a
consistent member of the greeUback-
union labor farmers alliance indus
Observation-Disclosures Organiza-
ton from its beginning seems to be
regarded most favorably by the old
wbeelhorses who believe in rewarding
those who have borne the heat and
burden of the day. "Chinaman" Smith
of Council Grove has ushered himself
into the arena by making one or two
bOmbastic anarchistic-non-debt paying
speeches in which he took occasion to
demonstrate to his bearers that he Was
about the only man in this part of the
state who has been admitted to the bar
without any knowledge of law. The
''chinaman's record is a little smutty
and his appearance in the Empo!ia
court as a defendant in criminal
prosecution for forgery will probably
preclude him from the consideration Of
any except the truly anarchistic fac
tiOn of the party.
G, S. Crawford, of this city, who
was prominent republican candidate
for county attorney last fall joined the
citizens alliance about a month ago
II is understood that he had not
finished his obligation until his official
rod was duly elevated. He is brother
in-law to the News, and the News is a
kind of sister-in-law to the alliance.
This relationship ought to make Mr..
Crawford formidable candidate, bat
he is meeting with a great deal of
opposition on the ground that he is too
recent a convert, and the lurking sus
picion that he is an alliance man "for
revenue only" Old WheelhOrses like
Judge Smith and his friends regard
these June, 1891, cOnscripts very much
in the light of interlopers, and there
has already arisen much very scarlet
blood and promises, to be much more
should these revenue only" fellows
carry off the nomination. Il is reported
that Hon. NJ, b. Nicholson, of Council
Grove, has also decided that his
chances for holding On to the judicial
ermine another term would be greatly
enhanced if he should make at9nement
for all things which he did to and said
about the alliance last fall, by his
honOring the citizens alliance with his
membership. The farmers have not
forgotten his inOpportune candidacy
against their pet, W. f. Wrightmire,
but they might have forgiven him for
this offence if he had not afterward
added to the insult by boasting to a
Council Grove editor of the great good
he had done the state by defeating such
an ignoramus as Wrightmire for
chief justice. Many of the alliance
fellows have not and never will forgive
this offence and they tell him TO 60 to
- the democratic party where be
belongs.
There is also some talk of Mr.. George
Merrill of this city. 1t is not generally
known that Mr.. Merrill is a lawyer.
He has never been admitted or in any
way become identified with the bar in
this county. Whether he has ever been
admitted elsewhere Or not, or whether
there is any truth that he may be a
candidate for judicial honors we are at
this time unable to say.
The situation is very interesting and
whatever the outcome may be, it is
likely to bring the judicial ermine
down into the same political mire with
the rest of the offices.
TEMPEST TOSSED