The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-05-07


We have received large number Of in
d.gnant letters from comrades in KaEzas and
elsewhere regarding a resolution eaia to have
been passed a. a convention OF editors ofso-
called Rc.orm" papers Of Kansas, held in
Hutchinson, Feb. p, ard presided over by
Senator Peter. The resolution, which FIRST
appeared, accompanied 10y a singing de-
mandatory editorial, in lhe Hutchinson Ia
terror Herald, leads:
Ereo'gaF. That we condemn the organization
known as iha Grand Army OF the RepUh' g or
gaHizCa Tor Tie purpose of uTeying upon the
United States Treasury. and thereby Glohiug from
TIE people, "a tho form Of pensions, money not
their due. we also condc;ua tire membership oi
said Organization i.r pressing uron "fa demand
ing 81 thc people the right 60 bold Office and bc
recognized active factor ia tlio roiucs oi the
country. The riglB 60 vote we do moi question;
but ueir ALT 10 dictate OF suggest po..tcl aciion
md political party we den0uucc, and We. the
Representatives Of Tie reform thliianc'l press DO
hereby pledge curse Ives resist such presumption
on the part generally Of the Cx-Unon soldier, but
especially q the Grand Army Of the Republic.
When ihiswas firstsent tous. Immediately
after its publication by the Interior Herald,
the so-c2l!od Reform" papers were yigoT-
ously denying that il had ever been adopted
or even considered, but a resolution reading
quite differently, and we were inclined TO
accept their denial, for it seemed impossible
that anybody, much less editors OF public
journals Ia the great soldier-State Of Kan
sas, would 90 stupidity, waBtonly, and fool
ishIy olier such an insult TO the men who
saved the country. a meaner, more malig-
nant insult could not originate in one Of the
"pO' white" Counties Of South Carolina, let
alone in State which was pcopled and
raised to greatness in a decade by the men
VINO were mustered out Of the Union army
in 1865.
But no matter what we thought possible,
and in spite Of the savage den.als Of the So
called Gciormers," the evidence is bocom-
ing disagsceably conclusive that just such
resolution was actually passed, without dis
sent or protest by anyone
John A. Logan Pest, Of salina, Kan, sent
Dr. c. W Stowe, conrade Of the Post, who
Is also a Democrat with Alliance lcanings, 10
Hutchinson as committee to probe the
matter to the bottom. lie performed his
duty intelligeHtly, and bis report to his Post
is published in the Salina SIM.
lie says that be oonyersed with several
reputable ciiiz ms Of Hutchinson who were
present at the meeting, and they all agree
that the resolution, as given above, was sub
stantially the one passed, though they
differed somewhat as 10 its exact verb.age
lie accompanied his report with certificates
10 this effect from J. NJ. Anderson, Treasurer
Of Reno County; A. L. Sponsler, editor Of
the 77mes-RpuJlic1a; Il. A. Campbell,
Mayor-elect o! Hutchinson and Past Com
mander Of tie Post at that place; and L. ].
MoHs, Clerk Of Reno County and Com
mandcr Of the Post at Hutchinson.
Comrode Stone was fortunate enough to
secure the original shorthand report OF the
( proceedings Of the meeting. This lie sub
mittcd 10 the District Court stcnogapher
for transcription. Hon T. T. Carver, OF
/ Salina also transcribed it independently,
aud in IL the resolution reads as follows:
4 Refolred, That we condemn tie organization
1 known a. thc Grand Army Of the Republic, organ
/ izec for the purpose 81 preyiug upon Tie United
states Treasury. and thereby Glching from the
4 people la tie form II pension money not their
/ due We also condemn the membership q said
! Organization Tor pressing upon aud demanding oi
/ ,Hc people the gil 10 think for ihrmstiEfs and
+ be recognized Rn active factor ia the politics
Of the country. The right TO vote we Do not ques-
ton. but their right 10 dictate suggest political
action political policy wc dcuouuce and we
lie representative 81 the reform press do hereby
pledge ourselves resist such prcsump iiun on the
pari jointly - tic eE- Union soldier but especially
81 the Grand Army Of the Republic.
NoTE-The foregoing differs in two single in
stances from tlc resolution previously published
Tie changes are ia tie black -face words, fol
lows: Think for themselves - was hold Office .
and Jointly" was generally" Not a malcria
change from "A Shorthand report, surely.
il will take an immense amount Of bette
explaining than the so-called Reform
editors have yet done 10 get away with thi
mass Of proof