Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-01-22
GOSSIP FROM THE CAPITAL.
BADLY MIXED SITUATION ON
THE SENATORIAL QUESTION.
How the Alliance Ring Works-Re-
publicans to the Rear and Union
Laborites and Democrats to the
Front-The Caucus a Big Factor
in the Proceedings.
Special REFLECTOR Correspondence.

Il
is one of disappointment, little as was
expected of the gathering. The
preaching which was INDUCED in dur
ing the campaign and the assumption
of purity and reform which the leaders
put on indicated that something would
be done that was worthy of praise, but
thus far the part taken III the proceed
ings has been disgraceful scrambling
for spOils and constant quarreling
and blcketing over Offices such has
never before been seen III the Sunflower
state.
The McGrath scandal in which the
president OF the alliance is so deeply
implicated is by no means dismissed,
even though eOpiOu5 coat of white
wash has been swabbed over the presi-
dent in pursuance of trade in last
nights caucus. McGrath has been
Swallowed by detectives regularly ever
since his famous correspondence was
discovered and, although for the pres
ent he has received a title clear, his
future is somewhat clouded His
lavish expenditure of alliance funds is
causing him much trouble. 1t is
alleged shat the expenditures of the
state organization during the past four
months when he has been president
have been greater than during the en-
tire two years preceding. This will
be looked into later on when the sena-
torial fight and other schemes in which
the alliance members are hoping to get
some Doodle are disposed of.
The accomplishments of the two
houses have not thus far beer worth
mentioning. Beyond the deluge of
bills which has been heaped upon the
clerks desk in the house and the quiet,
waiting attitude of the senate. nothing
has been done. The house had its first
argument over bribery bill which it
seemed to be in hurry about passing
for tear some of its members would
get away. The system of espionage
under which the half-scaredto-death
farmers are put by the old hacks, Elder,
PETER, Van Burep Prather, Willis, ct
al, is something ridiculous and yet
pathetic. 1t is safe to say that could
the people OF the state see with their
own eyes the state of affairs there never
would be another peoples party man
elected to Office.
The senatorial situation is as clear as
it was on the day after election. 1t is
generally thought that Willis, Rice
and DUster are now thoroughly laid on
the shelf. In his office on the third
floor of the Crawford building Judge
PETER has kept open house since the
| legislature convened. Almost any
time one drops around the judge will
be found the center Of little cOterie
of admiring alliance members. His
friends are claiming for him ID votes
on the first ballot in the caucus. 1t is
probable that that is an over estimate.
1t is doubtful if he will ever have that
many. Speaker Elder, who is being
called the Moses of the party, is a
shrewd manipulation and something
may be expected to drop in his neigh
borhoOd.
The senate has been busy preparing
for vote on the codifying committees
report making far more speed than the
house.
Representative Sem has made his
rich German dialect heard in repre-
sentative hall several times but Mr..
Harvey has been mostly content to look
on and listen.
There seems to be a general effort to
give everything that ! good to the
union laborites and for that reason
former republicans ale left out IL he
cold. This is seen in Dickinson
county's delegation. Sem, a har-
dened democrat and union labor ranter,
has been given a dozen committee
places, while Harvey, much his super
Tor in int igence and familiarity with
public affairs, is put off with nothing
but place on the committee on ''Po-
itical Status of Women" and other
good for nothing positions and it seems
certain that the peoples party ring is
determined 20 infiict upon Kansas a
United States senator for whom during
the next six rears the intelligent men
of the state will have to blush.
The result of last nights caucus in
making Snow the unanimous choice of
the 81 alliance members and, his cleo
ton today was the first indication of
how strong the gl.p and password fra
ternity held lis members. The caucus
was conducted v tn all the secrecy that
the usual school house sub-alliance
employs and was a striking picture of
the influence of the secret society in
politics. There is considerable specu-
latien over the effect the action will
have on the election of senator. In
the first place it lessons Elders chances
as he comes from the same place as
Snow, Ottawa; then it indicates that a
caucus will be held to decide on sena-
TOR and a caueus of all the alliance