Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-11-12
THE BATTLE. AND IT'S LESSONS.

been one of the hottest contested our
county has known for many a year.
While there was not much speaking or
raliying or gathering of forces, there
was greater individual effort made
than is usual.
The democratic candidates went into
the field late. had but about month
in which to make the canvas; repubii-
cans had more time, and the peoples
party men had still longer time to
hustle for support. 2
And the result is what?
Take the vote on the candidates for
the first four offices. The republicans
have an average on the four of 1919
votes; democrats 935, and peoples 832;
giving the republicans 81 votes more
than the democrats, and the democrats
lO3 votes more than the peoples.
Now take the vote cast for the repub-
lican candidates, Bosse and Spencer, in
Lakin tOwnship-which all know is
democratic by at least 15O-and you
will easily see lthat democratic votes
elected them Then examine the vote
in Albion, Grant, Liberty and Walnut
and you will see that Typer was elected
also by democratic votes Then how
can republicans claim any victory?
They cannot justly do so.
1t was our belief all along that the
democrats had sufficient strength to win
every man on our ticket, and we would
have done so had every democrat voted
for his principle. There we're, we re-
gret to say, in some localities, demo-
Gratis who thought there was no show
for all our men; and those democrats
were worked upon by the republican
schemers and were taken in most beau
tifully.
But mark this, they have learned a
lesson thereby.
Examine the vote on the republican
candidates for representative, probate
Judge. county attorney and superin-
tendent in 1890 the four county offices
on which there was a three cornered
tirht-and their average vote is S79.
sub;racted from their average vote OF
this wears 935 leaves them a ga n If So
votes, just about the resubmissiOn vote
of last wear which they lost, and which
the democrat candidates of this year
did not get. Again what have they to
crow Over?.
AS to the result all over the state: In
two counties where the third party
ticket was elected the democrats joined
with the peoples on the county candi-
. dates; in one other county where the
peoples were successful, the democrats
made no nominations and left the fight
between the peoples and republicans;
and in most other counties the demo-
Gratis put tickets in the field and held
the democratic vote true to the princi-
pies of democracy.
Is there not q lesson to the third
party men in these facts? Can they
not see that, by the course pursued Sy
the leaders in that party, the forces of
the opposition to all the iniquites of re-
publicanism have been divided and
that the enemy has been success
full in scoring partial victory in the
state generally?
If the peoples party men are earnest
in their expressed desire to secure re-
duction of the tariff, an increase of the
circulating medium, an abolishment of
all class legislation and a thrOttling of
that gigantic octopus, monopoly; if they
are firm in their purpose to bring about
desired legislation for the good of, and
lu justice to, ALL American people
without discrimination or favor, why
will they permit themselves to he
switched off upon some side issue; tO
adopt new and untried schemes, and to
pledge themselves to the most gigantic
scheme of class legislation ever sug-
gested by any people?
Look at the situation squarely and
inteiiigently and decide whether you
will still persist in dividing the strengt h
of oppressed labor on unpopular issues
ami thus permitting the mOnOpo y
party to continue its robbery.
The great fight Of 1892 will be tie
deciding battle between capital and
labor; between the manufacturing and
monied east, and the agricultural ard
borrowing west and south.
Study the situation well, and decide
with which class you will find it TO yO,il
interest to Cast your lot; and when you
have decided where your interests lie
then pursue course which will
strengthen, not diyide, your forces. II
you, the farmers and working men oi
the west and south, decide well you
will decide to join the determined
and uncompromising forces of the
party which has long struggled for tht
popular good. If you decide. pnwisel,
you will join the new party which i.
led by men whose ambition is sel6si
and not cosmopolitan, whose theorie:
are not water tight, and whose leader
ship has already proven disastrous.