Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1891-02-04
Tow If was Done.

before the pubic, but he has friends
who were interested in his efforts tose-
cure the Office of state printer. and he
feels that it is due them to state how
the race was made and lost.
We made personal appeal TO nearly
every alliance member of the legisla-
ture. Many of them said they were
for the best man." and had not found
anyone with better claims. Some had
personal friends, who were candidates.
Some were suspicious, and thought we
were not all right because Mr.. Simp-
son was opposed to US. OF course we
did what we could TO explain the obi
CATION Mr. Simpson sustained toward
Air. kies, but in many cases we could
see that the explanation was not salts
factory. Other members Informed us
that they had been assured that we had
election They refused TO give the
name of their informant, and we are
OF the opinion that we lost at least two
friends on account of this falsehood.
Yet we had a good backing in south
west Kansas, and were assured of the
second choice of many members from
other parts of the state.
Knowing that Speaker Elder and E.
II Snow were at war, we visited Mr..
Elder, and he vowed by the most sol
emn oaths that he would fight Snow TO
the death-that if Snow received the
nomination for printer, it would be over
Elders dead body. and that he would
resign as speaker before he would see
Snow nominated, etc. We were sure
of the friendship of President McGrath,
and we felt assured that If Elder
fought Snow, he would be compelled to
support. us, as we felt assured there
was only one man in the race who was
stronger, and that was Mr.. Snow. En-
der could not consistently vote for Kies
or McLallin. While the matter
stood thus we had no fear as to the re-
suit.
But Mr.. Snow found that he had to
break down Elders opposition to him,
or he would be left. He sent word to
Ottawa, and the whole county seemed
to respond. They came in drOves, and
all made assaults upon Elder. They
coaXed and buffed and bull-dozed him
till he laid down his hand. This was
on the 18th, one day before the caucus.
This took our principal strength and
transferred it to our strongest oppon-
ent. AS soon as Elder gave up the
fight we also gave il up, though not
withdrawing from the race. On Mon
day the day set for the caucus, the COM
mittee to investigate the Turner letter
met and summoned Mr.. McGrath to
appear. He was closeted with the
committee till night, and thus we were
deprived of what help he could and
would have given US. We were repeat
eddy warned that all forces ought to
unite against Snow, but up till Sunday
night we were satisfied that we were in
the lead, with Snow second; and after
Sunday night, when Elder went over to
Snow, we knew there was no combina-
ton that could beat him. On Monday
Kies threw his strength to Snow, with
the understanding that Snow would
take care of him.
When Mir. Elder laid down the fight
on Snow he virtually surrendered all
hope of the nomination for United
States senator. He was the first choice
of number Of members, and was Sec
ond choice of half the remainder.
There were some who had no choice,
but were waiting for circumstances to
develop a leader. Had Elder grasped
the situation, and vigorously fought
down all opposition, it would have ex-
hlbited his nerve and his following, and
the doubtful ones would immediately
have come to him.
We have been we'll repaid for our
trip. We made an honest and clean
canvass. We told no falsehood; we
made no attempt to conceal any truth;
we spent no money in buyiny cigars OF
any refreshments for any person. The
office will not be worth tenth part of
what it has heretofore paid. The state
will buy an office, and put the printer
on salary. 1t is doubtful whether
the salary will be oyer 50, 500 per year.
for two years. He will have to give a
big bond, and be responsible for nearly
hundred men working under him.
Looking at the matter from this stand
point, and remembering the financial
sacrifice we would have to make, in or
der to leave here, and remembering
that Topeka is not as healthy as Medl-
cine Lodge, we feel that we have not
lost anything,
Born-At Hazelton. January 25th. to