Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1892-02-03
The Fight in Kansas.
From the K. C. Star.

from the Il. z. Star.
1t strikes practical people who do not
make politics trade that the two re-
publican committees of Kansas have
adopted the wrong policy in dealing
with the farmers alliance, or ''peoole's
party" as it leaders choose to call it.
There is really no cause for the boast
full "congratulatory addresses which
have been given to the press from vari-
Gus sources on an average of about once
a week since the recent county elections.
There was no great principle involved
IN these contests. They were only To-
cal, and the result does not justify such
waste of ink, paper and thought. The
fact that the republicans gained two
thirds, or three-fourths, or four-fifths,
or whatever the proportion may have
been, of the officers chosen in the IO6
counties of the state, is nothing to
boast of for party which has been ac-
custOmed to winning the entire list of
these officers, and that practically with
out opposition, for nearly a third of a
century, and which only three years
ago carried the state by a majority of
$1,000. And when it is considered that
the petty victories of the recent polling
were won only with the aid of votes
borrowed from the party's ancient enc
my, the democratic organization, there
is still less cause for jubilation.
Exultation and frequent proclama-
tlons cannot conceal the fact that the
magnificent vote polled by the republic
can party in 1888 has been frightfully
cut down by the alliance movement.
The Star admits that these people are
misguided. and 1t believes that their
success would be serious blow to the
prosperity of the state, but there is no
doubt that the rank and file are in
earnest. The republicans made a Wig
orOus, aggressive and determined can
vass this fall. They never before
had so many speakers in the field. The
school houses were lighted every night,
and the mails were burdened with liter
AZURE to counterfeit the teachings of the
alliance. Yet the alliance party stood
the assault and came out of the contest,
although technically defeated, numeri-
cally as strong as the year before, when
it fought it's first battle.
The result ought to be lesson enough
/ that the backsliders are not to be won
back to the old party by abuse OF ridi-
Guile. Such men as Plumb, Horton,
Morrill,, Peters, Osborn, and even In
gals, understand this and do not join
in the senseless hue and cry that mex
perienced or oyer jealous politicians
have raised against the new enemy.
These men, if they we're called into the
councils of the party, would advise
Cancellation.
But Cancellation alone will not bring
the wanderers back. There must be
reform not only in the administration
of the states affairs, but In the man
agement of the party. There must be a
new deal. The cry that the old crowd
must go is not an idle one. Too many
men are retained in the councils of the
party and given official recognition
who figure regularly in legislative scan
dals or other jobbery. These men are
known and recognized by the people
1t is not necessary to convict them of
crime and immune them in prison to
render them sJ jne eIv}IJt e political pre-
err all the stamps that they Is enough,
y. ever issued The bool trlcksters are
Ry money merely for the II by the next
on scented by its contents may look
for as great a disaster IN ~Tss5ea it met
with in $780,"