People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-11-25
WHERE ARE We At IN SUMNER
COUNTY?

NVUN1
1t is an interesting study to exam
inc the election returns of Sumner
county.
The first striking thing we notice Is
that there were 1888 more votes pOlled
this year than were ever pOlled before
IN the county.
Republicans are claiming that 1t
was caused by the influx of people
into the county and especially the
southern tier of townships, awaiting
the opening of the Strip and that this
alone saved the Peoples ticket. Let
us examine what the figures indi-
cate.
In 1888 the southern tier Of town.
ships cast a total of 1865 votes, pro-
portiOned as follows: Rep, S67: Dem.
535; U. L. 537; combined 1922; Pre-
hibition, 16.
In 1892 they cast total OF 2,lS8
votes, propOrtiOned as follows: Rep.
979; People and Dem. combined 1l15;
Prohib. 81. Republican gain, III.
Combined Peoples and Democratic
gain lO3: Prohibition gain IS.
z
Thus it will appear at once that )f
the increase in the southern tier of
townships the Republicans got the
best of it. Now as to the increase in
the county as whole.
In 1888 the total vote was 1923; of
these Harrison got $500; Cleveland
E|2,14O; Streeter 1891 and Fisk 81.
In 1890 the total vote was 6434, pro-
portiOned as follows: Rep. 2472, PeO-
pie, 1929, Dem. 1893. Owing to the
resubmiSSiOn movement which dis
turbed the vote on governor consider
able, we base this on the average vote
Of the balance Of the various state
tickets.
In 1892 the total vote was 1876, di-
yided as follows: Harrison, 1902;
Weaver, 1853; Bidwell, 135. The Re-
publican strength was practically the
same in 1892 as in 1888 but when COM
pared with the vote of 1890, where Re-
publicans were shown to have lost
very heavily and the opposition made
strong gains, which gains were more
than sustained in 1892, it will be read.
lily seen that they recuperated theiI
lost strength from the increased vote
pOlled rather than from changes made
among the voters of 1890 As furth-
er proof of this fact we cite that while
Jerry Simpson received only 345 more
votes in 1892, than in 1890, Chester l.
Long received 1913 more votes in 1885,
than HalloWell in 1890. This proves
cOnclusiyely that the Republicans
got the biggest part of the influx and
that without this influx they would
scarcely have been lin it,"
There is no question but that some
of this increase was brought about by
importation, by shifting of railway
employees and by the various methods
known to manipulatOrs. The ele-
mentS that would be likely to shift,
intimidate and import voters were
all on the side of the Republican par
ty. The railway companies were
openly and nOtOriously aiding the Re-
publicanS and the maSSing of strength
against Jerry Simpson was fearful to
contemplate. Notwithstanding this
his vote was increased in Sumner
county 345 votes and we have nc
doubt the Official vote will show a
prOpOrtiOnate increase in the entire
district.
The talk about the opening of the
Strip affecting the result of future
elections is pure speculation. We be-
lieye the departures from all partie:
will be a Stand-Off. If Republican:
can find any consolation in it how
ever, let them so deceive themselves
if they will,
The Peoples party that was going
to pieces so fast" has come out of thi.
contest stronger than ever. The com
bined opposition to the Republican
party is larger than ever before
There is no way of accurately finding
out the Democratic vote this year
but the best estimate we can make
Judging by the vote of 1890 compared
with the average vote of Chapman
Fletcher and Cleveland in 1892, vii
put it at 1000, more or less. Thi,
would leave clear POpuliSt gain Of
over 100. And this gain has beer
made in a presidential year when al
the forces that could possibly be mus
tered were centered on drawing ole
party lines. We are feeling very
comfortable, thank you, and in lS9t
will scoop the earth.