Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-10-13
"KIOKERs" CONVENTION.

the fact that convention or conference
of sstalwart democrats" of Kansas was
called to meet in Topeka on Oct. 7th,
and there were some democratic papers
also which took up the 'kickers' cause,
the Kansas City Times showing it's
Missouri influence, under its new re-
publican management, upon its Kansas
rea ders.
In the latter part of September some
40 odd democrats held a star chamber
meeting, and decided to issue the call
and work up an attendance.
For reasons plain enough for blind
man to read, the Santa Fe road was
made party to the scheme, in so far
that tickets, or passes, were issued to
all democrats who would attend the
conference. 1t was stated by the man
ayers of the affair-who were princi-
pally railroad attorneys or appointees
under Humphrey, the republican gov
ernOr-that an immense crowd of dis
satisfied democrats would assemble on
the day fixed, the test of allegience be-
ing. that any democrat who would
pledge himself to work for the defeat
of the peoples party state ticket would
be entitled to a seat in the convention.
ODesiring to see just how many
democrats there were in Kansas
who were willing to lend them
selves to the scheme, and having
business in Topka on matters pertain
ing to this Office, the editor of the
DEMOCRAT concluded to take in the
what appeared to us-republican side
show.
! What we found was this: The meet
ing was called to be held at 10 a. M, in
Representative Hall. At the hour we
took position in the gallery-not be-
ing willing to make the required pledge
in order to get a badge or ticket of
admission to the ground foor-and
observed the opening OF the ''kick."
| At 10 o'clock there were about $50
labeled democrats in the hall. Rail
Road Commissioner Mitchell, an ap,
pointee of Governor Humphrey, after
sizing up the Immense thrcng" con-
cluded that he had better wait while
in hopes of more delegates coming in
so he announced that the meeting
would not be called to order until 1880
at 11:45 Mitchell, Humphreys ap
pointee, called the convention to order.
and Mitchell read the call. At this
time we counted the people on the floor
of the convention hall and found there
! Just 2D6. In the afternoon others strag
! gled in, until there were possibly ESQ tt
3OO-counting Bill Higgins, Bill Sterne
and half a dozen other republican state
house officials.
| A. A. Harris, Of Fort Scott, noted
railroad attorney, was introduced as
temporary chairman. He made quite
a lengthy address, calling the demo
Gratis of the state who held the conven
ton on July 9Th all sorts of unpleasant
names, and telling his hearers wha
they ought to do to defeat the peoples
party nominees, and elect the ropubli
can ticket.
Committees were appointed for thu
, permanent organization and an ad
; journment taken to 2:30 p. m.
After dinner the boys gathered il
again. Harris made a number of state
ments as to the object of the meeting
that clearly demonstrated what he wa
} there for. He at one time stated tha
he was willing to go with the republi
can party in order to defeat the people
party, whom he called anarchists, re
pudiators, etc., showing that he was al
apt scholar and had already imbibe(
very freely of republicanism. One dele
Igate offered a resolution to the effec
that the convention nominate a full
state ticket and give democrats some
thing to vote for, but Harris ruled tn,
resolution out of order.
The order of business called for th,
organization of new central committee
when one delegate from the 5th con
gressional district wanted to know i
it "was the intention to organize ;
central committee of kickers, as agains
the regularly organized and only lega
, committeep'' His question was no
, answered, and the kickers committe,
, was organized. d. NJ. Bell of Ric
: county being named as committeeman
, for this, the 35th district.
: A set Of resolutions were adopted
f and also manifesto" both of whic
! set forth the contempt of the delegate
> assembled for the action of the stat
convention of July 9Th, ''absolved
? them from any allegience to that COZ
8 ventiou, and virtually pledging th
{ kickers' support to the republican party
3 The address and resolutions will b
t printed in every republican paper in tn
f state, and quoted from by every jacf
/ leg republican stump speaker in th
z campaign. That is what they are fo
t Charlie Holiday, in a ringing az
2 dress, offered resolution to place
q nomination full state ticket; and W.
; supported in his plan by several sta
k wart young democrats; but the thin
| not For 10 dociro of RI