The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-08-21

/ lined clouds of our beloved city's horizon
! hope cast her Illuminated bow of promis
| aud assurance still not in time to save hi
| women auditors from showing what thel
| could do on the water question when il
came to wading from the sidewalks to the
street cars.
DAN PIERCE OF BARBER.
The Democratic Commissioner at the Head of s
Formidaie Bolt Against Simpson.
Among the visitors at the reunion
grounds during the past week was Dan
Pierce Of Lake City, president of the board
of county commissioners of Barber coun-
ty. "Uncle Dan" as he is Familiarity call
ed is one Of the most conspicuous figures
n the politics of Barber county, having
always been one of the leaders of the Dem
ocratic party there tor the past eighteen
or twenty years. He requires no certifl-
cate from anybody to prove his Democracy
for it is written in his every action, He is
a blunt ont spoken old gentleman and he
viii say what he wants 10 say even il the
heavens threaten to fall. "Uncle Dan" was
on his way homefrom the Democratic con-
vention that Endorsed Jerry Simpson at
Dodge City, being there for the purpose of
protesting against indorsing the sockless
statesman in the name of the old line
Democracy of Barber county. He, with
other old fighters in the ranks, made
eloquent arguments against Endorsement
but, as he says himself. there were too
many pothouse Democrats against me,
who have not been in the state
long enough to know what
it has cost the Democrats OF Kansas to
build up a party" The old veteran GER
tainIy looked the very picture of sadness
as he reflected on the efforts of twenty
years in building up party of his choice
only to see it controlled by some striplings
of dudish youths and given away to a
party which he plainly states is danger
ously uncertain. OF course he will not
vote for jerry; he couldn't do it even if
he held his nose while going TO the ballot
box. He seems not to have anything very
personal against Simpson, his grievance is
against the party he represents. He knows
the organization and its details of the
Peoples party ana he considers it a men
ace to the country and entirely at variance
with the spirit of American institutions.
He saws the Alliance is nothing more nor
less than a secret oath-bound political or
ganization for which there is no room in
this country and least of all near the Dem
ocratic party He thinks it necessary, per-
haps, to have social organizations bound
by an oath, but they are private institu-
tions while a political organization directly
interests all the people and should
ha apralana1 1ookaH
in the secrecy of an oath
Mr.. Pierce knows what he is
talking about, for he has had dealings
with the Alliance which naturally would
lead him to investigate the workings OF
the organization. He was on two occa-
sions the victim of the cruel rulings of
Alliance Judge Mckee when the judge
was trying to demonstrate that he had the
power vested in him to override the rul.
ings of the supreme court OF the state. The
fact OF the matter is Judge Mckee, or
Mckay, whichever name he bears, sent
Uncle Dan to Jail for doing something
which he Judge Mex said was not legal
to be done, but which the supreme court
declared was absolutely constitutional,
t8dI Tl8ub. nc CIRCUMSTANCES SttO
about as follows: Many years ago Barber
county was poor ana could not build rs
many bridges as the people needed. The
was that many bridges had
to built by the townships and by sub
scription. When the time came that tho
county could afford To buy these bridges it
was the overwhelming sentiment that il
should he done, but the commission
e-s were powerless. Through the
Alliance representative-Mr. Hickok-a
bill was passed by the last legislature,
which was overwhelmingly ALI ance, en-
abling the commissioners to buy the
bridge referred to. Accordingly the COM
missioners set about buying bridges on the
installment plan, as they could afford it, land
first thing they knew handful of Judge
McKay,s Alliance supporters prevailed on
him to issue an order restraining the COM
nissioners from buying the bridges. The
matter was taken to the supreme court
where the position of the commissioners
was sustained, aud the law authorizing
the purchase of the bridges declared per-
fectly cons titutional. Acting in accord
ance with the decision of the supreme
court, the commissioners bought three
bridges, and again Judge Mckay enjoined
hem on precisely the same grounds that
ne had given before, and which were not
sustained by the supreme court. Still
acting under the decision of the supreme
court, the commissioners bought the
bridges and Dan Pierce as chairman issued
The scrip for which he was thrown into Jail
oy the agricultural district judge. Other
=.
still the persecution went on with Judge
Mckay the chief inquIsitor. Mr.. Pierce is
IN old gray haired man who is rapidly
travelling down the decline of lite and had
1 not been for the kindness of a Repub-
lean sheriff in looking after his comfort
while in jail the effects of his incarceration
might have terminated seriously. Here
vas picture for you. An old Democrat
md an honored citizen with a connection
If twenty years with the interests OF the
county thrown into a common Jail like a
log by man who had jumped from the
milking stool into the bench in few
weeks with no experience in the law;
Republican whom this old Democrat
lad fought politically for ten
ears in the county forgiying and
,itying the old gentleman, whose
hairs are white, and ministering TO mis-
comfort mora like comrade in faith than
political enemy. Aud still the Demo
rats of Barber county are asked 10 swal
ow this insult to one of their old leaders
~ voting for a member of this new and
tranCe and incomprehensible household.
# which Judge Mckay is the next in
ank 10 the man whom they are asked to
-ote Tor. Uncle Dan Pierce naturally
links that tue arrogance OF the Alliance
5 only exceeded By the craven and hui
initiating surrender OF what be considers