Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-09-02

the politician, which he is pure and SIM
ple, to get himself elected to his present
position. He promised everything on the
earth, and under it and above 1t to the
comrades if they would only elect him.
He promised the friends of his competitor
for the position that If that competitor
would only get out of the way. and give
him a clear field, that his competitor
should have the first fruits and honors OF
his administration. His competitor did
not accept Kelly's promises as he had no
use for Kelly or what he might give.
But Kelly was elected. and standing on
the opera house rostrum in the presence OF
the five hundred representatives OF the
Grand Army of Kansas. he promised that
he would, in so far as il was possible Tor
him to do so, attend every reunion and
camp fire in the state
Acting on this promise, the Baxter
Springs Reunion Association had right
10 expect that he would attend the reunion
this year; that the department commander
would certainly honor with his presence
the greatest reunion of old soldiers.
An invitation was sent him to attend the
reunion. He replied to the invitation
through the assistant adjutant general by
saving that if the association would pay
the expenses of the department commander
and assistant adjutant general who at
tended last year. and for the personal ex,
penses that had not yet been paid, and
would guarantee by telegraph that the ex,
penses this year would be paid, they would
come, otherwise they would not.
The editor of the REUNION DAILY News
heard of this letter and obtained it from
the officers of the association. We re-
parded it as an insult, not only to the OH
GERS of the association. but to all the
comrades at Camp Logan. We believed
that the comrades should know its con
tents and was given permission to publish
it. We did So The association refused
to nav the expenses of comrade who Il
their department commander and who !!
getting a salary of s4.oo a year. mo-
would they agree to pay the expenses O.
the adjutant general whom the comrade
of this state pay 81. 500 year salary tol
an average Of three hours a day labor a
adjutant.
Kelly was not expected and the reunion
was getting on swimmingly without him
But the DAILY News reached him at Tope
ka. or some friend wired him that he wa
in bad odor down here at Camp Logal
and he concluded that he had better come
and he did, putting in an appearance FRI
day morning. He came roaring I'm
earth around Camp Logan did not trembl
when he got on it. but Kelly did. He wa
mad all over
Yes. he was mad, and when he took thu
platform to make his usual old stereotype
hop scotch speech. that consists more i
dancing around on the platform than any
thing else, he was fairly foaming at tn
mouth.
He was especially furious at Oscar Nc
Dowell the DAILY News editor this veal
for letting daylight into the parsimoniou
littleness of the department commander
He called us liar, parasite, a scour
drel and other beautiful names, and &c
about ten minutes he let some daylight II
TO our character,that our old neighbors
twenty-five years standing in this count
were not aware Of Then, still smartini
he pitched into the association and score
the officials roundly for the manner
which they were conducting the reunion
while rs matter of fact he had not bee
ON the grounds half on hour and did NJ
know how the reunion was getting on.
Personally we are not giving cont
mental what Bernard Kelly says about
on the Camp Logan grounds. We hav
in an humble way. endeavored, so far
we could all these years, to do our shal
in making the comrades happy at the n
unions. We know than they have no III
kind words or thoughts for u.s. no matte
what Kelly says.
Department Commander. Mr.. kell,
made a complete ass of himself in h
visit to Camp Logan this year 1t woul
have been much better had he not con
at all after the letter that was sent to Il
association. and when he did come 1t wi
certainly unbecoming, occupying the pos
ton that he does, for him to disturb II
unitv of a soldiers reunion
We made no reply to Mr.. Kellys attar
on us from the platform for this very re-
son: 1t is not the place to settle person
disputes of old soldiers. =.
The association is not responsible II
what is said in these columns, and
have reserved what we had to say, her
S. o. MCDOWELL