Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-09-06
DEMOCRATS. BEWARE"

Thus does poor Joe Chapman of the
populist Topeka Press head long edi
torIal in which he begs for the demo
Gratis of Kansas to save him from the
impending destruction that inevitably
awaits him for his flop to the pOpulist
party. Those of us who know his sit
uation; how he has been wheedled and
coaxed, bull-doZed and coerced into
going back on the principles and the
party with which he has for so many
years worked; those of the democratic
editors Of Kansas who have in years
past labored side by side with Joe
Chapman, the democrat, will have
nothing but pity for the man who has
been betrayed into taking up the de-
fense of party which he knows in his
utmost soul will accomplish nothing as
party, and some Of the members of
which have aheady played the traitor
to him.
When, however, Mr. Chapman
charges the half hundred democratic
editors, who met in Topeka last week
to exchange views and arrange plans
for united effort in behalf of the un-
dying principles of true democracy,
with being there as ''schemers for the
aid of the republican state ticket" he
insults the manhood, the integrity, the
honesty of every one of them; and
writes himself as demagogue of the
worst character, ungrateful to his
friends and former cO-workers and un-
worthy of the further respect of those
who heretofore held him in high
esteem. When he makes such false
and unjust accusation in the hope of
bolstering up the falling hopes of the
party he has chosen, he forgets entire
ly the history of the democratic party
in the past in this state.
Are such we'll known democratic
editors as V. j. Lane, Warren Knause.
Ansel F. Hatten, w. A. Eaton, L. j.
Highley, John E. Watrous, j. S. Padg-
ett, J. b. Kessler, Frank Webster, and
the forty other tireless, determined,
loyal democratic wheel horses who
were present and took part in formula
ting the democratic address Mr.. Chap
man assumes to warn democrats
against, to be called republican aid
society" because they still persist in
remaining loyal to their party by sup
porting the action Of that party in con-
vention?
Two years ago, in 1892, the demo
Gratis of Kansas met in convention and
nominated a ticket that these same
democratic editors loyalty supported
and helped to elect, and no man was
so pronounced against the few demo
Gratis who refused to stand Loyalty by
the action of that convention as was j
! B. Chapman-th a democrat. Yet
he is today begging, pleading, implor
| ing the TRUE democrats of Kansas to
do the very thing he and they two years
| ago justly condemned. He begs the
working democrats of Kansas to bolt
| to turn traitor, to desert the cause of
| Justice and right and play "populist
reserve" for the sole and only purpose
of keeping the republicans out of office
and the populists in.
No sir, mister turn-coat, the demo
cratic editors of Kansas are not play
ing into the hands OF the republicans
nor the popuGsts. They are not
bushwhacking nor "sneaking behind
the pop. ranks to cut off their reserves .
The democratic editors voice the senti-
Inents Of the democratic voters when
they say they propose to stand Loyalty
by the democratic ticket; not for the
purpose of aiding the republicans OF
populists, but to elect if possible the
best ticket that was ever presented tC
the voters of the state.
The Lines of battle ARE drawn, D
and it is a triangular fight with nC
favors to be shown either enemy by
the democratic columns. If there be
bushwhacking, ''hamstringing," OF
treaehery to party principles it will not
be exhibited by the democratic forces.
The puny effort Of the Topeka Press
and few of the proposed democrats
who are holding Office by virtue of the
populist administration, to make il
appear as though a middle of the
road" populist was greater friend OF
the democracy than a middle of the
road'' republican have fallen fiat upon
the democrats generally, and they see
the necessity, the justice and the honor
in standing Loyalty by their organiZa-
ton whether they win or lose. and
/ without regard to whether it helps
either of the opposing parties.