Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-10-11
THE DEMOCRATIC POSITION.

bAlS JOd1 VI tCInpOOSOOUo kJO4AbACS 10 q |
peculiar one, and one not often met |
with In the history of the democratic
party.
They have the satisfaction of know
ing that the country at large is in the
hands of safe men; that their party has
been endorsed at the last national
election by an overwhelming vote Of
the loyal men of the union. While the
legislation in the last congress was not
fully up to the expectations of western
democrats, owing solely to the mer-
cenary tendencies of a feW-very few
of the eastern democratic representa-
tiyes of the party who saw fit to join
with the republicans to prevent needed
legislation, it is daily becoming recog-
niZed by the great masses that what
legislation the democrats did give US
was in the right direction and will
prove of lasting benef to the country.
Therefore Kansas democrats need not
borrow any trouble over the situation
of national affairs. They are working
out all right.
AS concerns state affairs, the
democrats are in an independent posi-
tion, as it were. The populists, two
years ago, refused to JON forces with
the democrats; and the democrats-ln
order to teach the oVerDearlng and
over confident republicans lasting les
son in politicS-saW lit to remain out
of the arena as all independent party
and throw their strength with the pop
uliSts, with the first and prime object
of throwing Kansas out Of the republi-
can column in the national election,
and the second, but at the same time
important object, of securing anti
1fefi
branches of congress. Each of these
objects were attained, and instead of
Kansas giving her solid electoral vote
for the republican nominees. she gave
none; instead of her having solid del
egation in both branches of congress
she had but two congressman, while
the democrats sent one congressman
Col. Moore-and one senator Or-Hon.
John Martin-from state that never
before had been represented by dem
ocrat. To this result no democrat with
speck of party loyalty and love of his
country can take exceptions.
The pOpulist party, Or at least many
members of that party, grew big
headed and pig-headed, and this year
decide that it could get along without
the assistance OF democratic votes so
far as state affairs are concerned, and
proceeded to nominate a ticket and
place it's candidates on platform that
the democrats could not support and
endorse, making it necessary, as a
matter of party protection and political
honesty, for the democrats to nominate
d ticket and adopt platform that
should be an honor to the party and the
state. This they have done, and they
have every inducement to stand by
that ticket and on that platform,
regardless of whether it elects or de-
feats either of the opposing tickets.
Thousands of democrats who two
years ago voted for the populist candi-
| dates will this year vote for the demo-
cratic candidates. They know they
owe the populists nothing; that the
debt is on the other side; that if the
populists are as sincere this year in the
desire to defeat republicanism as the
democrats were two years ago they
the populists will vote for the demo
cratic candidates and thus even the
score.
| In some of the congressional districts
| the populist leaders are showing little
more political sagacity, and where
there are more democrats than there
are pOpulists in the district they will
support the democratic candidates in
order to send anti republicans to con-
| greSS. In this, the seventh district,
| the pOpulists Out-number the demo-
Gratis possibly two to one, and the dem
Ocrats Willie out of 20 of them-sup-
port Hon. Jerry Simpson. They have
no reason in the world to prefer a
republican to Jerry Simpson, because
on all matters of Importance that come
up in the national congress he votes
with the western democrats and thus
aids in bringing about the legislation
we are fighting for. In his speeches
he talks tariff reform, free silver, fOI
the income taX-in fact makes good
| democratic arguments that are endors-
ed by his people without reserve. The
democrats of the seventh district will
therefore once more aid in returning
Jerry Simpson to congress and honor
themselves and the district thereby
In Barton county affairs the demo
Gratis have also taken middle course.
They have ticket composed of compe-
tent, honorable men and are justified
in the belief that such ticket will meet
| with the approval of the entire demo
cratic vote, and also win to its support
many populists and republicans who
believe in putting the most capable and
trustworthy men in the county offices.
The populists met early and blunder-
ingly placed in the field the weakest
ticket ever nominated in the county.
The republicans followed suit" with
no better sshand, - while the democrats