The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-02
LEAVES THE PARTY.

Bill Hackney Leaves the Republican,
says lie Will Vote with PopnILsts-
Chairman Breidenthal OF the Populist
state central committee today announces
the receipt of three letters from Cowley
county announcing the conversion of
prominent Republicans.
The news was given 70 Chairman
Breidenthai through DIR. I. j. Rude of
Burden, Cowley county, who was dele
gate t. the last Republican state con-
ventiOn.
DR.. Rude with his letter enclosed two
letters written by Col ". p. Hackney
one to 7. L Bond Of Salina and the other
to Dick Blue the Republican candidate
for congressman at large.
DR.. Rude said. "ln the late state
convention the Republican party declar-
for straddle that didn't mean anything,
and then to emphasize its want Of candOr
and good faith promptly nomina-
ted Morrill, and Blue. one
a willing tool and henchman of
that influence. one for governor and the
other congressman large After Nor
rill and Blues nomination on that plat
form, which declared for the coinage of
the American product L witness their
haste to rush TO Kansas City, Kansas, on
the 10th Of this month in order to de-
clare themselves, as they then and there
did. above and beyond that platform far
a continuation Of the Grover Cleveland
gold bug idea.
Il here and now notify you, and
through you your party, and all others as
we'll. that In this campaign SO far as l
am concerned, shall vote the Populist
ticket from head to heel, saving and ex-
cepting my right to vote for any personal
friend on the Republican ticket in this
county that shall be nominated"
The letter written by Col. Bill Hackney
to Dick Blue, was dated June Is, and up
to Saturday Hackney had not received an
answer. In this letter Col Hackney,
who was in the last Republican state
convention, was one of the most prOmi-
nent members Of the committee on plat
form, called attention to the speech made
by Blue at Kansas City, Kansas, in which
he said the national platform on the
money question suited him, said.
AS much it would 9rieve me to see
a confederate soldier defeat you this
year, yet there are worse political mis-
takes than voting for ex-confederate
soldiers now; and 70 vote for man who
y as in the Confederate army thirty years
ago, wrong though lie may have been
then. who is right now on this great
people than to vote for man who was
RICH thirty years ago aud fought in the
ion army, who Is wrong now and
with Eng land on this great question. And
1 believe that it were better for the Re
publican party to suffer defeat now on
this money question, handicapped as it is
by English and Grover Cleveland and
com binations, whereby it might learn
some sense, than to have it win now on
these issues IN order 10 strand the party
in 1896, and / would rather see you
beaten now than to have your voice add
ed 10 that Of the gang in congress who /
are nIpulatlng the Republican party
under The guiding hand Of English
The letter to Blue covers nine closely
Il very good political speech. As he /
closed his letter, Colonel Hackney wrote: |
''Ol, Dick; write me that my lnterpre-
tatiOn OF your speech is all wrong. Write I
me that If you are elected to congress (
YOU Will vote for legislation which viii /
fore the crime Of 1873, and subse-
quent Legislation relative thereto was
enacted into law. AT least that you will 1
do this so far the American product Is /
concerned and no man in Kansas Will |
throw his hat higher or yell longer than
for you.
Like some other peoples letters it was
most interesting in the postscript, which I
contained the following.
"P. ST. read the mandy pamby, wish
awashy, well dealing deceitful and dis
gushing i'm beetle financial mouthings of /
MOrrilFs made at the same time. A lot
of tvaddle that a school boy Of ten years
old would have more sense than to utter.
but you without a roof to shelter you.
a man as poor as any of US, with a vote
on this very question if elected is quite
another thing, ana such nonsense will
not go down any more If you want our
votes, l mean of men who think as / do
you must agree to represent us If you
are going to represent Morrill, 60 with
them"
In the letter written to I. /. Bond of
Salina, Col Hackney covered about the
same ground he did in his letter to Dick
Blue, except that he urged all good Re.
publicans to cut loose and refuse to vote
Tor morrill, and Blne.