The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-08-31

and women. can complain. but will be happy
In alizing the fact that our commissioners
have the courage to assume the responsibility
and good sense to do what seems to them best
in aid of this important enterprise. By their
action the road is secured beyond q doubt-an
item which will make them long remembered
as those who know their duty, and were not
afraid TO do 1t.
And, Mr.. Editor, the foregoing ar
tiele voiced the sentiment of nearly
every citizen i'm the county. 1t does not
sound of politics. 1t does not show
enthusiasm because of a republican
victory or democratic defeat or in
the defeat of any person or party. If
those proceedings had been of a polit-
zeal character, and were taken as a
republican measure, do you suppose
the REGISTER would have allowed
such a victory to escape mention 1?
Those who are acquainted with one of
its then editors land there are yet
many i'm Allen county who are) know
full well that a full page rooster to
crow his delight would have repre-
scented i'm his mind only small half
grown brOiler, as to the crow he want
ed.
No, it was not politics. The men
elected at the lola meeting to confer
with the Commissioners demonstrates
that. One at least, Mr. ID. Parsons
was, and always had been leading,
lifelong democrat. Col. Twiss soon
afterwards beca1 one. AS to the
others, except one, land he always
took his straight), they were republi-
cans in principle; but, as to local can
didates or measures, they were just
OH speaking terms with Politics, and
not very familiarity acquainted with
him. Had it been political pow
WOW, such men as Parsons and Twiss
good men and citizens though they
were-wOuld not have peen selected
to do republican work, especially by
such an old time, dyed-in-the-wool
republican as DR.. Scott.
Again, L unhesitatiDgly say that, of
the men who took part in the POpulist
convention that made that ridiculous
charge and who were residents of
Allen county at the TINS of the action
under consideration, there is not one
in twenty who at the time made any
objection 10 the action of the board !;
and further, that if any one of the 20
did object it was ON the ground that
it was help to the cities of lola and
Humboldt at the expense of the
country; and further, that not one
single one of the members of that con-
vention ever suggested the idea that
any political party had to do with it,
except it was years afterwards.
But, again, if the action of that
board of county commissioners was so
wrong, and if the republican party
was the cause of the outrage, will
some pOpulist inform or explain to me
why the voters of the county at the
January special election following, by
a majority of over $50, direct the issue
of an additional So, 200 bonds, in aid
of that railroad? If he will he will
tell me that the people of the county
irrespective of party, favored it, that
it seemed necessary for the good of
the county that this additional aid be
given; and that Deer Creek township,
the strongest and surest republican
township in the county, and one of
the townships to be most benefited
by the road, was about the only town.
ship in the county to give legal ma.
jority against the additional issue.
By telling these things, he will tell
facts and he can substantiate his
statements by examining the records
of Allen County.
But have prolonged this letter be-
yond my intention or expectation. L
have not written it as defense of the
republican party of Allen County, for
it needs none as to false charges.
This is written, however. as a feeble
vindicatiOn of the acts of the people
of that county who, without regard
to politics, religion, or social stand
ing, unitedly did deed which has
caused the county to be brought from
a buffalo wallow to a garden; from the
abode of few tOiling and plodding
pioneers, housed in shanties and huts
to the dwelling place of thousands of
healthy, hearty, well to do farmers,
merchants and manufacturers; and
from an occasional log-sided, slab
seated and mud chinked howell of a
place to miriads of elegant, neatly
furnished, and comfortably arranged
school houses and churches where
people are educated in the arts,
sciences and religion.
Yours respectfully,
w. III. TALCOTT.