Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-07-12
THE REPUBLICAN CLUB ROW.

said to center In the attempt to dis
criminate against southern republic
ans and the frauds in the selection of
the next place of meeting, but it is
most probable that the real trouble
lies somewhat deeper.
The republican clubs are made up
largely of the ''hustlers' of the party.
in the midst of a campaign their activ-
ity is highly appreciated. They help
to raise money, disburse it in bribing
voters, furnish men to perpetrate
frauds on the ballot. and. in short, do
the rough work of the campaign, in
Guiding some that is not to be dis
cussed in public. But the party does
not trust the clubs very far in the mat
ter of laying down principles, or con-
structing platforms A league conven-
ton is looked forward to with appre-
hension that some ungarded utterance
will do the party disservice. With a
view of heading off any such action On
the part of the "boys," close watch
is kept over them by such of the party
leaders as can afford to attend the
gatherings, and the others generally
have representatives present with in
structions how to act With all these
precautions it is never certain that
mitted.
had its peculiar perils. Besides their
desire to unload Waite and his popu-
list allies, the Colorado republicans
think of nothing but the free coinage
of silver at what they believe to be the
| divinely-appointed ratio of sixteen to
one. Now, the republican party de-
sires to flirt with the extreme silver
men and to get their votes, but it has
no idea of committing itself to any
ratio. The leaders, therefore, looked
forward with apprehension to the in
| huence which the Colorado republicans
might exert upon the unreasonable
young delegates in hours of social fes-
tivity.
The president of the league had
been coached with reference to this
matter. He was careful to warn the
! convention in his address that they had
not come together to make a platform.
Whatever statements may be made
here" he continued, ARE but the ex-
pressions of the individuals, and cans
not in any way bind the future action
of the republican party" This utter
ance had a double purpose 1t was in
tended to head off any indiscreet
action, if possible, and to prepare the
way, should any such action be had.
for declaring that it was not binding.
The Colorado republicans had their
own ideas about the matter. They
desired straight deliverance in favor
of free coinage at the divinely-ap-
pointed ratio. The Colorado league,
which held it's convention at Denver,
after declaring for the ratio of six
| To to ia
national convention in these words:
I'VE appeal to our guests from without the
state to listen to the cry of the thousands of
unemployed throughout the land and to heed
the murmurs of business distress and discon-
tent, and to remember that the common people
| believe in the money of the constitution, and
earnestly desire the coinage of both gold and
| silver at a ratio fixed by nature and experience
under which the nation accomplished its great
est material achievements and reached its
highest prosperity"
The Denver Republican seconded
this appeal, though in more guarded
terms. 1t told the convention that the
way to help to redeem Colorado from
popu1ism was to adopt strong resolu-
tions in favor of the restoration of sill
yer to its historic place, and that it is
to the republican party that the people
must look for legislation favorable to
silver. In several paragraphs and ed
itorials the convention was asked to
pass such resolutions favorable to sill
yer as would help the party in Colora-
do What that should be was plainly
intimated by a declaration that moth
ing but free coinage is needed to in
sure a parity between the two metals.
The desire to get an expression in
favor of free coinage was at the bot
tom of the contest over the manner of
delegates present should cast the en-
tire vote of their states, or vote only
for themselves. The former plan gave
the east the majority and headed off
a free silver plank. How it operated
will appear from single illustration.
New York was entitled to one hundred
and sixty-eight delegates, but only
forty were present. The determine
ton of the question, therefore,
decided whether New York should
cast one hundred and sixty
eight or forty votes. The western
delegates being present in greater
num- ers, would have an immense ad-
vantage on the lone delegate, one
vote" system. The delegates, however,
were permitted to cast the entire vote
of their states, and this prevented any
controversy over the platform. The
silver resolution was in favor of 1.-The
use of both gold and silver maintained
on perfect parity and interconvertibil-
ity." From a Colorado standpoint,
this is 'gold-bug" resolution, mas
much as it ignores the ratio fixed by
nature" upon which the Colorado con-
vention insisted. A Denver CORE
spondent says that the action of the
league has been the most majestic
method of committing political sui
eide ever known in this section of the
country" The western states were
particularly unhappy because Wyo-
ming voted with the east.
As to the frauds perpetrated in
counting the votes on the selection of
a place of meeting, the boys" seem
to take it too seriously. Republicans
must keep in practice in the perpetra-
ton of fraudulent counts, and to do
this they occasionally exercise their
talents on one another. Nothing
could be more natural than that
Louisville Courier-J ournal.
THE SUGAR TRUST.
\ Corrupt System That Has Been Created