Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-08-16
Political Degeneracy.


messed in this vicinity for many years
transpired in the court house Oh
Thursday. A convention had beer
called under the name and auspices
Of the Democratic party. From TIT
vote there appear to have beef
between 80 and 60 persons present
who claim to represent Democracy in
Dickinson county. Before the con.
vention assembled, the leaders OF q
faction Of the Democratic party, who
have found II lucrative business Ia
sell their political principles to the
Populist organization, gathered them
selves together in Populist office in
this town and there conc0cted o
scheme to deliberately sell out the
Democratic party to the Populists fol
a good and valuable consideration.
10 accomplish this purpose, it was
necessary to muster large number
of individuals who have heretofore
affiliated with the Populist party, and
offer inducements to pack the Demo.
cratic convention. The slate was
carefully prepared before the convcn'
ton met; and chairman and secre-
tary selected who would do the bid
ding Of the ring. Political principles
were not to be considered in the Sc
lection Of ticket. The question as
to whether a man was q friend of the
Democratic party was not to be asked
OF any candidate. Every man who
was in favor OF Democratic ticket,
composed Of Democrats, was TO BIZ
muzzled.
The convention met; the program
OF the tricksters was carried out and
the sacrifice Of every political princi-
pie that an honest Democrat might
hold was made. By counting num-
Der Of Populists who were in the
court house the chairman was able to
carry out the program. The very
reasonable demand was made by q
number Of Democrats present that the
candidates should be invited to come
before the convention and state
their political views, but Of course
such thing could not be permitted;
the ring had decreed it otherwise.
The Democratic convention, by a
majority Of less than u half dozen,
deliberately selected n ticket COM
posed Of men who have not single
principle In common with the national
Democratic party, and il Mr.. David
0vermeyer, Democratic candidate for
governor, is to be regarded as a
spokesman Of the State Democracy,
they have not q single principle in
common with the Democracy Of the
State of Kansas. Yet this clique Of
ringsters, for the sole purpose Of
official Doodle and for the purpose of
connecting an official ring; for the
purpose Of obtaining the offices Of the
county, was willing to sacrifice every
thing, degrade themselves TO the
level Of office seekers without princi-
pies.
The News, for the purpose Of OBJ
tanning the patronage and support of
the Populist party Of this county, and
for the purpose of boosting a brother
in-aw into office was willing to sell
out the party to which II claims to
adhere, and in order to become tho
official organ Of the ropulist organizes
ton Of this county, it assisted in the
selection of a Populist ticket in =
Democratic convention,
1t may be possible that the Popu-
list party can be bought with such
chat. 1t is probable that the unfor-
tunate condition of the Monitor
Herald Of this city may have induced
some of the leading Popullsts of this
county to have selected the News as
its organ.
1t may be possible that the Demo-
Gratis Of this county are willing to aban-
don their party organization for the
purpose of giving the News of this
city the position Of a Populist parti-
san organ
All these things are probable with
such convention as assembled in the
court house on last Thursday. 1t
remains to be seen whether the Popu-
lists are going to sell out their own
party and their own organization,
practically, to be controlled by a
Democratic newspaper, owned by
Democratic postmaster. 1t remains
to be seen whether the Democrats Of
Dickinson county are willing to
abandon their organization and sup
port a Populist ticket for the purpose
of giving the News the prestige of
being the populist organ Of Dickinson
county and for the purpose of boost
ing into office brother-in-law,
Time will reveal the sequel.
Nnety-avc per cent OF all the Judges in
the United States carry passes on railroads
and large percentage Of these pass carry