Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-10-29
'ONB HOSS CAMPAIGN
BREIDY SAYS ITS A MIRACLE
IF WE WIN"
Interesting Letter from the State
populist Boss to W. D. Vincent,
Candidate for Congress in This
District Pops Are on the Run.

Can0luRte I0r VonEIoSs ~ A"A'
District Pops Are on the Run.
Chairman Breidenthal wrote a very
interesting letter to W. D. Vincent
Pop candidate in this district, last
week. Vincent wrote him scolding
because this districts Pop campaign
is SO poorly managed and the RePub'
licans are winning SO many converts.
Credentials letter has been secured
by the Republicans and given to the
public. 1t may be said right here
that Mr.. Breidenthal has admitted
sending it and as it was in confidence
it expresses his view Of the miserable
farce Of one boss campaign, as he
calls it. 1t says;
Topeka, Oct. II, 1896.
W. D. VINCENT, Clay Center, kas.
FRIEND VINCENT:-Yours from Del
phos received and noted. In reply to
same, will say there are probably 2oo
other points in the same fix that
Miltonvale is in. 1t is an absolute
imposibility for all Of our candidates
to reach all counties. We have, on
an average, about sixty days OF q
speaking campaign. We have five
candidates who are in the field, making
in the aggregate 800 days with 100
counties. There are counties that
have a halt dozen points where large
meetings could be held, but the state
committee is not able to supply these
points. We are absolutely without
funds with which to pay the ordinary
expenses. We have received about
$500 Of campaign fund since our
state convention.
1t is probably true that ! have MOI
read the letter. There is limit to
the ability Of any individual to attend
to work Of this character. and at the
same time do the talking that Ii
necessary, to. those who visit Topeka
1t is a fact that do not have on
an average fifteen minutes time
during the day, that there is moi
someone here to talk about the sltua
ton in his portion Of the state; anc
you will readily understand that
cannot readily avoid talking to those
people. When | am putting in my
time in this manner the correspond
ence piles up. | have no money t'
employ the clerical force to look aftel
work which should be attended to; an
compelled to do the best can undel
very
UNAVOIDABLE CIRCUMSTANCES.
When | send out speakers Others
than state candidates, it often happens
that even their expenses are not paid
| am cussed by certain OF our speakers
because they are not billed, ! an
cussed because their expenses are no
paid. Then ! am cussed for not send
ing out more speakers.
TThen follows long complaint
that the Pops seem ready to sell on
to any body and he is afraid they Will
all be bought up.
| would like to communicate witt
all of our committeeman with refer
ence to these matters, but it will b.
impossible to do so for several reasons
First, lack of time, and money t.
defray expenses, but largely from tn
fact that cannot trust our commit
teemen; that is to say, it is develope'
in the past that in some counties gu
people persist in placing upon gu
committees men who do not belon
to the Populist party. In 1894
within week OF election, we learne
that q stalwart Republican had bee
receiving all our private and coniider
tial correspondence dnring the entir
campaign, and furnishing the same
the Republican committee. ! inquire
Of the county committee to kno'
whether he was Republican, an
received an answer that they had il
ouired and learned that he was
Republican; but up to the preser
time have received no explanatio
as to why his name was furnished 9
member Of our county centr'
committee. Four men to whom "
sent our'campaign scrip have returne
same with the statement that the
are Republicans, and the
LORD ONLY KNOWS
how many more Of them belong
that political organization. The Ia
that about l,2OO Of them never d
anything towards disposing Of any