The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-03-12

Frank Greer Calls Attention to the Fact
That okIahoma's Internal Interests are
of vastIy More Importance Than Jobs
for Hungry Politicians by the Arkansas
Route. Which is a Slap at Powell Clay
well. Who is MT. Barnes FrIend-Red
Buck. an Outlaw, is Killed Near Arapa-
hoe, OF.
Gutherie, o. T, March 1.-THE fight
between the Reed and Mckinley fac
tons in Oklahoma continues to increase
In warmth. The other evening a call
for a meeting to organize Mckinley
club was made in the Guthrie Leader,
the Democratic organ. This stirred up
Frank Greer and he came out in an ar
ticle discouraging the formation of any
such club. He said:
I'm the Daily Leader of Sunday morn
ing appeared a call for meeting at
the probate court room tonight TO or
eanize a Mckinley club. This call ap-
peared marked advertisement show
ing that somebody had paid for its in
eertion. The State Capital prints this
today free of charge. No Republican
who has anything reasonable to print
need sQuander his money on Demo-
cratic organ to get it printed when this
paper is ready TO print Republican no
tives Gree.
'~The names on this call are the ones
who have been whooping it up for a
local candidate for delegate TO st. Louis
who is for Mckinley or nothing and
who has hooted the idea of legislation
for this territory having any bearing
upon this delegate matter. This call is
intended to intensity the very feeling
which the most enthusiastic Mckinley
men, and men favoring other candi-
dates, have declared it business to avoid.
In the organization of Mckinley clubs
"a thing sprung since the ultras see
certain defeat in the ends a personal
political scheme. Some of the signers
of that call may not know that they are
being used for a personal selfish pur-
pose, but they are.
This issue was founght in a large
meeting week ago tonight. That
meeting refused to express a presiden-
tial preference and passed a resolution
declaring for an uninStructed delega-
ton and endorsing the one candidate
in this country who stands for free
homes and neutrality. There can be
no other reason for the organization of
a Mckinley club than to offset this de-
feat. Nobody is fighting Mckinley.
Many Of the men fighting for neutrality
hope that Mckinley will be nominated,
but they stand for delegation who will
look rather to the interest of Oklahoma
Than to the interest of hungry polite
ians out Of a job, which they hope to
get by the Arkansaw route. The or
ganization of Mckinley clubs is only
e
the commercial veal of the territory
and seek personal political jobs of get
ting an instructed Mckinley delegation.
The organization of Mckinley clubs
ran do no good; they may do much
harm. The attempt is the last strug-
sle of defeated cause. If the meet
Ing tonight is strong enough TO declare
for Mckinley it will Immediately be
turned into a Barnes meeting and
therefore defeat the will of the Repuh-
leans in the city for neutral delega-
ton.
Every man who has the best welfare
Of Oklahoma at heart, regardless Of
presidential preference, will go to that
meeting tonight determined that no Nc
Kinely club shall be organized; that
the majority of the Republican party
Of the territory and not few ambi-
tious politicians Of it, shall control You
will find the chief Mckinley speakers
there tonight belittling the idea OF a
neutral ST. Louis delegation. They may
not have the nerve to say they want
an instructed Mckinley delegation, but
that is what they mean.
'On the one side of this fight is Okla
hcma and unselfishness; on the other
side is selfishness and a wild determin-
alton of a few politicians to use the
Republican party for self-advancement
and TO set themselves up as the political
dictators and patronage dispensers of
Oklahoma.
Oklahoma needs legislation more
than it needs political dictators; the
lifting of the government mortgage
from poor settlers home amounts TO
more to the people than getting some
local politician a federal job. There
IS not candidate for delegate on the
neutral side Of this question who is
hunting for a territorial or federal job.
There is not a candidate for delegate
IN the ultra-McKinley side, except one,
who is not hell bent for a federal or
territorial job; and their intention is,
If necessary, TO sacrifice the CONNER
cial welfare of this territory to carry
out their selfish ends. Will the Republi-
cans allow them to do it?
1T is not Mckinley, it is control of
the party patronage these ultras want
They would rather help Clayton to a
cabinet position. and local aspirants to
jobs, than 10 lift the government mort
gage off a settlers home"
The Capitals report of the meeting
mentioned is as follows:
The Republicans of the city met IN
the probate court room and organized
the Guthrie Republican Club The
court room was crowded and the Asp
and Barnes factions were present in
full force. An attempt was made by
The Barnes followers to organize the
meeting in his interest, but it failed to
carry. Failing in that 1t was declared
by them that At a previous meeting
Mckinley club had been organized
with Dan Widmer as chairman and E
P. McCabe, secretary. This failed to
carry with a majority Of those present
There were not enough Barnes men
present to organize, and on motion Of
w. s Smith, a Guthrie Republican
club was organized, with Attorney s. L.
Overstreet president and Rev. Jackson
secretary. Three hundred and eighty
six signed the club roll
There was strong but good natured
rivalry between the Barnes and Asp
factions TO capture the meeting and a.
one time four men organized in front