Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-12-24
Which Congress, man Stood Besti

Reflector.
II Congressman Cslderhead had stoot
where congressman Curtis and Brodericl
stood. he might have spent his time ant
money to some purpose. Mr.. Calderheat
will doubtless remember that we told him 81
last winter when he was making his mistake
In congress; but Congressman Calderheat
thought he knew more about the the people
Of Kansas than the State Journal which Is II
touch with 10000 Of them every day.-[Tope
ka State Journal.
Our lively but somewhat Pharasai'
cal contemporary could use a pencil
and large sheet Of paper, together
with some figures on the recent cleo
ton, to good advantage. Had II
"fggered" a little before talking II
probably would not have talked.
Among other things it would have
found out these facts:
In 1894 Mr.. Calderhead was elected
by plurality Of 1887, there being
four candidates in the field. He re-
ceived 1928 votes while the combin-
ed opposition received 10, l4S, or 6l5
majority. In 1896 the entire opposi-
ton entered into the unholy dicker
for spells known as fusion. Mr.. CAL
derhead received l9,lO1 votes or 67S
more than in 1894; while the opposi-
ton had 1876, gain Of only 592.
In majority Of the opposition is now
6S4, in 1894 1t was 6l6. While Mr..
Calderhead gained votes be was beaten
merely by the fusion deal. He was
more popular in 1896 than in 1894
and received the fullest and heartiest
support Of the Republicans Of bis dis
trict.
But you mention Mr.. Broderick's
and Mr.. Curtis's vote. Let's see.
Broderick in 1894 had majority over
the combined opposition Of 1878; in
1896 be had 2,402. The gain Of the
opposition was 57l over the election
before; Mr.. Cslderhead's opposition
beat him just 10 more this year than
the combined opposition would have
done in 1894. Which was closer "in
touch" with bis constituents In the
Fourth district In 1894 Curtis had
8,l20 majority over the combined op-
in 1896 be had 754 majority
over the combined opposition. The
opposition made gain Of 1886; Mr..
Calderhead's opposition made q gain
of 10. Do you boast Of Mr.. Curtis's
increased strength" in the face Of
such fguresp
But let us look at the entire list.
The following districts OF the State
we're those having Republican con-
,ressmen, In each was the incum-
bent renominated and seeking in
lorsement. The figures show the
rains made by the combined opposi-
ion to Republicanism as compared
With its combined Vote Of 1894:
FIRST district. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. OIL
econd district. ........................ 3B77
Third district, .......................... 1860
Nonrth district. ......,........, 266
fifth district. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. IL
eventh district. ......................... 1901
Mr.. Calderhead thus made the best
howing Of any Republican candidate
or congress in the State and his
trong advocacy Of sound money was
eceived better than was the course
+ any congressional candidate before
he public.
Had the combined opposition been
BILE to gain no more in the other dis
riots than 1t did in Mr.. Calderhead's |
lansas would have six Republican
ongressmen in congress for the COM
ng term instead Of two.
The State Journals idea appears to
q that political acumen consists in
appening to reside in district that
an stand big slump and yet not
'ipe out your majority. Our cratic
contemporary may be "in touch"
nth the Kansas people but it is evil
emily doing its touching with 40
Dot pole.
By careful study Of the election
eturns it may discover who made the
and whether or not it
aid to stand up for sound money.
There are many Christmas poems
ut the best Of them all begins,
Twas the night before Christmas"
0 there are myriad Christmas tales