Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-10-29
Despicabie Campaign Methods.

0cSplCdbl6 OdNupaiSu motHouS.
l am candidate of the fusion democ-
racy of Barton county for the Office of
Commissioner for the first district not
upon any solicitation of my own; not at
the instigation of any clique or fiction;
not with any promise of reward or
livery and am bound by no ante-elec-
ton ties except the tie that binds me In
honor to my chozen party and my only
purpose and pleasure in accepting the
proHered nomination was to serve its
interests and the peoples interests to
the best of my ability. Under these
conditions and circumstances / could
not enter the canvass with other than
pure motives and honest intentions.
But when two individuals seek to Sc
cure thing which by law only one can
possess it sometimes produces startling
developments. And it somestimes hap
pens that with some people it makes
but little difference upon how good or
how poor foundation these develop
ments are based.
But so far as 1 am concerned in the
course of my campaign up to the pres
ent time. have resorted to nothing but
open, fair honorable. and gentlemanly
methods. Have never spoke dispara-
ingly of my opponent and never intend
ed to until a few DAY since when by
accident l became the possessor of GER
tain information that revealed to me
the fact that my opponent was not &C
cording me the same fair and honora-
BILE treatment that was according him,
and l concluded that my self preserva-
ton demanded a derivation from my
set intention to make no campaign talk;
hence this article.
1t IS charged by Mr.. Montgomery
aud his henchmen that l have promised
to perform an impossibility, is to throw
fancied bonded Indebtedness against
the Arkansas River bridge, from the
townships of Lakin and Comanche on
to the county and thereby greatly in
creased the burden of taxation upon all
townships in the countyexcept the two
named. This of course sounds well
and would be good campaign dodge
a vote winner-for Mr. Montgomery, if
it we're not for the fact that the Arkan-
sas River bridge bonds had been paid
| five years since. Mr. Montgomery
knows this and it IS his willful intention
of harming me and my candidacy at
| the possible enhancement of his own
ch ances, that prompts me to denounce
hi methods as despiCabie, dishonora
BILE, disgraceful and contemplate.
AS before remarked Mr.. Montgomery
knows that these bonds have long since
been paid, but driven to desperation by
his hopeless chances he sliced upon
this scheme merely as a golden oppor-
tunity to register blow which he hoped
would have telling effect upon me-,
Or if he did not know Che knows it now
it only shows how careless he has been
in looking after the affairs ofthe county
during his incumbency.
We ask for the authority for his state
ment. Mr.. Montgomery only insisted
that it had been given out by good
democrat of Ellinwood. This statement
falls on its own analogy, for good dem
ocrats never tell lies of any kind espec-
tally not about the candidates of their
own party. AS any sane minded per-
son can see this charge is ridiculous
upon its face. as there would be no OBJ
ject in making such promise when no
such debt exists. And as proof that
none exists l ask anyone sufficiently
|
Of course Montgomery did not expect
me to find out that he was using this
cudgel, and had 1 not, it might have
proven weapon of much utility SO far
as Mr.. Montgomery is concerned. But
as general rule people have very little
use for a back bitter and a hypocrite,
both titles of which Mr.. Montgomery
has legitamately earned for himself by
his campaign methods. If Mr.. Mont
gomeIy wants to get something tangible
upon which to found an argument, we
suggest that he take up the statements
of the Irishman's that the moon is mad
of green cheese and push 1t to a logical
conclusion. That would at least do him
more good than assailing his opponents
with false charges that were sure to be
found out.
MAT DICK.