The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-31

ments to the Police Force a Sort OF
Than Transparent
The Demo-fusion leaders are claiming
that George Harris, If elected, will be the
tool OF a ring; that ne will be subject &c
The orders of bosses; that ne will not con-
si3er the interests Of the county or city
when such interests conflict with what
might DE the scheme or plan Of the peo-
pie whom the opposition is pleased to
term his bosses or the ring.
They made this same claim last spring
wnen Finlay Ross was candidate for
mayor of Wichita. Finlay Ross subjec-
ton TO bossism and MS trucking to IN
terests not directly concerning the city
was a horrible nightmare TO the reform
gang. But Finiay Ross attends TO the
cfty's business in a way that commendS
itself to the bitterest Of his political en-
emies He is giving the city one OF the
best administrations il ever had, and as
far as Ross being bossed by any ring
rhe mayor would ever accuse him OF.
George Harris was once mayor of WITCH
tia and for years a councilman. No one
ever accused him of being at any time
IN a position that would compromise the
city's interests. The claim that he will
be subject % ring rule is as groundless
as that Finlay Ross would be. Harris is
for his record and his integrity and abil-
lily an honored citizen Of this city and
Will be elected as county commissioner.
The Demo-fusion gang last year asked
for the votes of Sedgwick county cili-
zens upon the ground that they would
pass a maximum rate law and otherwise
reform the established order of things
III the interest of the people. They got
the votes but didn't keep any promises.
They asked for the votes of the citizens
of Wichita for George Young for the rea-
son that F'inlay Ross was a ring candi-
date and his administra don would be
simply ring rule. Ross was elected and
the last one Of the Demo-fusion gang
testifes 10 the unusual business sagac-
ity and independence of this city admin
Istration.
Nobody will deny that Jocelyn and
Spencer are running the Demo-fusion
part cf the campaign Spencer, with Hat
ton having tine deciding vote, manipu-
lated the fusion conference committee,
They nominated their men in the conven
zion. Nobody, not even the best friends
of Jocelyn and Spencer viii deny that
:ne campaign of the Populist party in
this county is in their charge. That is
part of their promise to Leedy and that's
why Leedy appointed the police COM
mission, and THAT'S what ne has decided
TO let them remain for. Leedy has an
nounced that no police commission shall
he abolished while he is governor. They
are TO he his managers locally. The pri-
mary object OF these commissions 10
Governor Leedy is 10 establish sort of
political machine to manipulate the
campaign for the administration. That's
Leedy's idea, and he says he won't abol-
ish them. 1t is not contemplated, of
course, by the governor that two men,
hers of the board shall assume entire
control and industriously keep the other
member kicked out Of all the proceedings
and deposit the money in such way as
10 get lot of city funds attached for an
old debt OF one Of the commissioners And
it certainly is not the governors idea
that the police commissioners shall pro-
coed upon all occasions to sit down upon
rne old workers of the party in the coun-
" as Jocelyn and Spencer did Lewelling
and Campbell, Cone and Ayers and other
Populist leaders
Leedy has said now that ne proposes
10 pe-petuate just such a regime in this
county. He viii not abolish the metro
politan police in any city in Kansas so
long as he is governor. They are 10 re-
main as henchmen 10 renOminate him, 10
secure Endorsements for the fizzle legisla-
ture, which is TO give the whole admins
traton an air OF responsibility. The
voters of this county and city are rea-
sonable. They will not be duped twice
in succession by the same game. The
Republican ticket viii be elected. Char
ley Simmons, who has been a resident
OF the county for the last twenSy-seven
years, an llonored citizen, will be made
sheriff Tie other nominees will be
elected. This IS no bluff. Il is A COM
mon sense view of the situation subs.aH-
tiated by figures. The result in this
county win not be what might be called
an avalanche, but il will be a Republi-
can victory that will come as a surpris-
ing majority to me Demo-fusion gang.
The farmers talk il on the street and
business men have had their minds made
UP long since. The people Of this coun-
~. while they may hope to put up with
a metropolitan police rule. will not toll
crate the gail that Jocelyn and Spencer
sre displaying in their management of
the board and the campaign. They can
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