Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-04-08

G%TN%$ WHICH nave CIlduS-
ed. Thus declares
Hon. David Overmeyer In recent In
terview with Kansas City times re
porter.
Mr.. Overmyer related some late po-
Itical history. The campaigns of
1882 and 1885," he said, were fought
over a State issue-prohibition. In
1886 the great heat of the consuming
fire of monopoly was beginning to be
felt. The republican managers lndi-
Gated their ultimate preference by trying
to destroy John Anderson, the republi-
can champion of the people, of the
Fifth Congressional district. The peo-
chine. 1t may be doubted if those in
charge all saw 1t.
sin 1888 was fought in Kansas the
first great battle against monopoly.
That campaign witnessed a great debate
IN all parts of the State over tariff. No
such campaign had been known in
can leaders abandoned the people, aban'
doned their former professions, and
went over to the So called protection,
and under the impetus of a Presiden-
tial election carried the State by an
immense majority They did so in
large part by the votes of men who
were not in sympathy with their apos-
tacy to Western and Kansas interests,
but were not yet ready to break with
their party.
1.-The defeat of the Republicans in
the elections for the Legislature in 1890
and the overthrow of Ingalls, were the
direct result of the splendid discussion
of the economic issues in 1888 by stur
dy and able Democrats and enthusias-
tic and ardent union laborites.
''Since 1888 Kansas has never for
one hour been Republican in senti-
ment or principle, for while IN 1890 the
Repu blicans, by the most questionable
methods, contrived to exc out a beg
carly plurality for the State ticket; and
while in 1894, with four tickets in the
field, they again elect their State ticket
yet since the rise of economic issues
they never have been in possession of
both houses of the Legislature, and
have lost the electoral vote of the State
IN two successive Presidential elections.
''The State is no longer Republican
simply because the Republican party no
longer espouses the peoples cause, 1t
no longer speaks the language of Kan
sas. 1t deserted the people of the west
them upon the money question in 1896.
Within ten years it has completely
changed front in Kansas, but the ma
jority of the people have remained
where they always was-true to them
selves and true to the West.
"Bryan's majority in the State was
about 5000. If the opposition to the
Republican party remains united, Re.
publican chances of again carrying the
/ State are very remote.
"But what of the future?" was asked
s'The course of great political par.
ty," Mr.. Overmyer replied, can not be
determined by considerations of men
and patronage, but must be determind
by considerations of public policy. The
people at large don't care whether this
man or that man fills some appointive
Office or employment. They want just
and humane laws and honest, intelli.
gent. economical government. They
know that the Republican party, ruled
as it is by special and selfish interests
and the organized rapacity of the count
ny, can not give them relief. They
know that IN Kansas large majority OF
the people are opposed to the Republi-
can party. The political leader, there
fore. who seeks to introduce confusion
and dissension into the ranks of the op.