Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-02-25
WHAT IT MEANS.
GANG Is ENDEAvORING TO FOOL
THE PEOPLE.
Nonpartisanship the Means by Which
Democrats and Populists Hope to
Control the City Government at the
Spring Election.

Ellorts are pelng put lortn ny lhe
Democratic and Populist politicians
of the city which it is hoped will Sc
cure to them the control Of the
city government. Nonpartisanship
means little else than "cliquism." !"
A small crowd Of politicians get to-
gether, divide the prospective offices
and emoluments among themselves
and henchmen. They arrogate to
themselves all the virtue and execu-
tive ability in the city and start the
cry Of nonpartisanship in city elec-
tions. This cry usually comes from
individuals who care little about the
city's welfare except as they may be
able TO use its offices for some indi-
vidual or personal profit. "Cliques"
are only successful under the guise
Of nonpartisanship. They can pose
as "reiormers" and profess to be men
who will be governed by wisdom and
sense and fairness in their public
acts"
This hypocritical "clique" for the
purpose Of getting control Of the city
government is now being organized
in Abilene and unless something is
done may succeed in their diabolical
plot.
There is one sure way to prevent
the gang from achieving success.
The city Of Abilene is Republican and
Republican votes will be responsible
in any event for the coming city nd
ministration. II Republicans must
bear the responsibility they should
say who the officers shall be-, II will
be observed that the Democratic and
Populist papers of the city are united
n their demand for a "non-partisan
licket." In other words the Demo-
rats and Populists have fused under
he name OF "non-partisanship" and
hey hope to dictate majority Of the
candidates and under deceptive cry
induce enough Republicans TO vote
With them to accomplish their pur-
,oses.
There are just as good, II not a little
'etter, men in the Republican party
han there are in this unholy combl- I
alton and an honest man is just as
apable OF performing his duty in a
ublic office when elected solely by D
'epublican votes as though he were /
lected on mongrel ticket. There is s
My one reason why this fusion com
ination is now bowling for a non v
artisan campaign, and that is to sub Q
,rye some ulterior motive for their b
ersonal aggrandisement. By no d
thcl means can they accomplish "
lelr purposes. II
1t is claimed by these Demo-Pop G.
lpers that we can get better govern V
ent from men elected on a non-part- II
an ticket than from the same men II
ccted on a straight party platform. n
cts see how this works and take the q
stimony of these same papers. The
ews has been charging extravaganza,
yoritism and Incompetence upon
e part Of both the city admlnistra "
IN and the board Of education, as VI
IS also the Pop paper, and yet. these "
Iicials were elected on a non-parti- N
n ticket, a majority Of the Ut
embers Of both council and school e'
ard being bitter opponents of the Oh
publican party. g
1t is also stated as desire OF these Va
lly peaceful men TO avert q season '"
strife and hatred by this non-parti-
nship business. The most personal
d abusive campaigns Abilene has ,o
er passed through were those in IN
,ich party did notenter. The,most II,
aceful elections we're held when Re. o.,
blican candidates were before the ,r
ople' 80
We repeat again, that Experience sd
8 taught that these unselfish patri- =.