The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-12
RUSSIANS WIN A COUNTY.
n POLITICAL TRANSPORTATION
NOVEL EVEN o KANSAS.

GO1AAAOA1 AI1ON
NOVEL EVEN FOR KANSAS.
They Had 90 Per Cent. or the Votes, and
Took All the Omoes-This Was In Kills
County. with = Record Ter the TopEhncss
or Nn Mad E1en-An RnEiish Colony.
TOPEKA, Kan. Dec. 1o.-During the past ten
years, whilc changes and upheavals in Kansas
politics have been going on, there is one county,
Ellis, out on tho western frontier, that has
never wavcrod In its adhesion to Democratic
principles. Tho reason why Ellis county has
never been hypnotlzed by the travelling advo.
Gates OF the Farmers Alliance and Populism Is
that about 90 per cent. Of tho voters are Rus
SLAMS, and they havo stuck religiously to the
Democratic idea Of free trade. Every scheme
known to tho artful Republican politician to
win votes has been practiccd on tho Ellis county
Russians, oven to the use OF money before and
after tho primaries. but without success. The
thrifty foreigners have felt II their duty to ac-
copt all tho money offerod:for their votes, on the
broad ground that the per capita circulation In
their colonies was too small, but when 1t came
to voting the Republican ticket, county, State,
or national, that has been quito q different mat
ter. Finally the Republican politicians discov.
cred that the Russians would not stay bought,
and they gave UP this line In disgust.
Two years ago the Russians, known rs the
Black Democracy Of Ellis county, were strong
enough In the Democratic County Convention
to nominate half of the ticket. Prior to that
time they had not asked for political recogni-
ton. apparently being content to aid Americans
who espoused the Democratic cause. The tick.
ct was elected In tho campaign this year a
peculiar situation confronted the people of
Ellis county. The Russian Democrats decided
TO 60 1t alone, and after messengers had visited
the half dozen Russian colonies to notify the
people to attend q mass meeting at Hays City,
the county scat, they gathered there, announced
their separation from the regular Democracy
and nominated o full ticket for county officers.
Then a combination was effected the like Of
which was mover known in Kansas before.
The Republicans and Populists met and agreed
upon a ticket composed equally of representa-
tiyes OF the two parties. Tho regular Domo-
orats divided, some supporting tho Russians
and others joining in the fight to defeat the
Russian ticket The campaign was waged
with bitterness, and every effort was made to
divide tho Russian strength, but without avail.
When the votes were counted every Russian
had been elected, and when January rolls
around every officer of Ellis county will be q
Russian, a distinction probably that no other
division In tho United States can lay claim to.
There are several Russian colonies in Kansas.
but the Ellis county contingent was the first to
invade the desert and cause 1t to blossom as the
rose. Americans had made tho experiment
and had abandoned the idea of farming in o
country destitute Of moisture four hfths Of tho
year. Tho Russians found this condition no
impediment to their success. for they carried
water from tho Smoky Hill River and watered
their crops II the rains failed. The Ellis county
Russians settled In Kansas in 1875. They To-
Gated there because George Grant, an English
man, had founded q colony in Ellis county three
years before. Grant purchased $4,000 acres
Of land from tho Union Pacific Railroad Com.
pany for the purpose of colonizing 1t with Eng.
Ish agriculturists and stocking 1t with improved
three years about 800 Enelishmen, many Of
them with their families, arrived and began the
sssa Of a sndpd shesp the %. dsi Srtarh haf 4Fsm nuR RnsIsn Of
and the colony started out with fattering pros;
Grant, the founder. was built. Experience.
however. soon convinced the colonists that farm;
not be prosecuted with profit, and soon the Eng
ish colonists began to leave and return to their
the fSs's story rSu on heir Da adven lsM ssm IN the sn ssse aS Ssa
In 1873 Grant, tho originator OF the scheme.
and his remains. unmarked by tombstone or
monument, are buried In front OF the church
Ellis county in the early days was probably
the wickedest region Of tho Western frontier.
Particularly is this true of Hays City the county
Union Pacific Railroad. This fact had much to
do with the return of the English colonlsts. They
WCIo hoI dCSuoLoLloo " dLboIuCEy VI ~ "
They established their colonies several miles
s streets ho 81 that Eat' town. own "f there refe are sSout On ,o 5DS
Russians In Ellis county, and they live in three
s set5sf Is reg n q as Win tho g caHS SPala Of this 81 R aGas
Minor. In this town some attention has been
paid AID to the regularity Of Of streets; Many hS Of The The
majority of them, are Of sod. and so constructed
as to afford the inmates a considerable degree
priests. The principal building Is q very fine
stone Catholic church, which was erected by
In the early days Of Ellis county, the sherin's
sherla. Ganion,. was shot by desperate. The
second y Peter Hd Lannhan, was shot by a gam gam,
revolver and killed tho man who shot him.
his murderers James B. Hiekock. vivid
as ssn a. killer MSFk Shi hp he q i Was MARSHAL Ssls oa n Of Hays City.
Before leaving. and While 2 candidate fof
two Citizens. and p%lIsiyfuiIy shot into the arms
and legs of others as tokens OF remembrance.
was 1us sSs a H.p nan h to- RRaid Gi. IF ' seSrt IN E eIfs
county. The first case tried was that Of Rug
s shrey aR %as f sygnprIs ysi to af isarn after su ths tr hHS Of
the defeated party, were, DESTROYS of hanging
Banging ham no a es ssieffnigh1 wRS sas' he se Was e SgpSstssd 70 70
furnish the subject, Judge Humphrey dis
missed court and speedily left town.
Judge Humphreys visit there was looked
negatives OF Justice of the Peace N. f. Joyce,
who conceded no limit to his jurisdiction and
allowed no appeal from his decisions. He
promptly tried all cases. from dog stealing to
murder, performed the marriage ceremony, and
even granted divorce with a coolness that
was refreshing.
Hays City, like Dodge City, and several
other Western towns, has its burying ground
filled with the bodies OF men who were hur.
ried off into eternity without having an oppor-
tunity TO remove their footwear. In fact, 1t Is the
their boot hills" none.of:them'equals tho Hays
boot Hill in point of the number OF men who died
without previous preparation. There have
been some fifty persons buried there who
either went out Of existence at tho crack of q
revolver or were hanged by a mob.
GREATER NEW FORKS DEAD.
Thax Ara said To Number 1000. 900. ~