The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-03-07
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gaaltl - eagle
NJ. NJ. MURDOCH. Editor.
WICHITA AT THEIR MERCY.


There is a strong undercurrent which
is making itself more manifest every
day among the men who signed the pc
tition asking Mr.. Finlay Ross 10 run
for mayor, in favor of a trial of strength
with the machine" Since the pubiica-
ton Of that list of names, which includ-
ed hundreds of the most substantial
men Of Wichita, the mandate which 50
nearly wrecked the Republican party
Of the city and county last fall by the
high-handed manner in which the pri-
marieS were run, resulting in boiling
convention and the defeat of the ticket,
have again resorted 10 their secret c0in-
Gil They are not all of one mind, but
the dominant or controlling heads are.
Concluding, and rightly, too, that were
Ross nominated they would lose their
hold, they have resolved that the Re-
Dublicans shall neither nominate or elect
him mayor. Fearing that his nOmina-
ton in the face Of such petition would
mean his election, they decided that the
only way 20 beat him in convention IS
tc take care of the primaries. They
hold that not one business man in five
who signed the petition will think Of
attending the ward primaries Follow
ing this declaration, they have gone TO
work 10 fill the convention with their
own emisSaries- AS one Of their manip-
Ulators put il TO a prominent Democrat
yesterday: tine Republicans cannot
have Mr.. Finlay Ross for mayor; they
must either accept our man, or other
wise your man VIII go in. Ross viii not
listen to or agree with Us, and we are
fixing things IN lively WY already"
Such Challenges so emphasized by an
open slap IN the face has mad the effect
of arousing not a few old-time staunch
Republicans, who not only resent the
insult personally bur counsel a test OF
Strength for The purpose Of determin-
Ing BheIhE the body Of the party dare
ask or hope for any measure or any
man not previously endorsed by this
secret coTerie- OF COURSE there are
quite a number Of solid men who signed
the Ross petition who are not Repuhli-
cans. They signed it because Of the
conviction that Mr. Ross is the man
above all others for the city and its tax
payers at this particular juncture-
These men, in the event of Mr. Ross be-
ing beaten at the primaries, VIII not be
compelled 10 support the machines
nominee. Not being Republicans, they
can vote for the Fusion candidate who
VIII probably be a fair man, only That
he viii be the favorite and cnnfidanta
of the DeIno-Pop bosses But Wichita
wants, and the petitioners looked 10 The
nomination of a man who has no
strings or wires fled TO him
f'The machine" is only strong In that
# is organized; and the machine, when
it does not hold itself to be greater than
the party and become defiant of the par
TVS viii and best interests, is a power
full adjunct; and, where the interest IS
very equal or doubtful, it is a source
Of strength. But the machine is not
greater than the party. Ii can be
smashed and its membership d5sinte-
grated even where it dominates the ma
j0rity- So, If the Republicans of this
city who desire Mr. Ross for mayor,
VINO believe it is to the interests OF the
city that he be elected, stand united
with but a half dozen representatives
at each primary with list of delegates
on a ticket headed "Finlay Ross for
Mayor" they VIII have their wish be
cause of the simple fact that not only
the body of the Republican party, in |
Guiding some Of the machine. are with |
them, but also large number OF others
without regard to the politics OF Mr.. |
Ross
But there are evidences of concessions |
and CT returning reason Men capable |
Of estimating the temper of communi- |
~ are not inclined to commit open |
eyed suicide Concessions 10 the newt |
able are preferable to complete and Ger
tain defeat. There is no consolation 10 |
he found in the victory of the general |
and eFermore enemy when such victory |
was only possible because Of divisions |
among ones own party friends.