The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-09

face value. They tried to olIoad their
purchase on the First National bank al
Shawnee and on parties elsewhere, but
failed. Jude Keaton came 10 their res
cue, decided the claims leal, ordered the
county clerk to issue warrants for the
same. The clerk objected. calling the at
tention of the judge 20 the fact that he
had no authority; that even the commits
sioners were prohibited from allowing
claims. except at regular terms of the
court Judge Keaton preemptorily ordered
the issue Of the warrants and directed a
special levy of taxes TO pay the same, in
Guiding the fees of court officials.
The warrants were issued and the tax
levied. Young Keaton and his friend got
their money, but the courts have since
held that the law did not allow witness
fees, and we are out over $1,000. Comment
| Is unnecessary"
FREE SILVER.
ut is significant that from the time
James r. Keaton received his appoint
ment from President Cleveland not a
word or a whisper escaped his lips favor
ing FIRE silver or anything else contrary
to the policy of Grover Cleveland. 1t Is
the meresst twadde to say that a judge
| should not interest himself in politics.
| Does he cease to be a citizen, and have
no interest in the welfare of the commun-
ity? Such eminent juTists as Justice
! Brewer Of the United States supreme
court, Chief Justice Doster of Kansas. the
chief justices of Connecticut and Mime
| sofa and many others do not hesitate to
speak out boldly; so should every free
| nh Ior
| fully agree that a judge should not be
a partisan and take sides on any question
likely to come before him for judicial in
vestigation, but can it be conceived how
the mintage of silver could, by any posi-
! bility, be brought before an Oklahoma
court? 1t is simply absurd.
Judge Keaton permitting his lips to be
| scaled at that eventful time conveys a
warning which SINGER, honest men would
/ do we'll to heed. Just at that time the
| Democratic party was engaged in the
most momentous contest the party had
ever been called to consider 1t was
neither more nor less than whether the
Declaration of Independence should be
abandoned and Grover Cleveland and
John G. Carlisle substituted for Thomas
Jefferson and Andrew Jackson as patron
saints when the immortal declaration
that "all men are created equal with the
| indomitable right to life liberty and the
! pursuit of happiness and the manhood
! of man was TO give place 20 a servile
worship of the almighty dollar in the
form of golden calf. When these elo-
quent appeals of William ]. Bryan was
stirring the hearts of patriotic Demo-
or he Of
the government and the vast influence of
Wall street and the monster corporations
and trusts were arrayed to intimidate,
cajole and bride men to desert old-fash-
toned Democracy, in that faithful hour;
when in the midst of a free silver speech
a telegram was handed James r. Keaton
announcing his appointment; from that
hour the lips Of Judge Keaton were seal
ed. What assurance have you, honest,
sincere Democrats, that if you elect
Judge KeatOn to congress that his enlarg-
ed influence at the convention in 1900 may
not be turned against you again? Pom
der il well; it IS folly to rely on his dec
laraaOns. No promise could be more
binding than the solemn oath he subscrib-
ed as q judge of your court. How that
oath has been kept the records show. No
political acrobat could turn more. high
and low somersaults tina nour 'go-as-you-
please judge
If Judge Keaton has so nice sense of
the proprieties as to prevent his favoring
free silver while on the bench. his sense
Of honor did not prevent him being in
tensely partisan in All his appointments.
He appointed not only Democrats. but
they must be Keaton Democrats. and
make themselves useful in blowing Kea-
ton horns IN and out of conventions. One
instance of this was given in our county
when they were forced by the indignation
of the voters to revoke their actions and
call a convention. But are you sure
that Judge keaton is honestly for free
silver? Hon d. c. Lewis in an open let
ter published in the Weekly Times-Jour-
nal September 80. says that Judge Keaton
declared to him that free homes was a
dead issue and would not enter into the
campaign II he deserts free homes why
may lie not forsake free silver? Fore
warned forearmed.
POPULISTS NOT BOUND BY THE
CONVENTION
1T is claimed that Populsts are in
honor bound 10 vote for Keaton because
he was nominated by u joint convention
Il is a web known principle OF law that
fraud aanuls any contract. and the fact
5 that the Oklahoma City convention was
4 fraud from beginning 10 end. so far as
its iointship was concerned. large ma
jority Of the Democrats were opposed 10
fusion. as was shown by their action in
nominating Keaton before any conference
was held with the Popunsts and pledgtns
themselves TO vote Tor him. Il was ONLY
after . most stormy session and the urg-
ent en-eaty OF Colonel Johnston and 10.
Wisoy that they consented 10 si- IN con
veniioa with the Populssts. When Jhis /
state OF facts became known A-. Doom
offered a resolution in the Popus:st con- !
vention rectcng the sacts and demanding |
that the Democrats reconsider their &C |
ton Il not. ;he Populsts would proceed |
70 the nomination % a candidate. That
resolution passed by large majority. /
Just then che conference co-nmittee an
nounced that tie Democrats had recoaSid-
cred their acton and would meet Us II |
JOINT convention SUca was he under |
standing o. the report NOW the name CT /
joint convention between TWO sGua5 par |
ties Imposes that there viii De a inter /
change % views. aid = there % offer |
ences each sice WI make some co-rss- |
son Bu; II The joint Convention the
Democrats voted solscly tor KsatorA nor l
beanse he was the cAiice Of an but DE- /
cause they were pledged % do So There |
were many Democrats whom TIE Poru-
lists could have supported Efforts were |
made in good faith to nominate sidney