The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-10
THEY WILL PETITION
PopuIiSts Hold a Meeting in
Colonel TOIer'S Office.
WILL BE SAME OLD TRICK
They are Not in Favor of Part
isanShip This Year,

The public should attach no significance
to the fact that the Democratic county
central committee met yesterday after
noon in the office Of Mr.. George K. Spen-
Ger, police commissioner of this city, the
reason of it was that Mr.. Spencers office
was the most convenient, not that the
police commissioners care to dictate the
politics of the party. And again nothing
must be thought Of the fact that the
Populist city central and executive COM
mittee met last night in the Office of Col
onel II. G. Toler, one Of the Populist mem
bers of the police commissioners. Nor
should the Populists feel hurt over the
fact that out of two motions put at the
Sc sion last night, one of them was by
~ 'olice Judge Hatton, a silver Republican.
II is true that out of the fourteen gentle
men present, by accident the following
men were present, who are on the police
force: Policeman Charley Campbell, Chief
of Police William Campbell, Sanitary Po-
nceman P. V. Healy, ]. II. Shields, day
clerk al the station, Policeman A. L. Nc
Millen, Charley Davis, day turnkey, Col.
Toler, member of the board, c. H. Hatton,
police judge. The following are men who
,
they were at the Populist meeting and ran
it to suit their own ideas: Councilman w
H. Herbig, Col. w. Z. Huffman, Capt
J. H. Shields, a. L. McMillen and Charley
Davis.
On Tuesday evening three or four Pop
ulists met in County Chairman Nigh
swonger's office and made him the chair
man of the city committee and they also
decided that the men who represent the
wards in the county organization should
also represent the city in the same
capacity. This meeting was secret. The
plans were all laid and to disprove any
semblance of bOssism they decided to
hold an open meeting last night in Col.
Toler's office. Per arrangement Mr..
Nighswonger was made chairman and
Clark Camp secretary. At the secret
meeting a committee composed of Judges
Sankey Babb and Hatton were instructed
to prepare a platform and submit it to
the meeting last night which was done.
1t is the same old trick and has more
moss on it than the celebrated Old Oaken
Bucket. Not having by some seven hun
dred votes enough to elect their combina-
ton ticket, they resort to ''nOn-partisan-
hip in municipal elections because there
no emolumeuts attached, for one thing
I'd the other is that they know they
yer can get a majority in either the
lnciI or school board. The platform
Ten was adopted is as follows:
PLATFORM.
Having only a common interest with
.Ine other citizens and property owners
OF the city in it's welfare and future adj
vancement, we believe that partisan poll
tics ought not to enter into the choice
of city officials, but that the people ire
spective of party should unite in selecting
as public servants, not only honest and
competent persons, but those only, who
keep themselves informed of the progress
and Improvement that is being made in
city government and are in hearty SYM
patty with the reforms necessary to en-
able the people to own and control their
public utilities and have the use and bene-
fit of them without paying tribute TO in
dividuals or corporations. invariably nom
residents. and who have no interest IN
the city or its people except to collect
tribute from them; therefore be it,
Resolved, That we viii support only
those candidates for Office who earnestly
believe in and will heartily support all
measures in the interest of economy and
clean; honest city government and those
measures tending to the public owner
slip and control by the city of all public
utilities. and who will vote and use their
influence to prevent further franchises Of
the streets lights. water and other public
functions. being given TO private individ-
uals companies or corporations.
Resolved, further. That We viii support
no candidates who will not openly and
publicly declare himself in favor of the
principles herein stated, and who will
not openly and publicly pledge himself
If elected. 10 work and vote for the same.
Resolved, further, That all citizens,
voters of the city, who are in sympathy
with the declaration of principles herein
set forth are invited TO unite and CO.
operate in the election of such candidates
for city officers at the approaching cleo
ton as may be agreed upon"
The meeting resolved to nominate their
candidates by petition instead Of holding
a convention. This petition racket will
help bolster up their plea that the men
are strictly non-partisan but il Will be
noted that each and every one viii be
a Demo-Pop who the voters are asked to
support II took some time for the Pops
to come 10 the determination OF choosing
their nominees by petition. J. Frost Ar
mold was feminist holding joint primary