Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-05-12
THURSDAY, MAY II, 1898.
CLOSE UP THE RANKS.
a Few Pertinent Reasons From Both Sides
Why Democrats and Populists
Should Unite.

/
Under the above heading appeared
last week the two editorials following,
the first from the Newton Banner, a
Peoples Party paper. and the other from
Joe Furgate's Newton Journal. demo-
| cratic
! These two articles very ably state
| the situation, as we see it, and as we
! believe the democrats and populists of
the entire state see it:
''Just now, discussion is going on in
various parts of the state, over the
probable personnel of the next state
ticket. There is but little clamor on
the part of>democrats for places upon
the ticket. They recognize that the
present state administration is the best
in the history of the state. Repubh-
cans. even, acknowledge it and tremble
when they think of it. A few of the
leaders and trimmers of the democratic
party are asking that places be made
for democrats upon the state ticket,
No matter how desirable it might be to
do this, it can never be done without
endangering the success of the ticket.
There is perfect understanding be-
tween democrats and populists due to
the eminently fair treatment given the
former by the administration. Every
body knows that on the part of the pop
ulists the contract has been more than
filled in giving places to democrats in
excess of the terms of agreement. Fl.
nancially, the democrats are better off
at present than they would be with rep.
resentation on the state ticket.
There is no criticism of the official
conduct of our state officers. Why
then should they be turned down OF
forced out? We have shown that the
democracy of Kansas would be the
loser by this plan. 1t would certainly
produce confusion. The differences
between US are more imaginative than
real. Close up the ranks. Banner.
"Our neighbor hits the nail on the
head in the above article in so far as it
relates to the state ticket. The pres.
1ent stale officers should be endorsed in
toto and nominated by the democratic
state convention or we should place a
full ticket of democrats in nomination.
The former course would result in the
election of our friends and allies to the
Offices, the latter course would disrupt
the silver forces and result in defeat all
along the lines. To force division OF
the nominations for state officers at this
time would be fraught with great dan
ger. 1t smatters too much of hunt
for spoils at the sacrifice of principle
A custom obtains in all political parties
of giving public official second nom
ination if he has shown competency,
honesty and fidelity during his first
term. Each and every one of the pres.
ent state officials is entitled to this re.
ward for faithful services from the dem.
ocrats as well as from the populists and
free silver republicans.
The special committees from the
democratic and populist parties. res.
pectively, which met in Topeka Wed
nesday and agreed upon a division of
the state Office spoiIs, will most likely
find they reckoned without their hosts.
When the representatives of the two
parties meet in state convention on
June. 1s-at Atchison and Topeka,
respect;vely-the fxers will meet a
humilitating defeat.
1t is desirable and all important that
the nominees of both parties should be
identical from the highest to the lowest,
and an equitable adjustment can be
easily made without shelving any of the
present state officials. Compensation
may be shown the democrats in the
personnel of the congressional, legis-
latlve and county tickets. This would
harmonic the refractory factions in
both parties and insure a glorious vic.
tory for the reform forces all along the
| line.
This plan of campaign would win.
the success of any other would be
doubtful journal.
And now the jolly farmer boy just