The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-09-25
AUeF'S

when our farmers are prosperous we are
| all more or less benefited, and being 'de-
sirous and anxious that the homestead set
tiers should have free homes If possible
for the. many blessings free homes would
bring-I have decided to cast my ballot
for the one man who more than any other
represents the free homes sentiment, and
who can best serve the people under the
present order OF things, the Hon. Dennis
T. Flynn.
please know and understand thar 1
have absolutely nothing TO say regarding
Mr.. Keaton's character OF personal habits.
1 presume know him as well as you do,
and shall not attempt to dispute your
statements regarding his character, for
despise a campaign of g personal nature.
While you may not agree with me in
some of my reasons for declining 10 sup
pot him, you shall not have the oppor-
tunity Of retorting by accusing me of
personalities and mud Singing in this
matter Just what Mr.. Keaton's cam
paign song will be- cannot imagine.
What he WIN talk about to interest and
amuse the people is an enigma, for you
know there is not much to hope for in
the free silver issue in an off year, in
territory at that, and with the national
administration republican. As to the free
homes issue, Mr.. Keaton says, That is a
dead issue" He so stated to ME prior to
the convention which nominated him, and
thought that the campaign in the terri
tory this fall would be much simplified
thereby If Free Homes was not an is
sue or rather if it was a dead issue"
before he was nominated, il surely can't
be much of an issue with him now. and
he cannot be very much in earnest about
free homes. He must surely feel that if
elected his constituents viii not expect
him to over-exert himself along nat line;
ans by the way, ! just saw what pur-
ported to be a quoted Interview with him,
in which he stated, The people 90 not
expect free homes" I was not present at
the interview, so do not know whether
the reporter quoted him correctly or not,
but one thing sure, he stated to me, that,
Free Homes would not be an issue in
this campaign"
The conversation was not of a private
character, so no confidence is violated by
giving out his words. If free homes is
dead issue" as he stated to me, and as
free silver is temporarily side-tracked, to
say the least, 1 am somewhat interested
to know just how he is going to interest
his audiences. I notice, however, from
the papers, that he proposes to make the
'Tax raise" one of the leading questions
for discussion. VIII you tell me hat a.
delegate in congress has to do with the
tax raise question? That is a matter for
our legislature-one of the things the last
one overlooked until the last day of the
session. 1 can see only one purpose the
tax raise question can subserve, and that
is to act as a switch to side track the
free hines issue, providing the people
and voters will bite at the tempting bait.
Believing that the best interests of the
territory demand Mr.. Flynn's election,
and preferring to vote for an out and
out republican, to a populisic fusionist
who has not the courage to admit him
self one, for fear of injuring his social
standing; 1 must decline to grant you
your request, /. e., 'to write a letter stat
ing that I am not going to vote for Mr..
Flynn"
You may. show this letter to your re-
publican neighbor.' who told you l was
going to vote for Mr.. Flynn and whose
veracity you doubted 1 trust you and
your republican neighbor will not fall out
on account of my politial conduct, and
that you will remain good friends in the
future as in the past, for I know he must
be good neighbor. for in this matter
he told you the truth. That my political
,,osi+io,, NAV NOT he misunderstood | save
decided to give this letter to the press.
with highest regards 1 remain,
Every truly yours,