The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-01
POPS MAKE PLEA
That They Were Not Correct
ly Quoted in the Eagle.
SQUARING THEMSELVES
By Saying 1t Is a Trick of the
Opposition.

Some Of the candidates on the haul
down the flag ticket privately claim that
the Eagle did not quote their position ex-
aotly as TO the Populist platform. The
Eagle reproduced just what these candi-
dates said as nearly as one man can quote
another. In these complaints that the
Eagle has aimed TO give these haul down
ers the worst Of it they refrain from say
ing just wherein they have not been
properly quoted. The fact is in most
cases they have declined to say they en-
oorse the platform declaring the Philip
pine war "a disgrace 10 American civili-
cation" While the platform pledges
them TO stand for and push forward this
platform, not one Of the candidates has
the courage TO say he stands on this
platform. II is true the case is a hard
one to endorse this sentiment which is
recognized to be unpopular, but many
would have preferred to vote for candi-
dates who had the courage to say what
they think rather than to evade and hes
itate. If these gentlemen stand on their
platform they could say so in such plain
represent them. If they were misrepre-
sented they could easily have said yes
or no.
When the reporter for the Eagle asked
each candidate If he endorsed the senti-
ment of the fusion platform he could
have said yes, and there would have been
no chance to misquote, or he could have
said no. and there would have been no
opportunity for misconstruction. They
are making a cowardly dodge They are
afraid to say boldly they do not endorse
the platform, and ashamed and afraid to
say they do. The reporter was instructed
to write the interview with each man
just as 1t occurred He was Instructed
emphatically to quote the men in fun
neither more nor less than each man said
and just as he said IL. This was done
The candidates are simply fighting off the
proposition by saying the Eagle is an OPP
position paper. Why didn't they say
Yes" or Nor" There would then be no
room for misconstruction of meaning or
misquotauon. They want to tumble
around and take no stand at all, ant then
say the Eagle misrepresents them. This
viii give them a chance to fnd out the
particular views Of the nan they happen
to be talking to, and square themselves
by saying the Eagle misrepresented them.
There is not a single one of the candi-
dates interviewed now who Will say for
publication that he told the Eagle man
Yes" straigh out, or No straight out,
or that he either unqualifedly endorsed
or condemned the platform. They won't
take a stand.
Here are men making complaint about
being misquoted. Not one of these can
didates will commit to writing his de-
Tense Of the Populist platform, for he
couldn't dodge that and have a chance to
square himself. No one Of these candi-
dates will venture to say that he de-
mands that the war in the Philippines
cease for the sake of humanity-as he de-
manded the war against Spain for the
sake of humanity-that our war is as Gull
pable in the Philippines as Spain's war
in Cuba. If there is nothing wrong with
this platform why do the candidates re-
fuse to say they endorse it? What's the
use to haggle words?
The facc is this effort TO dodge the IS
sue and escape the consequences OF this
haul down the flag platform will not de-
ceive anybody. The platform committed
the party TO an unpatriotic declaration
that the candidates are trying to evade.
And when they are quoted in their own
language they try 10 creep out by &C
cusing the reporter of misrepresentation. /
The way to answer any man on the haul
down the flag ticket who says he has not
been properly quoted is TO ask him just
wherein he is not properly quoted.