Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-03-29
FALCON VS.. STUART
To the Kansas State Senate:

entitled action. The result of this
contest is of m ore vital interest to
the institutions of q Republican
form of government in Kansas than
the issue of any problem by like
body of men in this or any other state.
Laying aside all questions of the
personnel Of the gentlemen interest
ed, we wish TO invite your earnest
attention to a condition of affairs in
Northeast Kansas, the like of which
is without parallel in this state and
we doubt If the situation can be du-
plicated ID any state in the nation.
in the interest of good government
we sincerely trust that such condi-
tion does not elsewhere exist. For
more than thirty years the little strip
of land In Northeast Kansas, border
ed on the east and north by the
Missouri river, and known upon the
map of Kansas as Doniphan county
has been the home of the most
despotic boss known to American
politics in this century. As early
as 1869 Cyrus Leland began to be
known in Doniphan county politics.
He began his political career as
deputy sheriff of the county. Later
he was elected a member of the
board of county commissioners from
the 3rd commissions district and
for twenty-three years he sat as a
member of the county board, and for
the entire time as chairman of the
board. The board of county COM
missioners ia Kansas, As you are
aware, is the board of equalization
for the county. Mr.. Leland's seat
upon the county board was the
throne from which he punished his
political enemies aud rewarded
political friends. To oppose him
meant an equalization (?) of your
assessment and an increase in your
taxes of from 25 to IS per cent over
the assessed valuation OF the town
ship assessor. Your political friend
ship was acknowledged by lower
taxes or no taxes at all. For more
than twenty years this ,aort of pol
itical brigandsge has been the policy
of the board of county commissioners
of Doniphsn county. Mr.. Leland
so manipulated the conventions of
his party that the nominees of that
organization wer easily dominated
by Leland and to vote against either
of them in convention or at the polls
meant political damnation and pol
itical ruin. This is no idle statement
of the situation in ihls county for
years, but can be substantiated by
the tax recsipts and sworn state
ments of hundreds of our most
reputable citizens For many years
as testified to by Mr.. Leland himself
and other citizens of this county in
trial in the district court of Don
iphan county some yesrs ago, Mr..
Leland did not keep a bank account
but checked directly upon the
county treasurer in the form OF
orders upon that official
Matters finally came to such pass
that in 1887 the people of the country
broke away from all party restraint and
elected Hon. Thos. Langan, Democrat,
county treasurer. For him to be seat
ed meant financial ruin and political
death to Leland. When the contest
was over and the certainty of Mr.. Ian.
gan's election seemed assured the re.
turns from Highland Station, pre-
cinct in the hills of the Missouri river
couli not be had. There had been a
fight at the polling place during thu
progress of the count and the ballot
box disappeared. 1t did not show VI
for four days. Mr.. Leland's board OF
county commissioners canvassed tn,
vote and declared Mr.. Lsngan defeated
by seUen majority. The people accept
ed the situation with mutterings tina
denoted coming storm. In 1889 tA,
people again nominated and electet
Mr.. Langan county treasurer. He wa
defeated in the result, however, b,
changes made in the tally sheets at Tro,
precinct by members of the election
BOARD, appointed and controlled by LIE
land. The majority against Mr.. Ian
gan being placed at thiIty-two thougl
ois election was conceded for severa
days after election. The people had n
troublc in locating the blame for tn
miscarriage of The political intentions
The responsibility was placed, an
rightly placed, at Mr.. Leland's door
The people determined to change th
personnel of the county board. Wit
this end in view they nominated,
1891, one of the Wealthiest and bes
known citizens of the 3rd district, Nj
J. A. Symns, opposing MIR. Lelant
Mr.. Symns was defeated by a sma
maiority. and he has since annual