Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1900-08-15
TELLS WHY HE QUIT.
Felt Explains Reasons That Prompted
Him to leave the Republican
Party.

-. y
Republican committee of Nemaha
county. received tbs tEignation of a.
j. Felt as chairman OF the. committee,
he wrote letter asking an eHplana-
ton. Governor Felt explained readily
sufficient reasons. The following is a
portion of his letter:
My resignation as chairman in
tended to cover my membership of the
committee. / have not gone back on
the old faith of the 'G. o. p as yon
state in the case, but while holding
practically the same views upon pub
bic questions as have advocated upon
the stump and in the press from the
time ! supported Lincoln and every
Republican candidate down to the
present year, | am more nearly in ae-
cord with the platforms OF Kansas
City and re-atfirmed ut FIT. Scott than
the one adopted by the Republicans
last month at Philadelphia.
Probably my decision is as snrpris-
ing TO the Democrats and Populists
as to Republicans, but in view of the
ri.w issues in this campaign my duty
is plain. IT pains me deeply tn sever
my relations with the Republican par
iy. TO that party has been given sin
cere. candid. uRreserved and never
ceasing labor in every presidential
and state campaign for thirty,six
years. Had regard merely for my
own personal interests certainly
should remain in 4hs Republican party.
Iiad in view any political preferment.
OF course I should strive to retain my
place With the Republicans. With my
earnest eonvicaioas regarding the Flu.
ropean policy of the Mckinley admin
istration in IT'S treatment OF Porto
Rico and the Philippinesvwith its at
tempt to retire the greenbaeks and
form the national banks into gigan-
tie trust-with its craven. unrepubiie-
an and anti-American attitude. in its
|cruei and cold blooded refusalto tender
its sympathy TO the struggling Boer
republic in the Transyaai-wfth lis
failure to enforce the anti trust laws
with its cool contempt for the Grand
Army of the Republic by retaining at
the head of the pension department a
man whose plan IN dealing with SUR
viving union vettraEs is TO use against
The deserving pension applicants the
laws made expressly for their benefit;
with these views cannot consistently
vote for Mckinley this year.
"You say you want me to stand BY
Mckinley and prosperity If McKim-
ley is responsible for the foreign wars
and the foreign>sgop shortage, thus
creating demand for American pro-
ducts, then JEFF Davis was creator of
business and prosperity in the north
in 1851 to 1865 by making unusual des
ma'nd for northern food, csc.hinp.
wagons, mules and guns. If McKin-
ley is to be glorified for good Kansas
crops. then he is equally responsible
for the hot winds, drought and short
corn crop in our western counties this
year. You and l are boo old, and 1
hope too sensible, to mislead people BIZ
clap-trap about prosperity I'VE know
that in 1896 we all declared as Repub-
licans that the volume of money did
not appreciate values yr make pros
perity; but the Philadelphia conyen-
tion points with pride 20 the fact
that Mckinley has largely increased
the money value and thus added TO the
| wave of prosperity
1T has been suggested to me today
that shall lose my friends by support
ing Bryan and Breidenfhal. l hope
that is not true. Friends who lose
respect for a man who follows his
iearnest convictions are not worth hay-
ling. OF course ! expect to be snariesl
:f by those who would vote for satan
| il on their Hicket bnt ! can much more
easily endure the criticism OF such
Imen than to stifle my political convic.
tions as an American citizen owing no
allegiance 10 ans flag but Old Glory