Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-05-24
Mr.. Vincent's Weakness.


the anti.Republcan ranks. So little
interest was taken in the Populis'
convention that many counties did
not have half their delegates present,
H. N. Gaines, ex.state superintendent
and editor OF the Salina Union, Ii
leading fight on Vincent inside the
fusion ranks. Two days before the
convention he published the follow
ing letter in his paper with "scare'
headlines and with all the prominence
he could giveit. The distict has been
Hooded with It and the estimate made
therein that Vincent will be beaten al
least 5000 votes Is generally consid-
cred a reasonable one.
To Hon. W. D. Vincent:
SALIVA, Kas., May y, l9O0.-An-
other letter is due you now as | have
searched the daily papers for your
withdrawal from this congressional
district as a candidate in about these
words:
lowing to pressure OF affairs at
home, which need my personal at
tention, | have concluded to request
you to select (as you should for four
years back some party to represent
you. must thank you for permit
ting my name to stand SO long before
the public" The last is well added
for truly what is the source Of your
candidacy again for so long a time
before the publicP Where must the
odious responsibility be placedP Ger
tainly not from the Populist party as
they informed you in 1898 in the
election to defeat OF
2, 4S3 after two years use when you
had carried the tistrictin 1896 with a
majority OF 6S4 for yourself was
enough. To an intelligent and sober
man this change should not be mis-.
taken. Further they openly declared
IS, 900 was too much for SO small
quantity and quality Of intelligence
In short the difference between you
and Calderhead Is you are trifle the
prettest and peartest and he trifle
the smartest. All parties now de-
mand better material than either to
them in the next congress.
| have asked who brought you be-
fore the public this yearP l answer
postmasters from all
the county seats Of this congressional
district except Harry Mcmillan OF
Minneapolis who called on me in Jan
uary while | was confined in bed suf.
fering from rheumatism, and in our
conversation your name was mention
ed and he frankly said your name
should not be thought or mentioned
as you had not held the confidence of
the voters and man Of we'll known
integrity and ability should be select
ed for this position and who could
make u creditable speech and discuss
all prominent issues before the public.
Now how did these ex.Democratic
postmasters force your name on the
people and drop out better menP
Simply in this manner; at all times
and all places and everywhere else
say it appeared no other is spoken of
but Vincent and if any other name
was suggested they were all prepared
TO add he was not in the race as they
were informed directly from him.
See how easy it was for them and you
10 strike a bargain Of much benefit to
both in finance,
Vincent, no party thinks Of your
being able to be elected, and, for in
stance, when Ed Bailiff, A. l.. Taylor
md H. N. Gaines were at Clay Center
rs delegates to the convention for
,lecting delegates to the national con-
gention at Sioux Falls, s. D., they
,alked with numbers Of farmers in
your county, and friends Of yours,
90, and no one even thought you
,ould carry your own county If NOM
mated again. You will recollect also
you carried six counties in 1896 and
,nly two counties, Clay and Cloud, in
1898; Clay in 1896 by S64 majority,
md in 1898 by 200 majority; Cloud
n 1896 by Sl3 majority and in 1898
by only 81 majority Secretary state
'eporD and now you will recognize
quite a shrinkage in both and lost all
he other counties in the district.
Now this defeat should be the instruc-