The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-09-19
FUSION TICKET.
= sIucIDAL 49, PoLIcY.

A SUICIDAL PARTY POLICY.
The fusion forces of the state Of
Kansas have a very important lesson
to learn, and that is the power and
Importance of the country press. On
this potent force they are compelled to
rely for publicity for their principles,
defense of their candidates and report
of their doings. They are not only the
pickets at the front but are the videtts
and scouts that report the movements
and Vaccinations Of the enemy.
The subsidized republican daily
press do not, even as matter of news,
report the doings Of the opposition IN
less to distort and faIsify, and so to
make a point in their own favor and
against democrats and pOpulists. This
is a fact so well known that comment
is unnecessary. Who shall reply? The
daily democratic press? Every one,
nearly, takes the local paper irrespect-
i've of its politics, for the sake Of the
local news, and neighbors swap and
borrow country papers, so fusion pa
pers-pOpuIist and democratic reach
people who seldom ever see a great
daily. The country press as a whole
spreads wider and 90 farther than the
daily press.
So any party, especially a new party,
that proposes to do business and forge
to the front must rely on the country.
press to do the pioneer work Of the
party, and when IN power locally
should reward it literally and Loyalty
by its political patronage. This the peO-
pies party has not only not done, but
on the contrary has adopted the sui
cidal policy of compelling their papers
to accept less than legal rates for Off
cial and county printing. In this and
many other counties of the state, only
one half legal rates have been allowed
and even less, and in some instances 1t
has been let to the lowest bidder and
given to opposition papers.
In recent conversation on this sub
ject, admitting the truth of these
statements, Hon. J. D. Botkin said:
'AIl over the state of Kansas peoples
party papers are eeking out a miser-
able existance as a result of this ruin
Gus, unjust and suicidal policy" He
was frank to admit that the party had
suffered incalcuIabIe injury in this
way and that this wrong must be made
right or the party would speedily dis
integrate. He said: "The republican
party does not do that way, but give
the printing to their papers at full
legal rates.
The following letter from the head
quarters of the peoples party, at To
pka, Kan, to The Republic, emapa-
sizes and Acknowledges the dependence
Of the party on the country press, and
is as follows:
''The- state. committee of the demo
cratic and peoples party feel called
upon to express their thanks and deep
appreciation of theT country press Of
the,oppOsition to the republican party
for their splendid work in this cam
paign. The. committee is sensible of
the fact that it is upon the country
press they must lean for the dissent
nation of intelligence in the campaign.
They acknowledge their deficiency in
metropolitan papers and feel that
were it not for the magnificent work of
the country press there would be little
show Of victory.
"Under all the difficulties, however,
and through all the discouragements
resulting from adverse legislation and
other conditions, the opposition press
has stood stalwart like a breakwater
againt the torrents and,stOrms of angry
corporate interests, and if victory is
ours this fall, we shall owe it primarily
to the genuine, sincere and unremit-
ting toll Of the country press. Our eff
forts toward helping you have been
feeble, but we hope to make it strOn-
ger from this time forward Our week
" letter viii continue and will con
tain matters of ripe discussion, as
fresh as can be had. Our new pam
phIet viii be out late next week and
we viii mail you an advance copy Of it.
Again thanking you in the name Of
the committee, we remain, very truly,
J. II. Curran, Secretary"