Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1903-09-09
A CONFESSION IN AVOIDAN CE.

The Newton Republican, edited by eX.
Congressman s. r. Peters, discourses
-editorially about the political situation
in Kansas. We quote as follows:
The last legislature did some things
which we did not then nor do NOT now approve.
Individual members of that body did things
which we do not believe to be right, patriotic.
or party helping. Criticism now cannot help
the matters. They cannot be undone. The
less said about them the better for the party
and the state. There is no danger about
party success in this state at the next election.
1t will be the presidential year. The opposi-
ton in this state is dsorganized and it cannot
reorganize in time to effect anything in the
election OF 1904. 1t is the election in 1906 that
Republicans in this state should constantly
keep in mind. A repetition of some of the
actions Of the last legislature, by the one
which meets in January, 1905 may defeat tn e
party at the election ia 1906 After the election
next November, and before the meeting of
the next legislature, every Republican paper
in the state, and every loyal Republican
should give it out cold that the mistakes of
the past whether by the legislature or by
individual Legislators, must not be repeated.
That repetition means eternal poltical death
During the interim between the election and
the meeting of the legislature, Is the time to
point out the mistakes of the past and warn
against repetition. If every Republican
paper and good Republican will do this,
there will be no repetition of past blunders
or W hat is worse, criminal acts.''
This article has more than little sig
nificance in Kansas where the Newton
Republican has been known as stanch
supporter Of the Leland-Albaugh ring.
First and foremost. 1t IS a confession OF
everything charged against the last
machine organs in Kansas ha7 9 defend
ed the legislature, alleging that it was
as good as any legislature the state ever
had, and charging that all the criticism
of it was predicated on false charges or
misstated facts. But certain 1t is,
after this confession by Judge Peters
that the legislature was not only
vicious, but criminal" there will be
little more heard in excuse or extenua-
tion of its miserable record.
1t will be observed, however, that
Judge Peters calls on the republican
papers Of Kansas TO cease their criti-
clsms and say nothing more until after
the next election. In another part of
the article from which we have quoted
he emphasizes this call for a cessation
of hOstilitles, declaring that criticism,
~'if made during or just preceding the
opening of the campaign" Is "il!-timed,
unmannelly. and accomplishes no good
purpose.
This Is in effect a cool suggestion
that the Kansas machine be allowed 20
go on and dominate the next conven.
tion. 1t In q plea that those who have
misused power should DO allowed to
continue in power. 1t is request of
the Republican voters of the state that
they shall refrain from purifying and
cleaning their own party In the only
possible manner in which that can
be done. In effect Judge Peters says:
-'Let every body keep still about the
'1apses of the legislature; let the Leland
ring remain Ia power; let there be no
attempt at reform In the primaries and
conventions. and We will guarantee
that after the election. il the honest
papers scold hard enough. the ringsters
will do no further wrongl"
The whole trouble with the legisla.
ture waa that 1t surrendered It's inde.
lpendence into the keeping Of q coseris
sOf politicians. The republicans Of
Kansas must knock out this politicians
ring or, to quote Judge Peters, the
party will court eternal political
death" The time and place 10 knock
out this ring II frst In she primaries,
then In the county conventions, and
rthen In the state convention. II the
Republicans OF Kansas do not tight it
and whip It before the nominations are
made, the transgressions OF the past
will be ~ nothing to the transgressions
OF the future. II the upright papers do
not light for cleaner politics now, they
wilt fight another time in vain, for
unchecked political corruption grows
with Ito opportunities and WAKES
stronger with every victory gained.