Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1904-02-05
Defeat of Governor Bailey.


support of all the great interests of
our state, but they viii condemn any
profigate waste of the public money"
The above is closing paragraph
of Gov. Bailey's message to the last
legislature. Little did he think when
he penned those few words that for
betrayal of the trust reposed in the
warning sounded by him. he would
fail of a second nomination by his
own party for the great Office upon
which he had just entered. Nomi-
mated On the first ballot at the Wichita
convention, against a formidable field,
elected by the overwhelming majority
of 10000. against a candidate whose
campaign cry was just taxation, and
economy, he entered the Office of
governor with bright future. Sur
rounded by men who had made him,
he took their advice and counseled
with them. Why should he have
done otherwise? A bitter senatorial
fight was in progress, also bitter
fight over the best plum in the state,
state printer. Upon the organization
of the house depended much in the
result of these contests. Neither
county represented by the two lead
ing candidates for speaker had sup
ported the governor at Wichita, and
he was under no obligations to either.
One made miserably poor speaker
of the former house, the other had
some strength which was needed by
the governor and his supporters to
help them in helping those who had
stood by him at Wichita, and he went
that way. Long was elected senator,
and after all what did Governor
Bailey owe Curtis or Stanley? Clark
was elected state printer, and what
did Governor Bailey owe Hoch?
Had the latter been elected state
printer, would he now be crying for
reform in that Office? Would he
now be a candidate for governor?
The legislature, needing not the
governors admonition, spent money
extravagantly. The state senate in
the hands of the enemies of the gov
ernor had 14S employees for 40 mem
bers. The house, a majority of
whom were friendly to the governor
had something over 200. In both
branches of the legislature were men
like Senator Miller, Stubbs of Law
renee, Dolley of Waubaunsee, Find
lay of Rice, and many others who
were lined up with the boss busters
in the recent fight on the governor,
and all are alike to blame for the eX-
travagance. None of them called
halt. Some of them had bills in. for
large appropriations which were voted
down. They helped spend the
money the tax payers are now putting
up, and now they are throwing the
entire blame on Bailey. On the state
board of equalization is Tom Kelley
who with the assistance of secretary
of state, Burrow, cut the valuations
in their respective counties raised it
everywhere else except on the rail-
roads. The same Tom Kelley who
put up $1,000 for shortages in his
accounts as county clerk of Miami
county. And now poor Bill Bailey,
because he stood by men who stood
by him, must go back to his farm,
with the knowledge that his own
party did not think him fit for
second term, his enemies using their
own shortcomings to drive him out of
the state house.
This is republican row, and We
have no chips in tine game. We are
not particularly stuck on Bailey, and
certainly not on Cy Leland and his
crowd, but it does not seem right to
turn Bailey down for denomination
when every boss buster is as guilty as
the governor and his crowd, and then
on top of that renominate Tom Kelley
for state treasurer, and pass resolu-
tons endorsing Burton.
Frank Wood brought in and sold a
load of alfalfa seed the first of the
week, the check for which made him
feel good all over. The load con-
tanned IS bushels, bringing him s513.
Pretty good haul for one load. A
few loads like this and Frank could
give his friends $50 gold pieces for
souvenirs. Who says alfalfa don't
pay.
Regular services at Presbyterian
church on Sunday. On Sunday
morning will be the sacrament of the
Lords Supper. Sunday evening
Rev. Jolly viii preach on subject:
IL II