Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-05-16
where the Credit Belongs.

That one result, taken alone, constitutes
l. complete vindication Of the organizatic
a. what answer does the old machine pr0po
TO this assertionf-lEI Dorado Republican.
To this the Wichita Beacon, Hem
Allen editor, makes the iollowir
clear and convincing reply that stat
facts and states them well:
I'VE do not know what the 'ol
machine has to say. 1t Is one
those silent, whispering, mysteriou
evils that does not commit itself 81
! cept by actions; but II 1t were ID
clined to be laxative here Is one In
stance in which 1t might borrow tn
square deal halo and do some gran'
stand stunts for Its own glorifcation
II you are going to credit the in
creased valuation Of railroad property
just made by the railway assessment
board to either machine you have got
to credit it to the 'old machine,
which nominated the officials who
have performed this virtuous deed.
"If the old machine would adjourn
Its secret work long enough to talk it
might hurl back at Reformer Murdoch
several replies which would be discon-
certing. For instance, It might deny
che so called square deal credit for
raising the assessment Of the railroads
upon the simple grounds that the
duty was performed by three officials
who are not in the movement and
whom the movement attempted to
defeat for election to the offices they
hold, and in virtue Of which they have
done their work.
"The old machine might rise up
with exhibit "A in the form Of lot Of
newspaper clippings from the Capital
and other organs Of the square deal
machine, advising people that Fitz-
gerald, now the president Of the board
which has increased these assessments,
belonged to the railroads and ought
to be defeated.
Then the 'old machine which, un-
doubtedly did nominate Fitzgerald,
could lay down these clippings and
take up some others from the same
source lambasting Mark Tully, then
candidate for state treasurer, and now
a member Of the board Of railway as
SCISSORS, because he refused to answer
the questions sent out by the square
dealers, declared himself fatty at war
with that organization and even went
to the hideous length Of saying in
cold print that he was opposed to a
primary election law on the merits Of
the question.
"Then II the Ell Dorado reformer is
still yelling for the old machine to
say something, it could hold up as an
additional exhibit the papers in the
case of G. E. Denton Of Attica, the
remaining member Of the board Of
three railroad assessors which has |
raised the railroad taxes. Mr.. Dem
ton was member Of the 'old ma
chine He was the first man to get
place on the Albaugh-M ulvane-Simp-
son slate at the last convention. He
refused to answer the questions sent
nut by the square dealers in the last
but scorned the movement
md showed his teeth whenever any
quare dealer came around asking
lin to 60 on record for anything.
ave find that the increase Of over
million dollars In the assessed valua-
ion of railways was made by the
hree men who more than all the other
andidates on the last Republican
lcket opposed the so-Called square !
cal movement and who were especial
bjects Of that movements attacks.
"Is it a square deal now for Mr.. =
Tubs and his fellow apostles to try
D appropriate that credit,and rob the q
I'D machine which really needs 1t,
I the only virtuous history it or any \
ne else has made for some timer
"What is the lesson Of 1t all any
ayr Simply this, that a man may
honest. and not wear a square deal :
lg. The lesson merely bears out
he Beacon's contention that whatever :
ood is done may be done In the name I
the party. The machines are evil. .
he splendid accomplishments Of !
lieutenant Governor Fitzgerald, State !
treasurer Tully and Secretaryo Of State
enton are not because they belong to
machine, but in spite Of Il. They
"a ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS that atand n