Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-05-19
coNDITToNs IN OTTAWA COUNTY,

This interesting summary Of poll
teal conditions in Ottawa county in
dicates how that section looks at
things;
In Ottawa county, as elsewhere In
the state, the drift Of political senti-
ment among Republicans, seems to
be away from Governor Stubbg and
the element in politics which be rep
resents. And this too, notwithstand-
| ing the fact that Ottawa county 10
the home Of Judge r. R. Rees, the
insurgent candidate for the RsnnDli-
can congressional nomination in the
Fifth district, of J. G. Gafford, Gov
ernor Stubs state accountant, and
of John T White, late grain lnspsc-
| tor and now the Stubs selection for
place on the state board of railway
commissioners.
Gafford and White have been the
head of the local machine that ma
nipulates Ottawa county politics In
the interest of "the square deal" OF
tawa county Republicans do not OBJ
iect to Gsfford and White taking
care of themselves, as they have, but
they are getting bit tired Of square
deal" reform that up to date has
brought them little bit higher taxes
and the distinction Of having two
Ottawa county men, Gafford and
! White, constantly in office. CAT
ford has held state office, that OF
state accountant, ever since 1t was
created going on six years ago. White
has not done as well although he
served three terms in the legislature,
serving at the same time as a men,
Der Of the state grain commission.
Still member of the legislature he
has Just resigned as state grain In
spector to run on the Stubs slate as
candidate for railroad commission
err. For Gafforrd and White, Ottawa
county is abount convinced that the
square deal" has been q good thing
Two years ago the candidacy Of
Judge Rees for congress, hooked VI
with "hQme pride" kept the Republi
cans In ottawa county who were op
, posed to Stubs from making any
. thing like an organized fight agains
: him at the primary election. The
. realized that sentiment was pFobabl'
in favor Of Stubs anyway as OF
tawa county never had been LIE
land county. So they allowed thing
> 10 sort Of go by default and stubb
: carried the county by a big vote.
will be different this year.
The dissatisfaction among Reput
llicans who two years ago supporte
stubbs as against Leland with til
conduct Of the state administratio
and the attitude of Stubs and b
close friends toward President Ia
and the national Administrative
which is so general over the state
Just as marked in Ottawa county an
it is plainly to be seen now that Wal
staff will get anywhere from fiftee
! to twenty-five per cent more votes
the August primary than Cyrus L
land did two years ago. So far tn
~ revolt against Stubs in Ottawa coui
% ty is quiet. Having had no ant
lie Stubs organization in the past, R
Q, publican supporters of Wagstaff al
W handicapped some but they are goin
le at 1t to form an organization Il
'f Wagstaff and it can be depended upc
that they will materially reduce Il
~ Stubs vote. II the same ratio
" change can be maintained ever!
lie where in the state Wagstaff will wi
8, by large majority. ~
IS Fear Of Democratic Interference
10 the Republican primary Is the Oh
n thing that causes Wagstaff's supper
to ers in Ottawa county to fear that the
"a may not make as good showing
10 they now anticipate. These Repul
m lieans know the tactics Of the stubl
to machine which Messrs, Gafford an
m White operate in Ottawa county. \
less than six responsible Mlnneapol
I'd business men informed the write
es that two years ago Gafford used h
IN automobile in hauling Democrat
IS, voters to the primary to call for R
en- publican ballots and vote for IL
ne nomination Of Stubs and the rest I
ne the slate he had made. It was fu
Their stated that he once drove Sc
r. eral miles in the country and brougl
he in five known Democrats who a
o, called for and voted Republican ticl
SO cts at the primary.
de "Still," said DR.. Coulter, III thu
H. don't vote any more Democrats
ar our primary than they did two yea
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