Year: 1876




Two years ago last winter when the
editor of the EAGLE, who at that time
was the State Senator, from this dis
trict, was confronted with nine Con-
gressional apportionment bills, two OF
which had passed either house, but all
of which ignored the Great Southwest.
practical disfranchisement seemed not
only imminent, but certain. BY
rallying friends and q strong
combination of mutual interests
and the bill, introduced by
him giving the Southwest a Congress
sional district of her own, triumphed
Many of the leading men of the State
thought it signal victory. But the
time for exultation had not come. The
northwest Corner of our district en-
compassed the political center, of the
State. Topeka, and only sixty miles
southwest of her that political center
was another almost, as formidable, En-





Cottonwood Valleys. But upon call
ing the Convention, which assembled
two years ago at Emporia, to order, it
was evident that the Arkansas Valley
was a unit, and that she could have a
man in Congress to represent her. Our
enthusiasm was pardonable. So sell
dom is the rule of giving each Con-
gressman the second term varied that
we felt that by the fall of 1873 we
should be able TO take care cf our
selves. When in that convention conf
plimen'ary votes were rendered the
editor of this paper he said "No, let
US all go for the man that has the best
show, Judge w. r. Brown" and when
afterwards proposition was made to
him to give one Of our own citizens,
Judge w. z. Campbell, Il pull, his an
swer was just as before, that if we
got Congressman we must not divide
our force among favorites.


Two years have rolled around, an
other convention has convened and its
verdict stands recorded against the
longer ascendancy of the Arkansas
Valley. Our party that favored the
one extreme two years ago now favors
the other and as true Repu blican W c
must submit to the will of the majori-
ty, not only with alarcity, but with a
hearty good will.


Judge Brown was new member
aud young man and we can honestly
say without fear of successful contra
diction that he only made as
successful member as any man that
we could have sent-a Congressman
in advance of the average member.
He was not only new member, but q
member of Democratic House which
conceded nothing not forced from it.
Judge Brown proved himself Con-
gresham, as he proved himself man
last Friday when he assured the Con-
vention that had defeated him, that he
would be found in the harness this fall
pulling square for all its measures and
for all its nominees.


Upon the standing and qualifications
of Thomas Ryan, it is unnecessary to
dwell. He is known to the people of
the State AS an able lawyer he has
stood prominent for years in the U. S.,
courts and district courts of Kansas.
Earnest, square aud unwavering his
positions are never doubtful. As coun-
ty attorney of Shawnee county, for
years and as Deputy United States
attorney his record is unexceptionably
flattering TO both his manhood and
mental attainments. We set his ma
iority down at twelve thousand in the
district, we care not who his competi-
tor may be- The whole Southwest
will be enthusiastic for him. Sedgwick
county aud Wichita will give him
more than a party vote as against any
man that the Democrats can name, ex
cepting, may be, John Martin.