Where is S. S. Knox?

The Cortland News, Friday, October 19, 1883.

Nominations.

   THE NEWS has more than once spoken in favor of the very excellent State ticket nominated by the Republican Convention at Richfield Springs. No one having a spark of Republicanism in him can raise an objection to it. The efforts of the Democratic press to create a division in our party by calling it a "Stalwart" ticket, where the so-called "Half-breeds" are in the majority and then calling it a "Half-breed" triumph where so-called "Stalwarts" are numerous, has proven a perfect failure. The people have come to understand that with true Republicans there is no division into "Stalwart" and "Half-breed."

   The event which gave rise to these terms is a thing of the past. It now has no sanction among men entitled to the appellation of Republican. The ticket is about evenly made up of the representatives of both sentiments indicated by those terms.

   We have now a plain duty before us in this county, as marked out by the State Convention. We have our local differences. One party hasn't the best opinion of the other party to the controversy. The love will not be strengthened by calling harsh names. Our duty is a plain one, and no true Republican will fail to see and act upon it.

   In our County Convention we should seek for men who are known to be fit for the places to which they are to be nominated and then disregarding cliques see that such fit men are nominated. We have excellent men for County Judge—men who have tried cases in our court-house and whose ability is known. Let us select one such and put him forward against the Democratic candidate, who has never tried a case in a court of record, though admitted over eight years ago. Let the people fully and fairly understand the facts, and there will be no trouble.

   What the people desire for public servants, are men who have the capacity and experience to do properly the duties of the offices to which they are chosen. For Member of the Assembly we need a man who has some qualifications other than…rank. Long hair and [newsprint illegible—CC editor]… head are not qualifications sought after, We need a cool-headed, experienced man, who knows something of the laws he is to help amend. We need a practical, level-headed man.

   We have many such in the Republican party in this county. We nominated one last year, but the cyclone which swept over the State with the factional spirit of certain ambitious aspirants for leadership, bore him down. Let us hope that while the ambitious few remain the same, the rank and file, seeing the mistake of last fall will refuse to repeat it, and that whoever is nominated at our County Convention next week will receive the hearty support of every Republican in this county.

   We are preparing for the campaign of 1884, which will determine whether hereafter there will be any Republican party. This should inspire the old enthusiasm.

New Political Catechism for 1883.

   Question—Who is a "Ring Republican?"

   Answer— Any man who votes the regular Republican ticket.

   Question—Who is an Independent Republican and a truly good man?

   Answer — Any former Republican who now bolts the ticket regularly and votes for S. S. Knox and other Kelly democrats.

Cowardly.

   Cortland's bad boy keeps writing to the Syracuse Switch about some imaginary "Ring” not even daring to have it go in his own hand-writing, but compelling one of his employees to copy it. Isn't this sneaking cowardice? Come, Clark, brace up and have the courage to father your own lies. The people are laughing about you.

Where is S. S. Knox?

   This gentleman was nominated for County Judge by the Democratic Convention, and came into the convention and accepted the nomination in a speech. Yesterday the Prohibition Convention met and nominated S. S. Knox as their candidate for County Judge, and appointed Messrs. Allport and Bean a committee to invite Mr. Knox to appear before the convention and accept the nomination in a speech. The committee got on the trail of their candidate, but Judge Knox made some tall tracks, and all the committee could discover was his coat-tails disappearing around the corner of the Standard block. It is said he took refuge in B. T. Wright's office, as it was deemed best for him not to make a speech to the men as it might injure him with the Democrats. Our friend Knox will find it hard work to ride two horses.

J. H. Tripp.

   Mr. J. H. Tripp, of Marathon, was an unsuccessful candidate for nomination for Assembly in the Republican County Convention of 1877. Since then he has paraded as a "reformer" and "temperance" man, but worked for the election of Dr. Nelson, the anti-temperance candidate last fall. On Wednesday of this week he turned up as a candidate for Member at the Democratic Convention, but failed to catch on, and yesterday he was found to be a candidate for the same office in the Temperance Convention. It will be a sorry time for the people when such political jumping jacks and chronic office-seekers are permitted to write "Honorable" before their names.

To Candid Republicans.

   It is the universal verdict of all fair-minded Republicans that the campaign in the State and in Cortland county has been conducted with eminent fairness. The State, Senatorial and Judicial ticket is made up of good men, and will receive the support of all true Republicans.

   We have a Presidential election next year, and it is of the highest importance that the Republicans of this county should be united. We regret to say, however, that a few disorganizes are trying, even in advance of the Republican County Convention, to organize an opposition to Republican candidates to be there nominated. The great body of Republicans do not sympathize with them in their treason to a good cause. The Syracuse Standard has some forcible remarks on this subject, which will apply to other localities than Onondaga county:

   "It is pertinent to inquire if these men who are tampering with the loyalty of Republicans ought to be regarded as in any way attached to the party. Since they care nothing for its success save as that success profits or tickles them, why should they be viewed as Republicans? Probably the party would be better off if rid of them; and they would perhaps be happier. In their present deceptive position they serve as a nucleus for weakening dissension, a centre of irritation; and it will never be possible to make them comfortable."

Items.

   The Democratic Judicial Convention held at Binghamton Thursday endorsed the nomination of H. Boardman Smith [also endorsed by the Republican Convention—CC editor] for Justice of the Supreme Court.

   There was a Democratic gain of only 806 in last Fall's election, and if all Republicans will vote this Fall we can carry the State by at least 20,000 majority.

   The Kelly Democrats had the County Convention all to themselves. The friends of Tilden and Cleveland were given the cold shoulder, and the men who bolted Lucius Robinson in 1879 carried off the honors. Hurrah for John Kelly!

   A portion of the John Kelly ring tried hard to nominate James H. Tripp, a renegade Republican, to reward him for his numerous bolts against Republican candidates. Tripp received 27 votes and now takes his position where he belongs, with the Kelly Democracy. "One by one the roses fade."

   In the Democratic County Convention there were twenty-seven delegates who evidently believed Jas. H. Tripp to be as good a Democrat as themselves, and voted for him for Member of Assembly in recognition of his efforts last Fall to bring about the election of Dr. Nelson. We wonder that for the same reason W. H. Clark was not named. But perhaps the Democracy thought that in that case a snow storm was too certain.

Stalwarts and Half-Breeds: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Breed_(politics)

John Kelly: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kelly_(U.S._politician)