"A certain lady in this vicinity has for the past three weeks been putting herself in fighting order, ready for a warfare on the saloons of this place, and her husband has at the same time been using his best efforts to reduce the amount of liquor that his wife expects to destroy when the proper time arrives," reported the Kansas New Era, April 9, 1874, followed by the following news items.
"The temperance question still agitates our citizens. Last Friday evening the Temperance League met at the Congregational Church to perfect arrangements for the election. The session was a stormy one, and the debates sharp and acrimonious. The general sentiment of the league seemed to be in favor of putting a Temperance ticket in the field. The speakers on the radical side were R.H. Crosby, the Rev. McHenry, H.K. McCartney, Wm. Crosby, and Dr. Northrup; while the Rev. Levi B. Wilson represented the Conservative element. Finally a total abstinence pledge was adopted as the platform of the league.
"Subsequently, M.P. Hillyer refused to accept the nomination for mayor on the Temperance ticket, and the meeting adjourned without further action.
"A majority of the Temperance men believed themselves sold out by their leaders, and on Saturday afternoon they nominated the same ticket proposed by the committee of the League, substituting Mr. C.C. Lord for mayor in place of M.P. Hillyer and putting Mr. E.B. Strickland on the council in place of C.C. Lord.
"The Conservative Party nominated the old city officers headed by M.P. Hillyer for mayor. The Anti-Temperance and Saloon interest nominated a ticket headed by Henry Coy for mayor and composed of three of the Conservative councilmen with Mr. Nolker and Mr. Newman. On the council there was no fight, for this old board ws certain to be re-elected as three of the candidates were on both the Saloon and Conservative tickets and the other two were on the Temperance and Conservative tickets.
"The main struggle was for mayor, and for this office, the vote was a very close one. Out of 153 votes cast, M.P. Hillyer received 54, C.C. Lord 50, and Henry Coy 49.
"The result shows that had the Temperance Party been unified, they would have been invincible at the polls, but by diversion among themselves and concessions to the opposing element, they frittered away their strength and have accomplished nothing.
"After the vote was counted and the result known, the Band Boys made their appearance in front of the Valley Bank and played several soul-stirring airs; after which M.P. Hillyer, mayor-elect and the present incumbent, made his appearance on the bank steps and in a few words, well spoken, thanked the citizens for the honor and said he always would, as he always had, do all he could for the best interests of the city in general.
"The following sentiment was offered by K.H. Crosby at a meeting of the Temperance League: 'Just in — Hillyer . . . Like Abraham of old was ready to sacrifice his own son for the cause he loved so well, may we in all our future battles with the Rum Power, be amply justified in calling him The Father of the Faithful.' "
The society's museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 13. Admission is free.
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