Union Prisoner Ryan Carries the Squatter Stronghold.

*THE WORKER*

Brisbane, March 19, 1892

FROM GAOL TO PARLIAMENT

Last year T. J. Ryan was a prisoner with the Strike Committee, was illegally arrested without the reading of a warrant, was chained like a bullock with the rest of the “conspiracy” men, was exposed to all Judge Hanling's contemptible prejudice and was acquitted by some fluke or other at the conspiracy trial. This year he will sit in parliament for the Barcoo, the late Frank Murphy's seat and one of the squatter strongholds.

From the beginning the Labour party, assisted heartily by the townspeople who took the opportunity of expressing their opinion upon the action of the Government during the bush strike, the Kanaka question, &., carried everything before them. The Grittlewraiths as the Sydney Bulletin dubs the the present Government—were discouraged from the beginning, there not being 1000 military in the district to suppress expressions of feeling as was done a year ago when men were sent to prison for “crowing” and threatened with bayonets if they boohooed. Firstly Lumley Hill was put forward by the “party,” otherwise the squatters, only to be withdrawn; then one Budge, a squatter's commission agent of Blackall; finally Budge was stood in the corner to make way for one Campbell an ancient advocate of coloured labour, in whose office most of the fairy tales sent over the wires re affairs in the Western districts seem to be concocted.

The press showed its true colour, fighting for the Griffith nominee from all parts of the country, while Ryan only had the WORKER. But when the polling day came Campbell had fairly ratted on Griffith's main planks in the vain effort to catch the crowd, while at the close the ballot stood:

	T. J. Ryan	W. H. Campbell
Blackall	81	56
Tambo	44	30
Isisford	28	21
Barcaldine	237	78
Jundah	8
Jericho	26	13
Barcaldine Station	19	13
Malvern Hills	12	13
Minnie Downs	3	2
Portland Downs	2	11
Wellshot	1
NorthhamptonDowns	3	30
Stonehendge	5	13
Terrick Terrick	10	8
Lorne	4	6
Avington	5	6
Albilbah	1
Emmett Downs	3	4
Evora	12	10
Mexico	1	2

Bimerah, Warbreccan and Listowel Down returns are not included in the above but Secretary Kewley wires on Thursday:

OFFICIAL DECLARATION OF POLL.

Ryan	518	Campbell	322
Informal	17	Majority	196

The ordinary press lies were concocted during the campaign. Among them telegraphic information to the effect that Ryan had disowned the A.L.F., quarrelled with Casey and abandoned the anti-kanaka stand; also that the whole community was indignant and wanted military law because Campbell's doors had been painted blue; also that a terrible plot had been discovered to burn the Western Champion office if Campbell got elected. Also that everybody in Barcaldine got drunk with 25 pounds by the Carriers' Union toward Labour electoral expenses.

As usual these deceived nobody. The commercial press has cried “Wolf!” so often that everything it says is considered as questionable by the intelligent. As a matter of fact Campbell is compelled to admit that he got fair hearings everywhere, the statements re Ryan are pure and original lies, while only three men were arrested for drunken-ness in Barcaldine during the whole election who were discharged by the P.M. In recognition of general orderliness.

It may be recalled that Murphy, the deceased member, was chairman of the Pastoralists Association, while Ryan, the newly elected member, was chairman of the second Strike Committee after acquittal. M.L.A. Ryan was very desirous of coming to Brisbane immediately in order to assist in presenting the petition of the Australian unions for the release of the unionist prisoners, the presentation of which has been delayed pending the result in the Barcoo. For nearly two weeks, however he has been delayed by the stupid withholding of the ….... declaration of the poll, a little revenge , the Government ….....

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