Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-12
AIN INITIAL TUMBLE.
A Kansas Prohibitionist Falls Down
Through the Platform,
But, LIKE TRUTH, RISES AGAIN.
The First Outdoor Meeting in the Interest
Of the Amendment
INTERRUPTED By NOISY SPECTATORS

The first local outdoor political amend
ment meeting OF the campaign proper, under
the auspices of the Twin City Amendment
Club of Pittsburg1 was held last evening in
the haymarket lot of the Allegheny Dia-
mond Square. The speakers stood upon a
coffee box while delivering their addresses,
and one of them, in giving emphasis to
statement with the aid of his foot, broke
through the coffee box, whereat a cheer went
up from the spectators. The crowd who had
gathered were apparently not In too much
sympathy with the amendment movement,
as the most enthusiasm manifested was
when the man went through the box.
The speakers were Prof. j. R. Dill, "the
thrilling crater and elocutionist of Bur-
dette, Kan" and j. Howard Moore, ''the
silver-tougued advocate of Topeka. They
were introduced by Rev. 7. j. Leak, pastor
of the North Avenue NJ. E. Church.
A SMALL ATTENDANCE.
The meeting was advertised for o'clock,
and a few minutes before that time things
looked decidedly blue for the event. With
the exception of DR.. Leak, who only intro
duced them, the speakers, two coal oil
torches and the aforementioned coffee box,
the square was empty. A novel way to
draw a crowd was tried BY one of the gen.
tlemen. He mounted the box,
and drawing from his coat pockets
folding cornet, he played "My
Country, 'Tis of Thee" A number
Of loungers about City Hall rushed over,
thinking it was another free concert by one
of those Kickapoo Indian patent medicine
shows, where the doctor with the long
ringlets pulls teeth and cuts hair without
extra charge.
After gathering about 175 men, women
and boys about him, Prof. Dill began
his talk. he called attention to
the fact that the chief brewer
of Lawrence, Douglass county, Kan,
(who is now in Jail serving term for vio-
lating the laws) declares from behind the
prison bars that prohibition does prohibit,
and very effectually." During an arraign-
ment of saloon keepers, in which he said "a
man was engaged iu the business only for
the filthy pelf," the box gave way, as above
described, and
THE SPEAKER WAS PRECIPITATED
to the ground. In his descent he broke one
of the torches. Quickly regaining his feet,
and turning the platform on its end, he
mounted again, saying at the same time:
"Truth crushed to earth shall rise again"
This brought out cheer, and one individ-
ual yelled: whats the matter with
Judge White? Rahi' The speaker
proceeded, and almost every minute he
was interrupted by the citizen who
said: 'I'm not going to lose my vote. You
never worked in this city. The laborers
here are not poorly paid, and do not want
any more protection. 'Rahp etc. The
speaker related dream, in which, he said,
he saw devils going into Kansas; when an
advocate Of Judge White said: "That's a
good dream. Where did you get yourdream
book?"
When the speaker concluded by advising
every person to vote for the amendment, j.
Howard Moore delivered mis- address, He
was also interrupted BY the intoxi-
Gated individual, who by this time
the box himself, and asked ''Do you ever
drink?" The speaker asked how many men
would vote for goblet Of whisky, when the
citizen said: 'You're afraid to challenge
my vote that wayI''
In addition it is true that many strong.
but quite recently familiar, arguments for
orators. Public meetings will be held in
the square every Saturday evening until
June IS.