The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-06-02
mcARTHWs THOUGHT EXCHANGE"

Senator Stanford's Private Secretary's
Mode of Amusement.
Ibid you ever hear about McCarthy's
Thought Exchange'?" one of a group
asked in restaurant the other day.
Who's Mccarthy" somebody asked.
why, John B. Mccarthy, Senator
Stanford's private secretary" said the
first. Hes an odd genius. and so handy
that the California millionaire gives him
his own salary of 5000 year in addi-
ton to the Sc day allowed by the gov
eminent to attend to his affairs. I'm
reminded of his Thought Exchange by
reading the story of Clyatt, the London
reporter, who had witnessed 800 execu-
| tons"
The gentlemen present said they had
never heard of the Exchange"
"Well," said the first speaker, INC
/ Carthy used to De a newspaper reporter.
He has worked in New York and in San
Francisco, and a good many towns be-
| tween them. Before he became STAN
| ford's secretary he was in Washington, a
reporter on the old National Republican.
He complained that life was so dull Sun
! day nights that it wasn't worth living,
80 he organized the Thought Exchange
| He printed a notice in The Republican
that such an exchange had been organ
lied, and that all people who had any
views on any subject would be welcome,
and invited to speak. He rented hall
on Tenth street, and the next Sunday
night about fifty were present.
There were Spirituahsts who wanted
to give exhibitions of their powers.
There were labor agitators. There were
socialists and temperance workers.
Everybody was allowed to speak. The
following Sunday the attendance was
larger and the speakers of about the
same sort. The hail rent was eight dol
lars an evening. 4 collection was taken
up which usually amounted TO dollar
or two more than that, and that was
clear profit. The thing went along until
the owner refused to rent the hall, and
so the Exchange was about to move out
to little hall near Twentieth street and
Pennsylvania avenue; but it did not
make the change"
''What has this TO do with man who
had seen 800 executonsF some one asked.
"As l said, Mccarthy used TO be a
newspaper reporter. He had seen hang
ings in a dozen states-about forty in al
is his record, / think. He saw Guiteau
executed, and had been present at
lynchings in Missouri and elsewhere.
On the last night the Exchange was
to meet in the Tenth street hall no
speakers came forward Something had
TO be done, and Mccarthy was equal to
the occasion. He went upon the plat
form and announced that he would give
a lecture. His subject would be The
Comparative Merits Of the Long and
Short Drop at Executions He went at
it and discussed the subject as coolly Is
one would discuss whether Washington
or Napoleon were the greater general.
He talked for two hours. He cited sew
eral executions he had witnessed rs
showing the merits Of the two systems.
He described one or two horrible az
fairs where rope, and mob. ard
bridge were the principal accessories. |
The ladies present got up and went away |
at that, and the Others Of his audience |
were either 6azed or charmed with his i
sudacity. After talking for two hours. |
he announced the change in plae- Of !
meeting fox the next week, and said be |
would deliver another lecture On the |
same subject, giving especial attention |
to lynchiugs.
Zone Of the long haired men present /
came 70 him after the lecture AID said. |
OF course your lecture was very fac,
and it certainly SHOWS You have had
some remarkable experiences. bat dou't /
you think it would Be- wise for the next
tine 20 take eoTnsshing In which We
could all Be intere@tedS Next week
there was Id suatence, and the Thought
Exchange was dead Is=asn't long aft
81 that that Mccarthy Was appointed
private secretary b. Gr. Stanford -
New Tozk Tsmez-