The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-10-20
FUSION ROWDlISM
A DISGRACEFUL ATTEMPT TO PRE-
VENT THE EXERCISE OF
FREE SPEECH.
A Rowling Fusion Mob Make a De-
liberate but Unsuccessful At
tempt to Break Up Stall
wart Meeting.
The Police Arrive Just in Time to Prevent
a Repetition Of the Egg-Throwing
Scenes in Georgia and
Virginia.
Oelonsl harris, the Noted Stalwart Leader,
Holds His Ground Most Bravely
cent Citizens Very Indignant at
the Outrageous ROwdy-
ism Practiced

The Democrats of Wichita, that is the
disreputable element of them, assisted by
their Alliance allies attempted to practice
the Georgia political methods in Wichita
last night. They did not succeed. how
ever, thanks to the vigilence and prompt
action of Republican chief of police and
some Democratic officers under him.
Democrtic and Alliance rowdyism was
in the saddle for little while, but it was
soon dismounted and the Peerless Prin-
cess was saved the disgrace of being put
! in the catalogue of disorderly communi-
ties with Macon, Ga, Richmond, Va, and
| the other southern cities where
Weaver and Mrs. Lease re-
ceived object lessons in southern
outrages. For the past two or three days
| the 'tStalwarte, or straight Democrats, of
this county have been making arrange
ments to hold '.straight-out" Demo-
cratic meeting here. The fusion Demo-
Gratis who have been in cahoots with the
| Populists, have done everything possible
| to discourage it, and for a time they
thought they had succeeded in the aban-
| Comment of the meeting. Last evening.
however, Colonel A. A. Harris of Fort
Scott arrived in the city and the meeting
was announced by handbills and a band.
Everything seemed orderly and no inter-
| ruption was dreamed of till o'clock, when
party of about fifty. consisting of Demo-
Gratis and Populists were seen to enter the
hall in body, and all Of them sat in one
portion of the house. This was evidence
that disturbance was contemplated and
word was sent to Colonel Harris that an
attempt would be made to prevent his
speaking. 1t was also stated that some of
! the more desperate had disqualified eggs"
in their pockets and would use them at
signal when a suitable opportunity would
occur. Colonel Harris told his friends
that he would speak if every rowdy
in town would attempt to intimidate him,
and so he did. The old gentleman WAS
hot and when the hour came for him to
speak he stepped forward to the front of
the platform with fire in his eye
and a defiant look in his face.
His appearance WIS the signal for great
applause from all over the house, except
in one locality. where the organized band
Of disturbers were seated. They jeered at
him and uttered some disgraceful Ian
guage, even though many ladies were
present. In his opening sentence he was
disturbed three times, and when half the
audience rose up to put out the gang, the
colonel advised them to be still. that he
himself would attend to them. From
that time on for about five minutes the
mob kept up their jeering, Systematically
interrupting the gentleman, SO that he
could not be heard ten steps from the
platform. They hurled at him all kinds
IF f,,1
charges that were not fit to be used
by the thugs of tho Bowery in the
pit of variety dive, much less in a
hall dedicated to the martyred president
of the United States in free and enlight-
ened Kansas and that too in the presence
OF respectable wives, mothers and daugh-
tiers of Wichita. 1t seemed to be the in
tent of the mob to precipitate a row and
in the meele fire rotten eggs at the speak
err, If they had them as charged by good
authority. This row would have certainly
taken place had it not been for Colonel
Harris himself, who used all his per-
suas1on to prevent il. for three fourths Of
the audience arose to their feet and would
undou btedly have cracked the heads of
the mob were it not for the pacific counsel
of Colonel Harris. Officer Charles Guyer,
himself good Democrat, saw at
glance that the mob meant mischief.
aud Immediately sent for the chief
of police. When the chief and a couple of
officers entered the hall the decent law
abiding citizens arose with one inspiration
and cheered fully two minutes, for they
respected the majesty of Kansas law rs
represented by the officers and knew that
fra> Ir,.v, of mi h.
spscted. Is was beautiful sight to see,
indeed, and was splendid illustration of
the confidence of the people in the sec.risy
and strength of Kansas law. The chief of
police went at once TO the mob and told
them his ultimatum, and when they saw
that they were toiled in their attempt to
break up the meeting they arose in a body
and left the hall Many Republicans were
present and received their first lessons
on Democratic bulldozing They
were so indignant that many OF them vol
unteered to help their Democratic neigh
bors and friends to eject the disturbers
from the hail.
When quiet was restored the veteran
Democrat went ON with his speech and il
was terrible exposition of the Surrender
OF the place hunting Democrats TO the
Peoples party.
Colonel Harris is very eloquent man,
one of the oldest and most respected Dem.
ocrats in Kansas. and certainly no one has
any room to question his Democracy for
he graduated in the Confederate army.
DR.. Burrows called the meeting &c order
and introduced Colonel Harris
Il am Democrat" said Colonel Har-
ris when peace was restored, "and lam
here rs a Democrat. and am going to
speak no matter what the result will be-
know that am in the hot bed of so-cafled
fusion, but ! am going to tell
the truth and il the truth hurts I am not
responsible FOR it am here, however. not
TO talk 20 you Democrats, Republicans
or Alliance, but rs kansans. am here to
try and save the state from Anarchists,
Communists and public defamers of the
good and yirtuous people of Kansas IF
there was no other Democrat left would
still be found raising my voice in defense
Of the state from the outfit that is TRYING
to get control of it. have no political
fayors to ask; am in no combine: / am
not running newspaper to get the county
printing at the expense of my party aud
my party principles. There is young
man 10 your city running an alleged DEM
ceratic paper who criricises me aud calls
me n traitor. etc. because l am standing