The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-10-15
AN IMMENSE MEETING.
Cheney Never Witnessed Such a
Grand Political Display.
About Six Hundred Torch-Bearers in the
Line of March, and All Cheering
Enthusiastically For Long.
A Brilliant Argument Made by the Cham
pion of the Big Seventh "A Pole
Raising, Which Was Witnessed
by Hundreds Of Voters.

The Republican rally held at Cheney
night before last was the largest iemon-
stration of any kind ever witnessed in that
thriving little city. 1t was given under
the auspices of the Republican congress
ional committee and the people of Cheney
In honor OF Hon. Chester |. Long, of whose
triumphant election any doubt is now re-
duced to the minimum point. 1t even
surprised the delegation from Wichita
who are used to seeing large crowds. AS
usual with Republican rallys this year
there was no hall in Cheney large enough
for the crowd and an open air meeting
had to be held. Not anticipating such a
crowd the committee procured seats for
$50 persons, but standing up for Kansas"
and sitting on the tops of neighboring
buildings were not considered too incon-
venient for the 300 more persons who at
tended the rally. "Where did they ali
come FROM" Was the question asked by
everybody and up till the present moment
nobody has been found who can satisfac-
torily answer it. Half or even one third
such crowd at a Republican rally two
years ago would be considered
phenomonally large. The county
Amalgamated Association of Peoples
Party Rally Liars say that Jerry Simp-
sons meeting was attended by 1,50o
people. but every body in Cheney knows
that Simpsons meeting was not more than
half as large as Longs. These exaggera-
lions are severely hurting the Peoples
party, for the honest fellows among them
reason that if the leaders prevaricate so
scientifically about their crowds they
may also prevaricate about every thing
else, all of which is good logic.
A crowd of possibly $50 left Wichita, con-
sisting principally Of the two fambeau
clubs, and they were joined at Goddard by
seventy staunch Republicans, eleven of
whom voted for Abe Lincoln, of blessed
memory, in 1860. At Garden Plain thirty
more Republicans joined the excursion.
More would have gone from Wichita but
for the difficulty of procuring special
train. the company not being willing to
run il till so many tickets were purchased.
When the train approached the suburbs
of Cheney the Wichita boys engaged in
fire works display from the car windows
which was very fine and which elected
much cheering. Arriving at the depot a
veritable sea OF fire greeted their
eyes, for column of torch bearers
extended south from the depot long dis.
lance. 1t looked as if there might have
been 6, 900 torch bearers in the column. but
in reality there were only about 600. I'm
mediately the line of march was formed
and marched up Main street. The two
clubs of Wichita led the line of march,
making very handsome appearance par
when the light from their fam
beau torches blazed up distance of ten
feet at intervals of two or three minutes.
They were followed by the Cheney
Juvenile band consisting of some talented
young musicians After the band com
pany of ladies marched, each bearing a
new broom signifying their desire to have
a clean sweep made Of Jerry and the rest
of his class this fall. The torch
hearers followed and they made a grand
showing. AS the front of the column are
rived at the hotel Senator Long appeared
on the balcony which was the signal for an
outburst of applause which was taken up
by each company of of tours ill the end
of the procession was reached and none
cheered so Justify as the ladies who mani
tested their enthusiasm additionally by
waving their brooms. When Senator
Long, Colonel Hallowell and other friends
appeared on the improvised rostrum
great cheer again went up which lasted
several minutes.
A S Marble called the meeting to order
and announced that Captain Boughmau
had been selected to preside.
Previous to the speaking Miss Mary
Hall of this city was noticed in the au
dlence and her fame as whistling soloist
being well known throughout the country
she WAS called upon, and, being Il good
Republican, she kindly responded while
her younger sister played the accom-
paniment on the organ. Both were heart
lily applauded.
Senator Longs throat was in bad trim
for an epen air meeting, caused by recent
bad cold, but he soon warmed UP to his
subject and made one of his best speeches.
The versatility of Senator Long as
speaker is wonderful. The majority of
candidates make set speeches, but in Sem
ator Longs case it is different. The
writer has heard him half a dozen times
during the campaign and on every oc-
cason he made different speech alto
gether from the preceding ones. For
this reason reporters have their hands
full to take his speeches. Then again
his speeches are all interesting, as
they contqin information, and unless a
scribe is careful he forgets to write
in his eagerness to catch onto all the new
ideas the speaker advances. Now then, it
is different with Jerry. When one gets
his speech ouce they have really got ali he
knows, and a reporter has nothing to do
but to change the name of the town in
which he speaks III order to have his
speech IN full. 1t is the same way with
kies, and. in fact, every Alliancs orator.
Chester Long is one of the fairest speakers
on the rostrum III this state today. He
INDUCES in no abuse or vituperation, ana
when he makes an assertion it can he re-
lied o fully and implicitly as II backed by
a dozen affit,avits He carries his author
lily along with him and has them always
ready in case some doubling Thomas takes
issue with HIM. If the average man was
in Chester's shoes he would be mad all the
time be speaks, for the Alliance folks de
light in interrupting him. lt is their pol
icy. whenever he is pounding argument OF
convincing nature into his audience, and
that is eternally, to try and rattle him
with all sorts of fool questions, and they
do it systematically. too He is as cool as
"A cucumber. and dozen men pouring
questions at him at one and the
same time will have not the least
particle of effect on him. Jerry knows
this is one OF his traits and it is believed
that it is one OF the many reasons he has
for not meeting him in join, debate.