The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-09-18
A GREAT MEETING.
The Opening of the Campaign in
Sumner County a
Grand Success.
Three Thousand People Listen to the
Unanswsrable Logic of Senator Bishop
Perkins of This State.
An Illuminated Demonstration Last Night
That Brought Back Memories Of the
Good Old Toroh-Light Process
sions of the Past

| The Republican campaign in Sumner
county opened at wellington yesterday
under the most suspicious circumstances.
If there was any citizen of Summers fair
| capital who entertained doubt yesterday
| morning that Sumner county WAS not
solidly and reliably Republican he GER
| tainly changed his mind before he went TO
| bed. There might have been larger out
! pourings of the people heretofore but
never was there time in the history of
/ the county that finer body of representa-
tive citizens turned out to a party rally
| 1t was great event and one that will uu-
! questionably have a great moral effect on
the people of the county before election
day. To be sure the rally was not adver-
tised more than week, but nevertheless
the crowd In attendance was one that every
Republican in Wellington can we'll feel
proud of. 1t WAS not a crowd Of women
and children; bat a crowd of interested,
earnest and Intelligent yeomanery who
! very properly gathered there to hear what
the Republican party had to say to them
| about its guardianship of public interests,
before they would make up their minds
for whom to vote in November. 1t was an
enthusiastic meeting too and therefore un-
like the recent Calamity meeting
held in this city. A dampner was thrown
on the crowd early in the morning by the
receipt of a telegram from Hon. J. NJ.
Simpson, chairman of the state committee,
stating that Congressman Burrows had
been taken suddenly i'll and could not be
present. Every one then began inquiring
for Senator Perkins and it was learned
that he had missed train connections and
was twenty miles away" A message was
sent to him detailing the circumstances
and asking him to be present for the
afternoon meeting if possible. Like Phil
Sheridan, he secured horse, and in a few
hours he had annihlated the twenty miles
which stretched out before him. In addi-
ton to him, Hon. J. X. Hudson OF the
Topeka Capital. Judge Dawes of Clay
Center, Judge Elliott of Usage City and
Hon. Rudolph Hatfield of this city were
present, each of whom could make
speech on Republican issues that would
entertain thousands of people.
THE DECORATIONS.
Upon arriving at the depot it could
easily be seen that the rally was Repub-
lican one, for those national colors dear to
the heart Of every Republican could be
seen everywhere. The main street of the
handsome city which only few mouths
before had been wrecked by disastrous
cyclone had risen from its ruins as the
EAGLE predicted at the time of the deplor-
oble occurrence and looked more hand
some and substantial than ever before,
which admirably illustrates the enter
prise of the good citizens of that everlast-
lngly Republican city. This is named
after the father of his couDtry-Washing-
ton avenue-and the name was never more
suggestive than yesterday, for it was
lined with the national colors from one
end to the other, while flags swung across
the principal street crossings The Well
ington band, one of the finest musical
organizations in the west, marched up
and down the avenue during the morning
hours playing national and, it might be
added. strictly Republican airs.
THE CROWDS.
AS early as 9 o'clock over 1000 people
were in the streets and the woody tile of
the Republican, an imitation of that
Grandfather's hat so much talked about, !
could be seen everywhere. Also the blue
coats and brass buttons of those hardy vet |
Grams who offered their lives as a sacrifice |
on the altar of their country for the perpe- I
tuity OF the union zone and inseparable." |
Every train which arrived in the city dur
ing the remainder of the forenoon hours |
brought delegations, while long process |
sions of farmers wagons could be seen |
winding around every corner into the |
main street, adding to the throng. At |
noon the handsome wide street heretofore |
mentioned was absolutely full of vehicles,
while the sidewalks were packed with peo-
pie walking TO and fro. When the noon
hour arrived there were fully 5000 people !
on the streets outside OF the
arbane population. The speaking was
advertised for $50 p. m, but as early as
1850 the tabernacle in the baseball grounds |
was crowded, while in the grand stand /
and on the platform the people We're
pressed together like sardine Mr.. Clark,
an Alliance man of this city who was sent
down TO make notes of the demonstration.
counted voters As they passed in at the
main entrance and informed a reporter
that somewhere about 500 of them had
entered. According 10 his estimate of the
number W no entered through that avenue
here must must have been at least 1900
voters in the tabernacle at the time sen
ltor Perkins made his speech, and fully
), 900 people, including the ladies. Besides
his at least 100 carriages stood outside
5he circle OF the tabernacle
SENATOR PERKINS.
1t was nearly 3 o'clock when Judge
John T. Sanders called the meeting TO
order and announced that Judge Ray of
he district court had been selected as pre-
siding officer Of the occasion. Judge Ray, as
ne appeared. was loudly cheered and after
few well selected and INCIDENTALLY Re-
1u blican remarks he introduced Senator
Perkins. " ben the senator stepped for
ward he was received with uproarious APP
)lause He Immediately announced that
he came there to abuse nobody or indulge
% Win peratlon OF any kind. He said the