The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-09-23
THE PEOPLES PICNIC,
Which proves to be a picnic for
the Republicans.

on as advertised and produced an Inn
mense amount of enthusiasm-amOnl
Republicans! Unjust certainly hav'
been bitter disappointment for thu
Populist leaders, unless they hat
prepared themselves by expecting
little. The aggregations of attract
ions was certainly a strong one
United States Senator PETER, Con
gresham Otis, Candidate Moore
the man who is, the man who was
and the man who wants to be-surely
it would be impossible to gather
three other men from all the Peoples
ranks who would be so likely to draw
a crowd. And yet there were not to
exceed 275 voters on the grounds al
any time. Four counts, made while
Senator PETER was speaking, showed
246, $50, 263 and 275 respectively
And among these one man counted
lis Republicans of his personal ac-
quaintance. The exercises were to
begin at II o'clock, and suggestion
made in the morning to one of the
managers that they be postponed till
after dinner met with contemptuous
rejection. Yet at IL o'clock there
were not 80 people on the grounds,
so the exercises were postponed after
all. Counting women and children
there were probably 800 people in the
grove at one time during the afternoon.
But as an "Outpouring" of the voters
it was certainly a long way from
being a success.
Col. Moore made the first speech,
devOting an hour to his personal and
political history and the tariff. The
Colonel is big, broad chested man
with rather a pleasant face and man.
ner, and speaks easily but never
elOquently. Senator PETER followed
him in speech of an hour and half
The Senators flowing beard and the
other features of his personal appear
ance are too familiar to need descript-
ion. He was carefully dressed in
black, and carried gold spectacles on
his nose and gold eyeglasses with a
gold chain on the outside of his coat.
He speaks deliberately with a full
strong voice and with pleasing ges-
lures. And what he says is as HARM
less as the south wind. John g. Otis,
the Topeka milk man, who was not
re-nominated in the Fourth district,
spoke for 10 minutes to the 20 or 80
voters who survived Peffer's address.
He is a little man with a big bald
head and a quick tOngue,-altogether
the best speaker for the average
crowd, of the three.
In the evening the Opera House
was crowded-with about 80 Peoples
men and 500 Republicans and ladies.
Mr.. Otis spoke first, then Moore, then
PETER, all three of them occupying
less than two hours. Mr.. Otis stood
squarely on the Peoples platform and
really made an argument from that
side, receiving very generous applause.
Col. Moore talked tariff, and begged
Republicans to come over on the
Lords side. Senator PETER told how
he loved the Republican party and
how honest it was. and how the PeO-
pies party was not opposed to bust
ness men or banks or railro ads or
manufactures,-and his speech fell
flat, hardly a ripple of applause
marking its close, and that mainly by
Republicans.
The Republicans who had been
enthused by the afternoon meeting,
were positively hilarious when the
evening meeting closed. They had
expected a great demonstration ON
the part of the opposition, and some
sledge hammer blows from the dis
speakers. But the oppo-
sition was not here to demonstrate
and the distinguished speakers said
absolutely nothing to convince Re-
publican that he was wrong or that
they were right, nor did they say
to inspire or enthuse their
own few followers. 1t is undeniable
that the Republicans are the greatest
gamers from this first and probably
only grand rally' of the fusionists. |
1t disclosed the weakness of their OPP
ponents in arguments as well as in
and more than ever con-
WINGED them OF the justice of their I
cause and the certainty of their vic
tory.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
Col. Moore's announcement that he ,
was a banker was received with |
silence that was positively ear-splitt-
ing.
81 voted for Lincoln in '64, for
Grant in rs, for Greedy in 70 and for
Peter Cooper in 49," said Col. Moore.
do you want a better record than
that?" "What have you done since?"
asked. "Since then my
vote has been cast against the bad
legislation of the Republican party"
was the lame and evasive reply.
Why did he not come out frankly and
say that he voted for Hancock in 80,
or Cleveland in 81, and for Cleveland
NJ IS, and that he would vote for him
n 90 if he had a chance?
"This tariff on binding Irvine taxes