The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-10-03
MET THE GENERALS
THREE ACRES OF PEOPLE GIVE
GREETING TO THE HEROES.

Over -Four Hundred OLD Soldiers March II
Line Headed by Judge BaIderston-
Sickles Makes tho Main Speech and De
nounces the Chicago PIatform-Genera
Stewart Refers to TfIlman the Devil
Authorized Agent in tho United States
Says He and Old Nick are Only Peopl
With the Pitchfork rs Their Emblems.
Three acres of people greeted the pass
Ing generals at the Santa Fe depot yes
terdAy
There was never such a concourse
there at any time before. There were
Populists and Democrats and ReQubn-
cans, white, black and yellow people
there, including men, women and chill
dren.
The arrangements were very DAD
whoever had them in Charge. The peo-
pie were promised that platform would
be erected in the vacant space between
the depots. There was none there and
nobody knew where to go until the train
arrived. There was such an uncertain
ty THAT the people kicked and complain
ed q great deal.
As early as o'clock there were great
rrowds an the depot. They were curl
ous crowds and anybody supposed TO
know anything about the arrangements
was asked at the rate OF fifty questions
per minute.
Tt was nearly o'clock when the dist
ant music OF the fife and drum were
heard. 1t announced marching COL
zmn Of old soldiers, probably $50 in nu-
Der. They presented an imposing APP
pearance as they turned from Douglas
avenue south, on the east side OF the
depot. through a throng of people, and
took up a position between the Union
depot and the freight house.
At exactly $40 O'Clock General Alger's
special train came steaming in and the
policemen, in full dress uniform, cleared
the way FOR It It stopped on the east
side of the depot but as the old soldiers
were further south the train pulled to
where they were.
General Alger was the first gentleman
10 appear, and as he did so great shout
went up accompanied by the waving Of
hats, handkerchiefs and small flags. He
seemed TO be much gratified with his re-
ceptfon and threw smiles over the null
titude without stint.
He spoke only a few minutes because
he said he had spoken several times dur
Ing the day and was hoaIse. He said
he had been in Wichita before and he
thought he had heard that it was
busted" but judging from the size OF
the crowd he thought 1t had spread
wonderfully. He said that he and his
Did comrades came TO bring glad tidings
If great Joy and that was that McKin-
ley Is already elected.
There was a stern looking man stand
Ing on one side OF the door with a cigar
In his mouth which he was putting at
and steadily contemplating the crowd.
It was Corporal Jim Tanner. He was
tDHoduoed by General Aiger and when
he stepped forward against the IRON
ra4hng of the rear platform he was also
given a great ovation. 1t did not seem
to effect his equnanimity a particle. He
thanked his comrades and said he wish
ed to say only two things and they were
that Kansas had a soil Of great produc-
eaon and that its people were patriotic
enough to help to crush out the spirit
OF liquidation and stand up for rational
Donor. Like Alger, Tanners voice was
In bad shape and he retired in favor Of
General Howard, who was billed to
addressed himself altogether to the old
soldiers and asked them to stand by
their flag and country now as they did
during the war. He repea ted the names
Of several balttlefelds and fairly set the
old soldiers wild with enthusiasm. He
exorted them to take a firm stand
against Reputation and to vote for Nc
Kinley. They all said they would.
General Dan Sickles of New York was
then introduced and he made the prin-
oipal speech. He was in good humor
He said he felt very much fatigued
from carrying the Chicago platform
around with him and wanted some
body TO take it off his shoulders He
said 1t was very heavy for an old Demo-
GRAFT OF over seventy years to carry. He
said that its first plank read, in SUBJ
stance: Resolved, That honesty is not
the best policy" He asked everybody
in favor of that plank to say yes. There
was no response, wflereupon he said
that either he was deaf or his listeners
were deaf. He then asked everybody
against il to say yes and 1000 voices |
whereupon the old general |
put his hands TO his ears dramatically. |
He then said: 81 did not think anybody |
IN patriotic Kansas would vote for that |
plank"
The second plank" he said. "reads. |
IN substance, like this:
Resolved. That the people of the |
United States do not want to pay their |
honest debts
"All in favor of that plank say yes"
There was no response ''Ail who are |
against 1t say yes" About 1000 people |
Il did not think" he said, |
'tbere was a man in Kansas who want /
ID that plank either
The next plank is: Resolved. That |
he government has no power to Quell /
dots, prevent lawlessnesS or stop dis
,rder"
'-A1 who are In favor of that plank
say yes No response. "AH who are /,
'gainst It say yes" Nearly everybody
'esponded. That's right said the gen
raj. II know am in Kansas now"
He then proceeded with his speech
" saying that he was Democrat for
country first and for party next In his
tate. he said, a lot of Democrats like
himself, who were Disguised with the
shfcago platform came 10 him when
e accepted the invitation OF General
lger to take this trip, and said: Cen
raj, would not do il: while the con-
'enrion held at Chicago put forth vic
ous doctrines ii was regular The gen
raj said that he was always regular and
hat he liked TO be regular. He said he
ked to sleep regularly and TO eat reg
larry, whereupon General Alger said
hat he could vouch for it that he eat
egularly. This caused a good laugh.
ut the general went on. Now, suppose Ia
come down to breakfast at the regu- ]