The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-09-03
SPOKE AT STERLING
JUDGE BEEKMAN AR0USES REPUB-
LOAN ENTHUSIASM
Hall Was Too Small to Accommodate the
Crowd and the Result Was q Grand
Open Air Demonstration - Beekman's
Speech said to be the Best Delivered in
Western Kansas This Year-He Made
Telling Argument Against Democratic
Pretenses of Governing Capacity-Some-
thing About the Speaker.

J. V. Beekman of Arkansas City was
at the Carey yesterday returning from
Sterling, where he addressed one of the
biggest meetings ever held in that coun-
ty. No hall was large enough for the
crowd and hence the meeting had to be
held in the open air.
Colonel Willard, who was down look
ing after some interests of the Masonic
Home, in speaking about Judge Beck
most effective public meetings ever held
IN Rice county. Judge Beekman, in my
opinion, made the ablest speech made
in this state during the present cam
paign. 1 never heard such a strong
argument and never thought that such
sfedge-hammer blows could be struck
against Democratic maladministration
as he struck. / doubt If any ADLER
speech will be made IN Kansas this
year.
Colonel Willard IS right. Mr.. Beck
man is one of the a.blest speakers on
the stump today. Besides being a pow
erful orator, he Is a powerful logician.
In addition to these, he has the advan-
tage of being a clean talker, offensive
to no one.
He is the present nominee OF the
Republicans Of the Ffty-second dis
trict for representative Notwithstand-
ing that he has his own political inter-
ests at stake. he has very periodically
given his services TO the state and ma
tional committees, which services will
take him away from his own district
But his district will be taken care of
by the people. Like Dennis Flynn in
Oklahoma, the people of the Arkansas
City district do not want to turn
BeelSman down. AS it is now they are
probably better represented in the 0egis-
lature than ninety per cent of the
counties Of the state. Mr.. Beekman
may have one or two, or at most a half
a dozen. peers in the lower house, but
he has no superior there. He mas al
ways stood up for his people and while
doing so he never drew party lines.
He stood up for the interests Of Demo-
Gratis and Populists alike with Repub-
hcans. He was a Geader and not a fol-
lower. He waited for no man to crack
a whip before announcing himself on
any issue. No strong man wants to
be told what to do and Mr.. Beekman
Is a strong man. He was not only a
leader but he was a reScuer of lead
ers. When John Seaton of Atchison,
a leader OF twenty two years stand
ing, In the legislature. was going down
to apparent and seemingly inevitable
defeat, with his soldier orphans home
bill he called upon Mr.. Beekman TO
rescue him. The writer will never for
get that night. The veteran from
Atchison was pale, ratified and help
less when he saw a tremendous ma ior-
ity against his appropriation Beekman
listened ITO his whisper only a second.
when he arose, brushed back his hair.
and as an old soldier and in behalf of
old soldiers, began the delivery of a
speech in favor of the orphans home
that electrified the house. He made
strong men shed tears and before he
had spoken five minutes q hundred men
were on their feet yelling vote, vote.
This meant that victory had been
snaltched from the mouth of defeat.
Beekman knew what was meant and
allawed the vote to be taken. "Old
John Seaton" shed tears of joy and
gratitude when almost a unanimous
vote was cast On favor of his bill. Beck
man, with his massive brain and silver
tongue, did Il.
It was just appropriation, or Mr..
Beekman would not have championed
it. The fact is ne was the leader of
the forces of economy in the legislature
and if he made any enemies while there
1t was because of that.
The Arkansas City district will make
a terrible mistake If its voters do not
elect Mr.. Beekman.