Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-09-24

GUS to fOresee the final outcome. Inc
people and their expressions, the
amount of interest they take and the
measure of enthusiasm they exhibit,
is weighed by both friend and foe at
each public gathering III order to de-
termine if possible what the majority
of voters will do in November.
The afternoon and evening of the
10Th, last Wednesday, gave good OPP
portunity to observe these elements.
Colds friends were marshalled in the
afternoon and silyer's friends in the
evening.
The republican committee had ex-
tensively advertised Hon" somebody.
of Illinois, to speak IN the park at
O'Clock in the afternoon, and it was
naturally supposed that an afternoon
meeting, to be addressed by noted
Hon" from the doubtful state of Hill
nois, would draw quite large audi
ence. The facts are, that after the
Great Bend brass band (Which cost $40
of Hanna's money! had played in the
park for about an hour, at o'clock
there were present about 400 people
half the audience being non-vOters,
and half the voters present being
Bryan men. But the Hon" from
Illinois did not show up; in his place,
M. B. Simpson, of Mcpherson, whose
greatest claim to public prominence
is that he is brother to ''Jim," and
Judge Bodkin, of Sam Wood murder
fame, addressed the scattering hosts. (?)
Space in the DEMOCRAT is too valuable
to devote to criticism of either. Most
of the democrats and populists left
when Bodkin began talking, being sat
isfied that nothing good, nothing in
structive or entertaining could possibly
eminate from such source.
But in the evening-that was differ.
emit!
Ed. c.. Little, the eloquent Kansas
boy; the gentleman who has carved for
himself a name and reputation as an
orator during a busy public life; who,
although a lifelong republican who
had been honored by his party by be-
ing appointed as minister to Cairo.
Egypt. by President Harrison, but who
through all has been consistent and
faithful to the interests of Kansas peo-
pie and to day refuses to be bought to
the support Of the single gold standard
as against the free coinage of silver,
had been well advertised to speak in
the park in the evening. He came in
the morning, and was an amused list
ener to the pop gun orators of the gold
bugs.
at about s o'clock the Bryan march
ing club, nearly 200 strong with badges,
torches and t. ansparencies and headed
by the Bryan Club Drum Corps, formed
in line at club headquarters and parvad-
ed the streets. The crowd on the
streets was immense. Main streets
payments for two blocks were crowded,
from the building line into the street,
by the admiring and cheering multi
tudes. The % new fambeaux shot
their defiant flames into the heavens,
while the 200 torch-bearers went
through pleasing evolutions to the in
spring strains of martial music.
In the park was massed one of the
most splendid audiences ever assembl
ed in Great Bend Conservative esti-
mates place the number of people
seated as 1900, and there were other
hundreds standing up. Mr.. L. G.
Breeder, candidate for probate judge
on the democrat and populist tickets,
in few brief words introduced the
speaker. Mr.. Little, and for over two
hours the eloquent young silver cham
pion held the close attention of all,
and was, time and again given hearty
applause as he exploded, one after the
other, the stale, stock arguments of the
opposition.
Good order was observed at both
afternoon and evening meetings, and
the DEMOCRAT wants to compliment
our citizens upon the same. Barring
the grunts and growls of few poor,
half imbecile individuals who could not
appreciate any speaker who does not
oorru the Or n n tra6o.mark slammed