Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1896-11-11
THE RATIFICATION.
A Big Crowd Turns out to Ratify the
Election of Hon. Jerry Simpson, Hon.
j. w. Leedy and the State Ticket !,
as Well as a Majority in Both
Branches Of the Legislature.


the reform forces in the state Of Kan
sas.Owing to the fact that it was impos-
sible to procure sufficient number Of
barrels, goods boxes and other rubbish,
no bon fire was planned and none was
had, except small one built by Young
America, but a large crowd was in
town to congratulate each other on the
victory just obtained.
The band was on the streets and
played few pieces after which march
to the court house took the crowd to
that place to hear several speeches.
Hon. Jerry Simpson and Hon. Harry
Lands were the principal speakers of
the evening.
Mr.. Lands made the opening speech.
He paid high tribute to the men elect
ed to the offices of governor and con-
gresham of the Seventh district of the
state and predicted that so far as state
legislation was concerned the people
would get some remedial service. Like
all the rest of US. Mr.. Lands regretted
that the gallant VIM. j. Bryan went
down to defeat but predicted that when
the year 1900 dawned upon US this bat
tie would be fought over again and the
orator from Nebraska would then tn
umph oyer plutocracy. He deplored
the fact that the republican party had
control of congress as we'll as the pres
Idency and even though Kansas and
the west was we'll represented with
free silver congressman they would be
in the minority and there IS how moth
ing in the political horizon to indicate
approaching financial relief. In state
matters, however, we are better situat-
ed and the much needed railroad legis-
latiOn for which the producers have
been clamoring for these many years
will be given US by the next session of
the legislature.
Probably no man in Kansas is more
familiar with state politics than is Har
~ Lands. He is well acquainted with
most of the members of the Legislature
and intimately acquainted with Gov.
Leedy, having been a colleague with
him in the state senate during the past
four years. His judgment. therefore,
as to what will be done for the suffer
ing people of this state by the incom
ing administration can be taken with
consistency.
Hon. Jerry Simpson followed Mr..
Lands and the usual ovation was Civ
en- him. Jerry started out by contrast
ing this meeting with the one following
the election of Chester L. Long two
years ago. On that eventful evening he
was molested ty bowling, disgraceful
set of hoodlums until he was compelled
to leave the hotel and retire to a pri-
vate house and even there he was found
and the ''celebraters" would look in at
the windows and make the most insult
ing remarks known to the English Ian
guage. Jerry said he told his friends
that night that the tide would change
Two years hence and he was now tn ere
to bear witness to the fact that the
change came. He said he would enter
congress this time as in former years
with the odds against him. He is a mem
Der of the minority and what he cham
pioned and advocated would be bitterly
opposed by the republican or majority
side;but he promised to do his best and
whole duty to secure the demands to
which he and his party is pledged. He
thanked the free silver republicans,
popullsts and democrats for the loyal
support they have given him during
this campaign and anything they could
hereafter ask of him was theirs with
out the asking. at his close he was
given grand ovation again and the
county officers were called upon.
Tt so happened that Judge Funk was
the only one of the successful candi-
dates present but he accepted the situ-
alton calmly andput in few minutes in
thanking all for what they had done.
Those who opposed him as well as those
who supported him were given his
hearty thanks because all, he said, were
honest in what they did. He said he
always had been fuslonist and would
be until convinced that he was wrong,
dCCOkOliS tHO VI OplhAOiA
to those who held the opposite position.
G. w. Ellis was called next but in his
absence, his son, Fred, was chosen.
Fred responded in brief talk but a
good strong one. He reviewed briefly
the situation as it is how and as it was
two years ago and in recalling what
the Hon. Jerry Simpson had related
concerning the mob that followed Mr..
Simpson then, Fred said that we have
no inclination to inflict similar treat
ment upon Chester. Indeed he said NO
one knew Chester's whereabouts at
that hour. At this moment Jerry put
in "Where is My Poor Boy To night, y
which evoked great laughter and ap-
plause). Mr.. Ellis said that he would
hope that the prosperity which we have
been promised would now be manifest
ed since Mckinley and gold standard
congress is elected but it could be seen
that the speaker saw no cause for hope.
Fred made a good speech and in him
we have another Boy Orator of the
| West''
The Mlngona glee club rendered some
very interesting and comical music and
everybody laughed until he could o sc
no more. The club was encored until al
| its selections had been exhausted anC