The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-28
A Meeting Equally As Large As
Ed LittIe's,
Held at Hamilton Hall Last
Night by Republicans.
George R. PEEK Speaks to His Former
Fellow Citizens Thomas Ryan
Also Speaks.

of the condition of his throat, George
r. Peck. formerly of Kansas" spoke
to a large and appreciative audience
for over an hour at Hamilton hall last
night Mr.. Peck was quite hoarse. but
he still made his voice heard distinctly
ia all parts Of the crowded hail The
haH was crowded to the doors.
Judge J. 3. Johnson presided as
chairman of the meeting, and in his in
troductory speech referred to the fact
that the two speakers of the evening
George r Peck and Hon. Thomas
Ryan, and himself, years ago COM
posed a firm Of alleged lawyers as
he facetiously put it. known as Peck
Ryan & Johnson He then gave short
sketch Of Mr. Peck's public career. and
concluded by introducing Mr. Peck to
the audience
Mr.. Peek's popularity with the
people of Topeka was attested by the
ovation he was given when he faced the
audience to deliver his address. The
hail rang with hearty applause When
it ceased Mr.. Peck said
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentle
men-I thank you with all my heart
for your greeting. I thank the chair
man for the few catering words he
has uttered. And looking into the faces
of this great audience I need not be
told that I am in the presence of my old
friends and neighbors Of Topeka Here
was my home here my children We're
born, and here lived and still lives the
best and truest friends that any man
was ever bIest with
Il am unable tonight to talk as
should like to before this audience. but
you must bear with me as I make g
few suggestions. We are approaching
the end of one Of the greatest poht-
ical campaigns in the history of the
United States, a campaign which has
taken a greater range and aroused
more intense and deeper feeling than
any in the history of the country. Al
though deeply interesting to the peo-
pie of the whole United States. it is
more deeply interesting to the people Of
Kansas Kansas is in the very center.
the focus of this great struggle. Kan
sas cannot bear defeat because in an
evil hour the destinies Of the state We're
turned over to the Populist leaders,
and in that hour the honor of the state
received a serious and almost fatal
blow. Two years ago when she swung
hack to the old principles which made
her great she rose again in something
like her former majesty. But which
ever course Kansas takes this year,
the country viii save it's honor, and
William Mckinley and not William
Bryan viii be the president of the
United States (AppIause-)
Il lived in this state a quarter Of a
century. and I was proud to be a citi-
zen of this commonwealth And 1 now
have hope and faith that the Kansas I
loved so long viii be true to her heroic
record. Majorities rule. but majorities
cannot make wrong right No one can
tell me that Kansas is not a Republi-
can state because you know and
know that with few lapses Kansas has
always ben true to the principles which
are right"
Mr. Peck then referred to the debtor
and creditor classes Of the country, and
said that by far the majority of men
were both debtors and creditors. We
are interrelated." said he. We are all
debtors and we are all creditors. but
what is better we are all citizens of a
common country. (Applause)
AIR Peck then entered into a discus
sion Of the crime of 1873. He declared
that silver was not demonetized by the
act Of congress, and that when Mr..
/ Bryan and others say that it was, they
| are simply demOnetizing the truth
only eight million silver dollars
/ coined before the act of 1873 said he,
/ .and 500 million coined after the act
/ How in the world is Mr. Bryan going
I to make the penalty fit the crime
4 applause and laughter)
Referring to the question Of coercion
among railroad employees. Mr. Peek
said he knew good deal about the
( railroad employees OF the United States.
/ and that there was not a more indie
( pendent, brave and intelligent class OF
men in the country. He characterized
! the talk of coercion as an insult to their
] intelligence and indeI endence.
In conclusion Mr. Peek said:
1.-THE peril. the anxiety of the hour Is
SO great that every man and every wo-
\ man in Topeka and everywhere should
1 DO all that he or she can to insure q
glorious victory next Tuesday.not simp-
/ ~ to elect Maj. Mckinley. but Governor
/ Morrill,. Charlie Curtis and their asSO-
{ ciates on the state and congressional
I tickets. and above all to stand up for
/ that great ideal which is above candi-
dates. above parties, above all else
4 the honor of the United states of Amer
4 lea" Gong continued applause)
/ Following Mr.. Peck, Thomas Ryan
! was introduced by Chairman Johnson.
! After speaking of the embarrassing p0-
I sition in which he was placed, having
to follow Mr.. Peck. Mr.. Ryan said:
Many people think, and it is proba-
bic that he shares the opinion himself.
that George r. Peck is a self made
/ man. I want to say that he is nothing
Of the kind. 7 made Peek myself"
even. here" called Mr.. Peck. where
does johnson come in johnson was
a protege of ours" answered Mr. Ryan
! with q conclusive wave OF the hand
This made the audience laugh. and
they continued to laugh for several
1T may be a fearful responsibility 10
assume" continued Mr. Ryan, but
some how or other am rather proud of
my work"
And the audience resigned themselves
to another laugh at the last remark of
Mr.. Ryan
Mr. Ryan's speech consisted largely
Of personal references to Republican
candidates for election in this state and
concluded with a description Of the CON
dition Of the laboring class in Mexico.
Mr.. Ryan especially praised Charley
Curtis and the administration Of Gov.
Morrill,.
It was after 1890 when the meeting
adjourned.