The San Francisco call., 1896-09-26
D. A. McKinlay and Ex-Mayor
Davis of Oakland the
Orators.
LABoRERs LISTEN AND CHEER.
Many Who Were "On the Fence >
Climb Down on the Side of
Protection.

SACRAMENTO, CAL, Sept 25.-Amid
the bursting of rockets and bIare of brass
bands the Republicans of Sacramento fired
the opening gun OF the campaign and
hshted the torch of patriotism, which for
the past month had been smolderlng be-
meath the work of preparation. With but
few hours notice Metropolitan Theater
was crowded from pit to gallery with an
audience composed in the main of the
thinking laboring classes of this vicinity
men whose daily bread depends upon the
labor of their hands and who, feeling that
upon the issue of this campaign depends
the ability to procure the labor with which
TO gain that bread, have made up their
minds to listen attentively to the argu-
ments presented by the sneakers of each
OF the great parties and Judge with cool,
unbiased common-sense under which
standard it will be to their greatest ad-
vantage to enlist. Through the assem-
blage were scattered number of women.
When ID. A. McKinIay was introduced
by Chairman Davis tonight, he faced an
audience distinctiveIy ''on the fence"
When Speaker McKinlay took his seat at
the conclusion of his eloquent speech,
that audience had cheered itself hoarse
and was wildly enthusiastic for Republi-
canism, Mckinley and protection. McKin-
lay is a convincing speaker, who not only
utters incontrovertible truths, but ex-
presses them in such manner that they
can be thoroughly understood and appre-
ciated by all. Heexemplifed to the work
ing classes that be was on the rostrum in
the interests OF the working classes. In
concluding his speech he reviewed the at
tributes Of the two Presidential candidates,
and in speaking of BRYAN said:
He is claimed by the Democrats to be
the coming man -"
A burst of cheers from a few siIverites
present interrupted the speaker, who stood
calmly until silence was restored, and then
in an impressive voice said
My Democratic hearers, four years ago
you cheered even more wildly for Grover
Cleveland, who was then to you che COM
ing man-Grover Cleveland, who became
the Colossus of Rhodes of Democratic mol
1tics, so mighty that his limbs stretched
from ocean to ocean across our land, and
all other poor mOrtais were compelled to
peep between his mighty legs to catch
glimpse OF the outside worId-and vet
few brief weeks since at the Democratic
convention there were none so poor as to
do him reverence, and he was utterly re-
pudiated. May not such be the fate of
your coming man?"
He paused and for a moment the pro-
verbal pin could have been heard to fall.
rocked the building, and when he spoke of
Mckinley and his career from the time of
shouldering his musket in the cause of
emancipation to his proof of eminent
craftsmanship in the halls of Congress, and
said McKinley's name would stand high
in the annals OF this country when Bryan's
had sunk into oblivion, his voice was
drowned by volleys on volleys of wild
applause. Those cheers proved that he
had induced those of his hearers who had
been ''on the fence" to enlist beneath the
Republican banner.
McKiniay was followed by ex- Mayor W.
r. Davis of Oakland, who quietly dis
sected the orator of the Platte and showed
him up in all his weakness, and then held
up in strong relief the magnificent Repub-
hcan candidate, who for years had proved
his eminence as lawyer, statesman and
the father of protection. He wildly COM
pared the failures of the Democratic ad-
ministration-which III four short years
had plunged the country into debt, par
alyzed the avenues of industry and trade
and thrown thousands of the Iaboring
classes out of employment-with the
splendid record of over thirty years of Re-
publican administration, of plenty and
prosperity. For upward OF two hours he
held his audience spellbound with his elo-
ouauoa and satire