People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-10-15
WELLINGTON BUNCOED
Senator Foraker Refused 10 Partici-
in the Parade Friday Night.
Fred vaudegrift, Representative of the
Kansas City Star, Played Foraker to
the Delight of the Dear People.
Special to the Kansas City Times.

Topeka, Kan, Oct. l0.-Wher the
j. B. Foraker party Of junketers
reached Wellington last night they
learned that extensive arrangements
had been made for their reception.
The town band and fambeau club had
been engaged for the occasion, aud all
the Republican men, women and chill
dren in the vicinity who had not
Joined the Bryan movement, were in
line Of march to do honor to the Sen
atOr from Ohio, The program was
for Senator Foraker and Jim Simpson
to lead the procession through the
principal streets Of the city. After,
ward the entire party was to witness
the fireworks display from the hOteI
Balcony. ,..-
Senator Foraker promptly filed a
kick. He did not see any sense in
such monkey business, and refused to
take part 10 the parade. He said he
was tired and proposed to take a naI
before the hour set for the speaking
With this he repaired to his room and
locked the door.
Chairman Simpson was in a great
stew. The procession was ready tC
move, and a committee had arrived al
The hOGel with carriages for the visit,
Ors. Something had to be done, and
there was nc time to lose. "The peO
pie of Wellington have gone to a lot
Of trouble for Senator Foraker Simp
son said, land it won't do to let them
know that he declines to be iu the
parade. We can't afford to make any
mistake in Sumner county. 1t is toe
clOSe.n
The crowd was yelling for Foraker,
and the band was making trouble fOI
the welkin with the "Star Spangled
Banner" and other patriotic tunes.
The committee was getting uneasy.
I'VE must have Foraker in that
procession" shouted Simpson, tearing
his hair. whats the matter with a
dummy" said FOraker's private sec
retary.
"Just the thing, just the thing"
Simpson fairly yelled, as he jumped
up and cracked his heels together.
Who'll we have for dummy"
The fellows sized one another up,
and then Simpson grabbed Fred Van
dergift, a Topeka newspaper man, who
was with the party anu hugged him.
"YOu're the man, said Simpson. "You
can rescue us from this awkward posi-
tiOn."
If Mr.. Vandegrift had a mustache
he would greatly resemble Senator
Foraker, although he is several years
younger than the Ohio man. He OBJ.
iected on the ground that tile people
would detect the trick.
But Simpson would not take no for
an answer. "We'll try it a whirl,"
he said. "We'll see how much truth
there is in the Abe Lincoln maxim
about fOoling all Of the people some OF
the time"
Vandegrift finally consented, and
climbed int0a carriage with Simpson,
and they were driven through the
crowd amid wild applause TO the head
Of the procession. Vandegrift held
his handkerchief over his mouth
to prevent the people from noticing
the lack Of a,mustache.
There he u.s." said Charley Elliott.
Hip, hip, hurrah for Foraker and
OhiO!" he yelled and the crowd Joined
the cheering with a hearty good will.
Vahdegrift stood up 10 the carriage
and bowed. and men threw their hats
iptO the air,
The procession passed line Of old
soldiers. The veterans removed their
hats, and VandegrifL took his seat.
II didn't have the nerve to deceive
the boys in blue" he said afterward.
After the procession Mr.. Vandegrift
was escorted TO the hotel, where he
and Simpson and the rest viewed the
flambeau display. There Vandegrift
weakened again, and finally retreated.
"You will have to get somebody else
to play Foraker" Vandegrift said to
Simpson. "The old soldiers are too
thick. / don't mind having fun with
the jays, but posing to give war vet
erans an opportunity TO salute me is
carrying 1t little too far"
As Vanderbilt left the balcony
some old soldiers who were in the
Fortieth Ohio gathered around him,
but he made his escape through Simp-
sons interference. A man who was a
boy in ohio when Foraker went to
the front managed to get a handshake
with Vandegrift, aud a girl whose
mother was schOOlmate OF Foraker,
gave him her picture.
Vandegrift reached Foraker's room
in safety without a soul having de-
tected the imposition. Several people
inquired why Foraker kept his hand.
kerchief over his mouth, and Simpson
explained that he had the neuralgia.
|That was a great joke" said For
aker, "aDd it gave me chance for a
refreshing sleep. l am now ready TO
speak"
When Foraker appeared at the hall
to tell the peop.e how to be honest,
they gave him a great ovation, and
after the meeting they talked about