The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-09-24
VETERANS TURN OUT.
Growing Enthusiasm Among
G. A. K. Men for Mckinley.
A SPEECH BY JOSIAH COLLINS.
\ Democrat Who Cannot Support the
Populistic Platform ana Tfcbss
Of His Party.

The interest attaching 20 the annogzcs-
1nent that Josiah Collins wosIa af9ress
the regular weekly meeting az the CEioH
Veterans Patriotic Loyal League had tina
effect Of drawing out splendid gathering
that must have greatly f1attered fba.
young man, and the audience WAS highly
entertained for mere than an hour BY his
logica system of reasoning and nls state
rnsnts Of toe motives that prompted him
10 leave the Democratic party. or at least
that section the sentiments Of which find
reflection hi the sgrbd stream of Encon-
sssssncy that Is spsnneS By the platform OF
the Chicago convention.
Prior 70 Mr.. Collins appearance the
meeting was called 20 order by Chairman
Lyman Knapp and the minutes % toe pre-
cedsng nesting we're read. Gov. Knapp
then stated sast he had been the recipient
or an important communication from Ia
coma. under date OF September q, whsch
he read. and which ~as as follows
we have read with interest the notices
which from time 20 time have appeared
I'm the Post-lnfeisgsncsr relating 10 the
meetings Of the Veterans Patriotic League
OF your city. and am authorized 20 open
a correspondence with you Our own Or
saisixatlon Is doing finely. We have nearly
three hundred veterans upon our iixs. This
does not include the sons o. veterans.
Our meetings are held every Thursday
evening. and II any OF our Seattle CON-
Yades are over here on that evening
shall be pleased TO have them meet with
US. AZ present our league meets at the
Dooiitsle Club rooms. We are contemplat-
Ing big soldiers demonstration Ia behalf
OF romraGe Mckinley about the middle OF
October. We hope 10 bring In ali the COM
rades from the county. and with the aid
of the Sons OF Veterans and our Repub-
h& szzt
parade and evening meeting OF the cam
paign. OF course the veterans @sil have
charge, and we shall hope 10 make Rome
hnx,.'
II am authorized 10 ask IL your league
or leagues viii not come over and join In
the demonstration. and bring every King
county veteran and son OF veteran with
you. Come with banners flying. drum and
fife. and prepared to keep step 10 the
music Of the Union. We will divide the
speaking time with you or let you do all
the orafory and have your Own way. and
any ana everything that would be agree
able 10 our Seattle comrades. Then IL you
would get UP something similar and say
come on we viii come over and help you
convert any Of our comrades you may
have who are inclined toward Organism
! suppose the expense would not be great.
but II II was too heavy for the old soldiers
the state Republican committee might Do
induced TO help.
AVE want you all 10 come. SO lay the
matter before the league and send Us the
proper eountersign. or. better still. bring
II over yourself and make speech to our
league next Thursday eve. Fraternally.
"A. a. KNIGHT. Secretary"
The secretary was instructed 70 notify
Mr.. knight that such members OF the
local league could would accept the
invitaiion Gov. Knapp also read an in
ritatlon from the Republican county CEN
trail committee Tor the members OF the
league TO attend the rally al the Armory
Saturday evening. In which the statement
Was Incorporated thai should the veter-
ans decide to accept and attend in q body
the central committee would send a band
or drum corps 10 escort them from any
place the league might designate. Mai.
Harlan moved tae acceptance of the In
vitation and that the members should at
tend in body. upon the representation
that seats should be reserved for them.
Upon rising vote a large number signi-
lied that they would be ON hand. and the
club roam Ia the Seattle National Bank
building was chosen as a place Of rendez-
seus and the hoeF for gathering 80
O'clock
GOV Knapp then asked Chairman Brad
ley. OF the executive committee. 20 intro
duNa tas speaker Of the evening. which
he did by paying a tribute 10 his loyalty
and patriotism and presenting MI Collins,
who was received with applause.
Mr.. Collins said that he felt embarrassed
In not knowing Just how 20 address the
audience, II he said fellow Democrats"
others would he offended II he. said EEL
low Republicans" be would NOS be sim
.ege. and be wouldn't say "Populists." be-
cspEe all would get msd. aud be would
simply say 'countTymen He bii not
stap ~ his term 81 address. however. bat
said a great many convincing things and
said tAetn well. There was tone 0f i'm
FASHIONED sincerity in the el0qurnca with
which Mr. Collins clothed his facta. aud
were he addressing "A less sympathetic
assembly than that which listened 20 him
last night he would have been accorded
no lcss close attention. ana the doctrine
Of eoUud money. which vas hla theme.
would have received converts {n rrefer-
ton e. The amount Of intelligence present
IS e vas. Mr. Collins found himself
among friends ard sympsthlzcrs
tie bnean hy sRSioK thAt he was A Demo
sfai. but in co8ia nof stand upon the
platform of the Chicago convention wherN
fiet prev tiiea instead % reason While ha
was = Democrat he ha}d. he said his soy
efeisa rights a. an American citizen htsh-
~ than Nis Democracy. IL VAS a foregonn
snnslU2taa that the Chicago convention
would adopt free silver as 80 issue. and
fhr practical disruption IF tAn nsmocrat,r
party Was fhe reepit The abuse lsve}a,s
a President tiey land. he characterized
Is unjust. and said thag waite tae eenvea-
tion was directing its petty spleen az the
nation'a chief executive. MIR Cleveland
~ss making History. as tae fatu~a Wtn
show The Democratic Platform afcntaY
"a ~'coai dollar FOR the payment OF natioa-
al deista
Mr. collins ,lea 81 party is oae ~ con-
sfvNetlan ard reconciliation. NAi-A Re
said was not the present is.e,-
ftoh- Tia did reg spnfaye a. enc rsart Of
the plstteFra op tae Ereenh4ck gasue. anl