The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-04
From All Sections of Kings
County the People Come to
Participate.
RINGING ADDRESS DELIVERED
BY HON. S. NJ. sHoRTRIDGE.
Ruin Wrought by Democratic Policies,
He Says, Can Be Checked by
Protection.

LAM Ohh, OALs, D. hdQIOrQ
broke the record tonight by having the
greatest political meeting in point of num-
bers and enthusiasm ever known IN the
history of the county. a special train
came from Lemoore, bearing large num-
hers OF enthusiastic citizens, and the train
from Visalia was crowded with people
arxious to hear the doctrines of protection
! and prosperity set forth by Hon. Samuel
NJ. Shortridge.
The people came on trains and in car
riages from all parts of the county, and
fully 5000 assem- bled at the Wfgwam Park
and crowded the streets and balconies in
all directions.
There was good music by the local band
and by the GIee Club, after which the
speaking began, and Mr.. Shortridge COM
manded the closest attention for nearly
two hours, being interrupted by frequent
bursts of applause.
The following vice-presidents were
seated on the stage during the evenings
proceedings; J. Q. Fox, George B. Nc
Cord, Stiles Mclaughlin, w. A. Long. j.
S. Sullivan, P. McRae (formerly a DEM
ocrat), J. E. Ensign, Letus Crowell, John
Worswick, ]. 7. McJunkin, B. L. Barney,
B. A. Fassett, ]. o. Hickman, W. Fl.
Camp, Amos NJ. Ayers, ]. NJ. Hambleton,
Justin Jacobs. R. w. Musgrqve, James
Manasse, A. P. Gomez, G. w. Randall,
| Samuel Young, A G. Park, James A. Hill,
John WeIcher, A. P. Keran, George To-
mer, W. S. Camp, w. T. Newport, and a
large delegation from Visalia. The fol-
lowing were on the reception committee
to receive the speakers: F. L. Dodge, L.
E. FELTON,, D. r. Cameron, Amos NJ.
Ayers and F. A. Biakeley.
Long before o'clock the great Wigwam
Park was surging with a crowd of fully
2000, a big, good-natured crowd that en-
joyed the music of the excellent local
band. Before the speaker began a train
from Visalia and way stations brought
fully 200 people, who came to hear the
speech, fighting their way to seats and
available standing room through the surg
ing throng. The following gentlemen
from Visalia took the platform: J. NJ.
English, William Pratt, Charles T. Lund-
sey and R. P. Grant.
Editor Dodge made neat little speech,
after which the vast throng rose and sang
the National anthem with great en-
thuslam. After this he said: 'tI am
pleased to see the campaign in Kings
County open here with such enthusiasm.
For over a hundred years American pat
riots have met every four years to elect
a President. This is a glorious time for
young men to cast their first vote with
us, and we also invite the penitent refugees
of other parties to join Us now." [Great
applause.l
The speaker then introduced F. A.
Blakeley as chairman of the evening. Mr..
Blakeey introduced the Hon. Samuel NJ.
Shortridge as an incompatible scholar
and orator who is known all over the
Golden West.
The Glee Club then sang some highly
appreciated humorous songs, after which
Mr.. Shortridge arose to speak, but the ap-
plause was SO great that he could not
begin for several minutes. Acknowledge
ing the applause gracefully he began as
follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen: Here in this
beautiful and prosperous city, under the
blue skies, with the stars looking down
upon US, we have assembled to consider
the welfare of our State and our country.
In the spirit of the old Roman, shall
speak tonight. The Roman maxim was,
let every man write on his brow his
thought concerning the welfare of
his country. 1 shall address you as one
of you.
"As citizen of California 1 am proud of
the State and proud of your beautiful town
and county. shall give you my bonest
thought tonight. l believe that the well
fare OF this town, of your county and of
onr State depends primarily on the elec-
ton of that matchless statesman and
incompatible Republican, William Nc
kinney. [Great applause.] If there are
Democrats here, l say to them and to ali
who have honored me by their presence
that l come to talk dispassionately, to
reason with you calmly on what it is best
to do"
The speaker then said that it was fact
that a few cardinal principles underIie
this campaign. 1.-The people as whole
are patriotic" he said, "but they some.
times make errors, as they did four years
ago. They put the Democrats in power.
What did the Democrats find? They
found prosperity on every hand Now we
find ruin, desoIation and despair on every
hand. Do you think the people will trust
them again2 Never. never. [Cheers.l We
have heard the. voice of glorious old Yer
mont, and as Vermont has gone 80 will
the Union GO. [Cheers.l
The speaker then turned his attention
to the Populists. 81 am sorry for the
middle-of-the-road Populist," he said,
land 1 do not want to wound any body'a
feelings, "but I feel sorry for him now be-
cause he has nowhere to go. Let me ask