The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-12

| ST. Louis convention, but the rank and
file were impatient of delay and they
gave themselves up eleven days ahead
of time. Both combined ratified the
| nomination of Bryan and did not say a
word about Sewall---the man who has
| the barrel.
The patriots gathered at the west en-
| trance to the court house and in their
exuberance failed to keep off the grass.
William F. Green was standing on it
with both feet and never in all mis- life
felt more enthusiastic. They were all
| there. Rufe Cone had a big brass tuba
and he put more wind into it than 1t
could hold and hence IL went off in
spurts that were very obstructive TO the
ear. Rufus is a great organizer of rack
ct and noise and not a small share Of
| the ratification was due TO his spectacu-
lar efforts. He bought the tin horns and
the Roman candles for the boys and
thus paved the way to the United States
marshals office, provided, Of course,
Bryan is elected
That old veteran Democrat, William
Mathewson, was also present with a
tin horn, and so was Sam A;nidon, who
took more interest in this demonstra-
| ton than in any Democratic event for
several years. B. z. Kies didn't go up
to the court house, but he was much in
evidence down on the curbstone spread
| ing the doctrines Of the new cause.
The procession was TO have started at
/ s o'clock but Rufe Cone postponed 1t I'M
| til darkness fell so that the Roman can
! dies could get IN their work to better adj
vantage. When the right time came he
said fall IN" and they all fell in. Five
men were put in front as the representa-
! tive of the combine. Colonel Joceiyn
and William F. Green represented the
Populists, D. a. Garst represented the
silver league, and Sam Amidon and
/ Harry Stewart represented the Democ-
racy. They marched elbow to elbow
down Main street and Douglas avenue
70 the place Of meeting. The band fol-
! lowed them. as did a mixed line Of
marchers ranging in age from 5 years
! old to so.
The speakers stand was erected on
| the corner of First and Market streets
and the platform was supported by a lot
/ of beer kegs borrowed from Henry
| Schnit7ler. Several Democrats sounded
| them with the tops of their shoes and to
! their great disgust found them empty.
The speakers were Sam Amidon. j.
| H. Mcknight, Kos Harris, B. Z. Kies,
/ Colonel Bird and Frank Craige. The
! speech of the evening was made by Mr..
Harris He was boiling over with en-
| thusiasm and as he said himself he came
| there TO fizz and not TO crate. He said
! he never felt so happy for four hundred
years, and he looked and acted like it.
| He gesticulated with his head until he
shook his spectacles off and he punctu-
ated his remarks with frequent ja5s of
! his fist against his palm. He didn't do
a thing with the money power, railroads.
combines, corporations and trusts but
skin them alive. He made the audi
! ence howl.
Colonel Bird made his usual witty re-
marks and covered himself with glory.
Mr.. Kies made a pretty lively speech
/ for his iniative speech in the Democratic
| party. and he made the declaration that
he was going to the st. Louis convention
| ready to do all he could for Bryan.
| Frank Craige made his maiden speech
and it would have been great success
were it not for a disturbing cOmmOtiOn
raised by some man stepping the tail Of
Farmer DOoIttle's dog.