The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-24
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A Political Me eting Last Night With
LIQUOR Refreshme ents.


"Gentlemen, we have listened to one
of the greatest speeches that was ever
made. We have had too, a good song.
Now I think we will have something
else. I don't know how you feel, but
I am a Dutchman a. German man, and
I feel pretty dry. I have here a glass
Of water. but I don't take much to
water. I like water in the morning to
wash with. but the rest of the day [
have no use for it. At night I like
real nice and quiet and keep your sea is
we will have a little red ink. I want
to see you all satisfied, for I pay for
this: it comes out Of my pocket. you
understand. We viii keep passing the
red ink around until our COW quits Civ
ing milk. Then we viii stop"
To the average mind who is net ac-
quainted thoroughly with the present
campaign in Kansas, the above might
be taken to be quotation from the
president of the Limburger club, or a
winding up of a jOlHficatiOn meeting of
the o. NJ B. It was naither- The sig
nif1cant remarks We're passed with a
strong German accent by Conrad d
Mayer, the veteran Topeka barber, at
a political meeting held in the base
ment of the building at the northeast
corner of Seventh and Kansas avenue
last night in our great religious, moral
and prohibition city of Topeka
AS Mr.. Mayer was delivering his
stirring OratiOn there were sounds OF
ly behind the platform on which ne
stood and as he concluded the door
was opened and a the same time q
sound of something giving way smote
upon the ears Of the expectant crowd.
In the lurid light given out by an I'M
elobed gas Jet in the room beyond
could be seen dark forms gliding to and
fro, and presently a procession or
young colored men, headed by Al
Mooney. issued forth, each bearing nu-
merous glasses Of fOaming Anheuser-
Busch The free iquidation then com
menced; the beer went down rapidly
The speech referred to by A1r. Mayer
was one delivered by Lawyer j. II. Guy,
and the song was one rendered by a
c0lOred duartette. The meeting com
menced when Chairman Mayer raped
on the ia BILE for order about o clock
and introduced Mr.. Guy. At that hour
the audience was small, but as the min
Iltes few on the crowd increased, and
about the time Mr.. Guy concluded MS
speech the voters both white and col
0red came in by scores and SWelleu the
attendance until the hall was full
Even to a person who was not q close
observer it was significant that the ma
jority Of the crowd was not suffering
for political doctrine, but was there
for something else And they received
ii to the amount of several kegs full.
1t was about the time that half the
audience had received each a glass OF
beer that superintendent of the glass
~ rriers Mooney rushed in from the
back room and announced that the ursI
COW had been exhausted and that there
would be q space of several minutes be
fore another one could be procured
from the pasture. His announcement
was greeted with cries OF hurry up,
and to aid in keeping the crowd pallenI
the cOIOred quartette reeled on Two
more selections. Still the COW had nor
been corrafled and fixed. and then
Chairman Mayer arose for another ora
tion in order to hold the audience spell
bound 50 that a grand rush on the
back room would not be made
Fellow citizens" he commenced, If
I say anything that is incorrect, I want
somebody to come to me tomorrow ana
say. Mayer, you said something moor
rect last night want TO De tOld
about it, But / say tonight, am not
in favor of prohibition. Do you believe
me2"
crowd seemed to believe the assertion
and Mayer cOntinued-
I'VE have q. governor up in the state
house now and his name is Morrill,
love this man Morrill, He has given US
more privileges than any man we have
ever had there before. That is what we
want. We want privilege so that We
can get business. That man Morrill, IS
the man for US he IS the man we want
to vote for. Let US now give three
cheers for Governor MOrriH
Tt was the right time for cheers for
the back door opened as MI. Mayer con
emerged once more. Three hearty
cheers We're given, whether for Morrill,
or for the beer was inmaterial.
Then it was that the meeting resolved
itself into a drinking bout and white
men and colored men pressed forward
and shouted for berthe colored wait
ers We're surrounded as soon as they IS
sued from the door. and quickly reliev-
ed of their burden. This conduct en-
RACED the chief waiter, and he shouted:
7Sit down like men and wait your
turn Don't act like a set Of
dogs
offend the pride of the company pres
ent. and they continued to scramble for
beer. They were still scrambling when
the chief waiter announced, stuff S off, y
which meant that the meeting had ad-
journed. The majority took his word
and left the hall at once, but some
whose thirst had not been satisfied
went themselves to the little back room
and inspected the kegs Then they We're
convinced that no beer was to be had,
for fF. kegs were EMMY