The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-03
IT WAS a SLAP
P0PULISTS TURNED DOWN IN
BRYAN AFFAIR OF HONOR.
4 Goveroor Lewelllpg Not on the Recep-
ton Com mittee and Not Even Invited
10 q Seat on tho Platform at the Audi
torium-Joceiyu and Spencer Could Not
Forego For Once Even Their Habit of
Punching the Other FeliOws-Lewelling
Levels to Take q Shot at Toler in the
Crowd at the Auditorium

Bryan was brought here as the cham
pion Of free silver, the political leader
Of the fusion free silver forces of the
United States. His coming and recep-
ton was an affair of honor II was sup
posed to be, for all the men VINO have
held up the silver sentiment in this
county and this section Of the state.
1t was supposed 10 De sort Of harmony
council brace for cause and its con-
tingent that is getting a little halt.
While not publicly heralded az great
political hedge act, il was understood 10
mean an injection of free silver enthusi-
asn into the sentiment Of Demo-Popo-
cracy of southern Kansas and Oklaho-
ma. According 70 the philosophy of
their existence il should have been a
royal fare Of popular somethingness
wherein the grimy handed, honest,
down-trodden victims OF 80 cent wheat
should grasp the hand OF their prophet
and deliverer. But was it? Well, hard
~. Was this affair of honor passed
around? Bryan was the Popuiist can
didate for president. He claims TO be a
Democrat and processes to he a Popu-
list. He got on the Populist platform
with both feet and cried aloud for Pop
ulis votes. His visit to Wichita was an
invitation to the PopulistS 10 rally
around the flume gate.
Who met Mr.. Bryan at the train?
Thomas Fitch, a Democrat; George X.
Spencer, Democrat; S E. Jocelyn,
Democrat, ami S. B. Amidon, a Demo-
crat.
These Democrats are now asking the
Populists Of Sedgwick county to put
three Of their number into county Of
fees for two years to come. Did they
offer to divide up this affair Of honor
with these Populists, whose votes help
ed put two OF them on the police COM
mission, and whose votes are wanted
again this fall for more offices? There
was a PopUliSt ex-governor OF Kansas
in the city, but he wasn't on that recap
ton committee, nor was he ever invit-
ed. to a seat on the platform-in this
affair of honor. II was the other crowd
in charge. 1t must have been wound
at least TO the feelings Of the ex-gover-
nor to Ioe entirely ignored. He was the
first Populist governor in the state, and
1t wasn't popular in Topeka when Lew
cling was there 10 be a Populist COVER
nor. No wonder that he leveled his fist
to punch II. q. Toler in the face at the
Auditorium Friday night. The fact that
he had been ignored would not make him
hit a man, but he would be only human
70 get out of order-to get sore at such
treatment.
Then there were others. Jocelyn and
Spencer could not for one occasion even
"a Democratic rally supposedly-forego
their habit OF trying to sit down on the
other fellows to rub it in. Bryan was
taken away by this committee of Sc
lect Democrats, selected by themselves,
and the old Populist workers and lead
ers, whose votes made it possible for
these men to be on the police commits
sion and whose candidate for president
Bryan was, were given cold turkey.
They were Fnubbed by the men VINO ars
gagging the party with their schemes
and trying to run the whole political
machine.