The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-16

to go into this matter so fully" said he,
Dut your tauntS compel me to do so.
know the Influences that are at work
and 1 know why you are opposed to
McMurray and Tom Patterson. There
is proof of my assertions on the floor of
this hall Walter Cheeseman's money is
more potent than Populist principles
Then the speech ended and the fstic
argument commenced.
That's a lie," was shouted from a
Nhalf dozen throats, and men and wo-
men were on their feet making for the
speaker. That's lie!" That's a nei"
shouted Mr.. Marshall You're har!'
and he was doing a COrbett rush and
talk at the same time.
If the shoe fits you, put it on" re-
torted Frazier, bracing himself to meet
the onslaught.
Frazier and Marshall were evenly
matched in age, weight and height and
there was prospect of pretty mill.
Mrs. Reed was shouting word of encour-
agement to Marshall and several other
women were seeking places in the cor
ner, either for safety or to get better
view of the prospective mill The two
men got in reaching distance and halt
ed for an instant trying to wither each
other with ElanceS, but the whitening
process didn't work well and they com
menced saying something about "liars''
again and that opened the hOstilities
afresh- Marshall threw his wide rim
med hat on the floor and made a pass
landing on F'raZier's shoulder. Frazier
nose, but fell short and friends of both
sides interfered. 1t took some time and
more muscle to get Marshall back to
his seat, but he was finally forced into
his corner and spent his fury in mutter-
ing liar" while Frazier talked on.
The second row broke out in a dis
pute between delegate named Akers
and Mrs. Reed and Miss Holmes.
Miss Holmes opened the music by
asking AkerS if he didn't think he
ought to go out and choke himself to
sins and Mrs. Reed insisted that he
was trying to sell out the party that
furnished him a means of living. Akers
minated that Mrs. Reed had better be
home and that Miss Holmes was MAX
ing a fool of herself. Mrs. Reed refer
red to the work she had done in the late
campaign singing on the streets in the
interests of Mr.. Waite, whom Akers was
now trying to sell out. Akers retorted
that Mrs. Reed hadn't added anything
to her reputation by going out as a
street singer in any kind of a cause.
viii you see me insulted? VIII you
stand there and see a woman inSulted
by this brute?" asked Miss Holmes ad-
dressing her remarks to a meek and
loWly representative of a morning news
paper The reporter was a small man
and AkerS is built on the Martin Cor
rigan order, and the reporter by infer
ence at least confessed that the insult
he was concerned. Akers offered a few
more remarks concerning his opinion of
women who went around the streets
shouting politics when they ought to
be at home attending to their domestic
duties. That remark was the signal
for trouble. Mr.. Akers has a beautiful
crop of whiskerS that reach down al
most to his waist and in his head ges-
turing his hirsute adornments had
parted in the middle and were waving
on either side of his face like lace cur
tains through an open window. Miss
Holmes and Mrs. Reed each gave one
last glance for help. and failing to find
1t, took the matter in their own hands
and went after Akers. In an instant
each woman had a handful of whiskers
and was doing her best to keep them
as souvenirs. The attack was a sur
prise to Akers and he did the only
thing possible under the circumstances.
He executed back step, got a half
Nelson on his rasbutans and escaped
before many of the delegates. who were
all on their feet and shouting knew
what had taken place. Mrs. Reed and
Miss Holmes felt that the insult had
been avenged and withdrew from the
contest as gracefully as possible under
the circumstances