Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-09-07
STANlEYS FIRST GUN A FIzzlE
INITIAL SPEECH OF THE CArl-
PAIGN FALLS FLAT.
Failure-RepubIican Candidate For
Governor q WeakIing.

From The K. C.. Times.
LAWRENCE, Ks, Sep. 1.-The repub-
lican campaign was opened here today
with what had been advertised far
and wide as grand rally" 1t cost
the state and local committee 81, 100
in cold cash, or trifle over $l.25 for
every man, woman and child present.
w. Eugene Stanley ''came down
among the people" and met with g.
fearful frost. Every patriot from
Wichita to the Missouri river who
had pass was invited to be present
to swell the crowd, and exactly fifty
three passes were used on the morn
ing plug that ran down from Topeka.
In addition to this effort to give Mr..
Stanley a ''rousing" reception, the
railroads made nominal rate.
1t was unfortunate that the prom
ised "ten thousand people" were not
present-unfortunate for Leedy. Mr..
Stanley's remarkable speech would
have made them think better of the
fusion candidate for governor. Stan
ley's speech was remarkable. 1t was
the most remarkable speech ever
made by candidate for governor in
that he did not utter sentence,
word or syllable showing or tending
to show what he had proposed to do,
or what his party proposed to dol if
successful at the polls pext Novem-
Der. No mau need be afraid to offer
800 for every word he uttered touch
ing the policy of himself or his party.
STATE PLATFORM TALKED OF.
He cofned himself strictly to the
state platform of his party which
promises nothing. When his speech
was finished the intelligent voters
present asked themselves the ques-
tion: "What has he said?" There
was not man within the range of
his voice, with the exception of those
who made notes, who can remember
single expression Of his at this hour.
And yet ne was entertaining to some
extent. He has some eloquence, but
it is the eloquence of a good camp
meeting exhorter. AS a presiding
officer Of a lovefeast he wonld be q
charmer.
When Mr.. Stanley went on the
stand he was cheered. A few mo-
ments afterward when Senator w.
A. Harris went upon the stand, by
invitation of the chairman, he was
loudly cheered. When J. R. Burton
climbed the stairs not single sound
Of applause greeted him. 1t was a
cold crowd, and the ovation tender
ed Senator Harris is the only one
worth mentioning. Judge Nevison
of Lawrence was chairman. Rev.
Fisher of Topeka was chosen to de-
liver the invocation, but he was for
gotten and the Republican campaign
was opened without prayer.
CoULDN T REMEMBER sTANLEY's NAME.
The biting frost of the day was
when Judge Nevison, the chairman.
had to consult peace of yellow paper
at the introduction, before he could
remember Stanley 3 name.
At the outset Mr.. Stanley said he
had no criticism to make. He said
he proposed to discuss the issues with
respect. He probably meant silent
respect, as he didn't discuss single
issue or even define one during his en-
tire two hours talk. "The Republi.
can party" he said, is a party of
performances, and with that text
he proceeded to tell what the Repub-
lican party had done since it's birth
in 1856. Among the other things,
he said that it admitted Kansas into
the Union, although Abraham Lin
coin was not inaugurated for two
months after the admission of Kan
sas. He told how the Republican
party gave the franchise to the negro
but confessed that he didn't know
whether that even happened in 1864
or 1868. He told how the Republi-
can party built the great navy of the
country after Harrison was elected in
1884. Every schoolboy in the count, y
Knows that Harrison wasn't elected
president until 1883. Mr.. Stanley
has a startling lack, of the simplest
historical information.
| Following an eulogy on republican
achievements in national affairs, Mr.
Stanley waltzed out the bloody shir,
and shook it fiercely before the eve.
OF the men who were putting down
the rebellion while he was attendine
to the arduous duties of staying a
home. His bloody shirt talk was no
popular, and he rounded it out with
out single demonstration of approx
al from the audience.