The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-31
Is the Attendance at the POpu-
list Rally
And Barbecue at Parsons, Kan,
on Saturday.
BIG EST MEETING
Yet Held by Either of the Two
Parties.
Gov. Leedy Comments on Size Of
the Crowd.

Parsons, Oct. S1.-The Populist rally
which was held here Saturday was
great success. 1t was the largest meet
ing of the campaign. over seven thous-
and people were fed at the fair
grounds with a barbecue dinner. The
dinner was served to the crowd in pa
per sacks. The Populists are confident
of carrying this county this fall.
One of the Republican county central
committeeman sought to make a joke
of the whole affair, and early Saturday
morning invested $21 in white satin rib
bon, buying all there was in town, on
which he had printed the word stan
ley" The committeeman's idea in do
ing this was to have all the people that
he could induce to do so, meet the in
coming trains wearing these badges TO
give the arriving Popul1sts the idea
that the entire town was for Stanley
He also expected to use the badges for
the Stanley rally which is advertised to
take place today.
The facetious committeeman said to
several people Saturday night: Il am
disgusted with my investment"
The barbecue at the fair grounds
drew the principal crowd of the cam
paign in the Third district. People be-
gan to gather early in the forenoon The
parade which was advertised to take
place at 10 o'clock did not start till af-
ter 1.
After the barbecue had been served
Governor Leedy was introduced to the
grand stand, race track and quarter
stretch full of people. The governor
looked at the audience a while and then
after laughing to himself began his
began by saying:
''They have told me at several places
that POpuliSm is dead. If that is so
this must be the resurrection" This
sally made the crowd cheer for several
minutes.
In the evening the opera house was
crowded with standing room at a prem
ium- Both in the afternoon and evening
E. r. Ridgely, the candidate for con-
gress, addressed overflow meetings on
the street corner.
The evening meeting was addressed
by Attorney General Boyle.
Governor Leedy followed General
BOYLE in a short address. In prefacing
his remarks, the governor said: Two
years ago the people who were opposing
me surrounded this same hall and tried
to drown me out with noise. This year
the Republicans have treated US with
courtesy"
Attorney General BoyleTs speech was
listened to with much attention.
The Republicans of this county are
hard at work and claim that they viii
make gains at the coming election. The
Populist and Democrats are also conf
dent. They carried this county two
years ago by over 800 votes.
Carl Vrooman, member Of the Popu-
list state central committee said I
have been in every township in the
county and I am certain that we Will
carry the county by the proportionate
vote of '96.
E. R. Ridgely, candidate for congress
in speaking of his chances for re-elec-
ton said: ''I am confident of re-elec-
ton. I have made a township canvass
and find that we are as strong as we
were two years ago.
J. H. Curran, secretary of the Demo
cratic central committee, said: THE
fusionists will carry Labette county by
30O This is a conservative estimate