Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-04
CHEER MEIKLEJOHN
Court Room Packed at Geneva by Eager
Throng of Listeners.
PRETENsIoNs OF poPocRATs PUNCTURED
Claims of Republican Party for sur-
frnpes of the People Clearly Set
Forth in Eloquent and Com
yincing speech.

GENEVA, Neb., Nov. 3.--(Special Tele.
gram )--One of the most successful political
meetings ever held in Fillmore county oc-
Cured here tonight when Hon. George d.
Meiklejohn addressed an audience whose
goody proportions made him glad that his
fortunes had brought him among his old
friends The district court room was packed.
1t was a dusty evening. but the farmers
came to hear Mr.. Meikiejoan Just the same.
BY the time the Ladies' bln1 of Geneva
commenced playing Marching Through
Georgia." the crowd was growing impatient.
The appearance of the chairman, DR.. II. l..
Smith, and the distinguished speaker was
greeted with applause.
Mr.. Meiklejohn made a strong speech and
his hearers were not backward in evincing
their appreciation. The speaker opened his
address by referring to the great convention
of over one hundred years ago when the
constitution of the United States was
adopted without political Intervention. He
desired his auditors to face the problems OF
today as American citizens just as our fore
fathers had. He referred to the prophecies
of the opposing party in 1896. They had
urged that the republican party would
pauperize labor strike down the products Of
the people and deliver the country into the
hands of the money power. The promises
OF blessings the 16 to 1 fallacy would bring
| upon the people are being repeated today in
this state just as they were two years ago.
In reference to the promises of the repub-
lcans, he asked how they had been full
filed The pleas of the workingmen for en-
ployment had been followed by the music
of the forge, the factory and farm. The
laborer is now in demand and the products
OF the farm are being consumed. He told
how many millions of dollars the exports
exceeded the imports under republican DOM
inatlon and how Mckinley had called con-
| gress together fifteen days after taking the
oath Of Office. That session saw the repeal
of the Wilson bill and the passage of the
Dingley measure, which has brought mil
| lions into the treasury. 1t was the key that
unlocked the treasure vaults, opened the
| ground and ushered in the prosperity which
has filled the banks of Seward and Fillmore
counties with thousands of dollars.
Drop Free Silver.
| Mr.. Meiklejohn said when the fusionists
opened this campaign they talked free sill
| YER. Then they turned to the defalcation of
| BARLEY. The speaker was sorry BARLEY
had proven false to his trust, but every
avocation in life is tainted by the touch OF
fraud and the presence of black sheep. Per-
/ sonal1y, he was indignant when he heard
of the treasurer's pecuiations, but the re-
publican party was not responsible. The
| speaker said this had not proven good
| campaign argument for the opposition be-
cause tt was found that the populist treas
urers in fourteen counties were short over
100000 In Gosper county the defaulter
| hod nt ,tll - l. l. IT. -
| the additional crime of arson.
| Mr.. Meiklejohn referred to the depleted
national treasury when Mr.. Mckinley was
elected and pointed to the surplus now
He told of the sale of $262, 900 900 bonds un-
der Mr.. Cleveland's administration and COM
| pared it to that lately consummated by Mr.
| Mckinley, when the American people Sc
| cured the profits.
Speaking of the war, Mr.. Meiklejohn said
the administration had sought to avoid it.
Once the declaration was made. however
the president proceeded to act with prompt
ness. Volunteers were called for and the
speaker said he was glad to know of the
gallant record made by the Geneva company
in Manila. They were entitled to praise
but the thousands Of boys who remained in
home camps ought to receive the same
credit. They had done all that was required
VI tuehi' MI. NelhleJOnn SAID the Wal
department had done it's best to preserve the
lives OF all the boys. Clothing had beer
purchased equipment secured and the bes
rations the world could provide were sen
to the lads in blue. Nothing had been lef
undone and the carpng critics who wer,
constantly finding fault with somebody knew
1t.
Circulars had been distributed on tn
streets in the afternoon, containing tn,
charge that Dr. Hudekoper was a yeter
marian. Mr.. Meiklejohn told of the Penn
sylvanian's record. how he had been a sur
geon in the national guard for nineteel
years, how he was highly recommended b,
medical authorities and how the nineteeI
national guard regiments of Pennsylvani;
wanted him appointed. The statemen
seemed to please his audience greatly. a
they showed their satisfaction by prolonge,
applause. The speaker closed with an ex
preston of hope that love of country woul
overcome partisanship and that his oil
/. friends would sustain the president in hi
past action in placing this country in tn
vanguard of nations.