The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-23
HOOTED HIM DOWN
Jerry Simpson Got Too Wild
at Soldiers Reunion
INSULTED HIS HEARERS
With His Expressed Admiration
of AguinaldO's Pluck,

made with courage and bravery. he cam
that has ever yet gone out 10 battle. Mr.
Simpson was invited by the reunion com
diers. He was given to understand tina
the speech was 10 be non-poIitical, but ht
violated their trust and not only made
an unpatriotic attack on the army in tbs
| Philippines, but tried once or twice tC
| rehabilitate the fight IN the Seventh dis
trict by undignifed references to Chester
l. Long and attempting to criticise Long
| speech Of the day before. The crowd
| stood It for twenty-five minutes and then
| suddenly broke loose with a round OF
abuse and righteous Indignation that
completely drowned the speakers voice,
and he was forced TO leave the stage be-
fore he had gotten half way through his
speech.
Probably a wilder demonstration was
never witnessed in Wichita than this one.
The audience had been fairly insulted by
Mr.. Simpsons reference to the spirit of
John Brown. with whom is that spirit
marching today. Otis or Aguinaldo?
1 believe it is with Aguinaldo."
This reference sent a shudder of indigna-
ton over the entire audience Mrs. Mason
president of the Womans Relief Corps
burst into tears and Immediately hunted
Aup the rest of the women to take Mr.
simpson off the stand.
Then an old soldier who could not
stand the abuse of the army any longer,
arose and said: Mr.. Chairman, there is
complaint here that this speech is run
ming into politics" Immediately a thous-
and cries went up, Yes. yes" that's
So" etc. go on, go on,'' said an cid
man just in front of the stage
The people all over the tent jumped to
their feet and stood upon the benches.
Old soldiers with cIinched fists raised.
young soldiers of the Spanish war trying
to get at the speaker and wild gesticula-
tons all over the large tent combined TO
make a maddening scene. Mr.. Simpson.
striving to speak above the din and noise
finally stood and laughed and held up his
hands as if sueing for peace He be-
gan:
Il was going to say -
You've said enough" came a clear
voice from the rear Of the tent.
Put him out; kick him out said an
other
Down with the Tagalo." cried an old
soldier.
simpson-"Now, ladies and gentlemen.
sit down. This may be a diversion.
but -
Never mind; we don't want you any
longer"
Take your troubles to Atkinson"
At this juncture the chairman tried to
quell the noisy crowd, but all efforts
were frultless. They had been insulted
and the flag had been maligned. the army
belittled and the patriotism of all had
been trampled IN the dust. Trying again |
TO speak, Mr.. Simpson Strengthened him
self and with great force continued:
THE old soldiers have accorded every
man the right to speak -
Talk to your own people. then" came
a voice which had managed to hear him |
Simpson-"You've got to take your
as long as you stay in this tent.
You -
yes, but we don't need emetics," said
a patriot OF the civil war.
Nor Filipino busthead," said a young
soldier.
simpson-"Now, be stu. I've Just got
to my peroration -
Take it to Aguinaldo," came cry in
Yes, give him treech clout and turn
him loose" said anothe-.
The confusion in ne crowI and the
chickering's Of the speaker in his atter3pt
- talk back. continued fully i've minutes
The boots and yelIs would die out ard
Use again and it seemed as if :, could
lot be stopped. F.aa'y Mr.. Simpson
urned 10 the chairman and said scftlv.
They'll 'quit directly" but the people
would not quit until he had walked from
he front Of the platform. Then Mrs.
little Of the Pennsylvania association
topped onto the stage with a note 10
Ir. Simpson. saying that he was tres
assing upon their time Mr.. Siuoson
vas then led 10 the rear OF the stage
nd DR.. Pratt met him and took his hand
nd expressed his own humiliation and
Sanford's band Quoted the
rowd by playing Just Before the Bat
ie Mother" In a few minutes after
ards the speaker had disappeared.
Mr.. simpson had evidently misiudges
he temper of his audience. There wee :
even men III The audience who nodded
heir heals IN commentator OF his r. :
iarks ana occasionally spoke out loud /,
hen ne had reached a climax. Two or
lree times he was given a good applause ?
nd by these things he had judged thar
le audieree was on his side and that 10
'uld ,ro' teC. safely 70 wipe the earth
it'll every patriotic thought tia. had :
zen expressed during the reunion. He
as talking 20 some old soldiers whose :
us are iight'ng il the Philippines. and
hen Mr.. Simpson referred in highly -
terms 70 Asuiaal5o ard :
5 army the storm broke loose which :,
ve7t Mr.. simpson from the s.a-a. >
The crowd was large but nat - lara
Z 2elo as ne day before M. Simpson
as late IN arriving, he aralos.zes ~ =. >.
saving thar be had Jus. returned =
on another soldiers reunion IN .ra :,
para q the state. he bean =
saying thai the uPDermost ques.f7, :,
fore the people q TO-DAY IS the c5-s.s- :,
alton d The foreign policy CT tie gov :
n1aent he then took Up a copy % the :
'sle and referred u parts % Chester
'ng's speech. saying '3Thre are many =.
.nss IN Chesse-'s speech TIA. sssz-s !.
commend, Evidently the gouns ma. Is :,
proving IN some thinzz Take f1- IN
lace. his reference % Cuba Tae ssnrl-