The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-22
POPS OPEN CAMP AIGN
Only 81 Voters Present Ex-
cept Speakers, Candidates
!ERRE BOTKIN'S SPEECH
Was About Everything Except
Silver and Lasted Two Hours

The Populist campaign was opened
bv Congressman-at-Large Jerre Botkn in
the silas Rutledge grove twelve miles
northwest Of Wichita yesterday. The
meeting had been advertised extensively
and Jerre Botkin was engaged TO insure
a large crowd and give the campaign a
brisk send-off. Botkin was there and
made a speech lasting two hours and 1--WE
minutes, but the crowd was not large.
Not even a fusionist would claim that the
opening meeting Of their county cam
paign yesterday was attended by thous-
ands or by hundreds. There were just
thirty-seveu voters there outside Of the
speakers and candidates There were
fortv-one women and five school girls.
These figures are actual counG and if any
Populist who attended the meeting viii
bring proof 10 this Office that this state
1nent is not right, it wiz se corrected.
For the opening meeting Of the county
campaign with the Pop party congress
,nan-at-;arge, the party boast OF western
fusion orators, a crowd OF, say, to be lib
eral. one hundred and thirty-five people.
less than half Of which, counting every
man over twenty-one, was voters, IS not
what would be called a rousing rally.
There Is not a Populist in Sedgwick
county who would say so. 1t is falling
off of attendance upon Pop picnics in this
same grove Of ex-Representative Silas
Rutledge's Of at least 100 per cent in the
last six years and not a Populist in sedg-
wick county who knows anything about
it Will deny this statement.
George Kensler went out to the meet
ing yesterday with supply Of antitrust
buttons and though he canvassed indus
triously he could only sell nine.
He may have sold more on the road out
or coming back, but he sold only nine
on the grounds. In this same grove six
years ago 1900 Pop badges were sold on
one day.
Jerre Botkin only mentioned silver okre
in all his two hours and five minutes
speech, and then only incidentally. The
mention OF free silver was not cheered-
Six years ago, four years ago, three years
ago, speeches of silver, free silver, silver
at Is 10 l, the crime Of 20, demonetiza-
ton, etc, was discussed in every magma
bile detail for hours. Bryan and Free Sill
yer" buttons used to be seen in swarms and
thousands at picnios in this grove. There
were no free silver badges out there yes
terday-not one. This statement viii not
be denied by any Populst in Sedgwick
county who knows anything about yes
terday's meeting.
Jerre Botkin brushed by the ''crime Of
'73'; he omitted any mention of the
Seven Conspiracies" and 1.-THE Way 4
Out" He never quoted from Coin Har-
vey. He said that Bryan would be nom-
mated by reclamation for president by
the next Democratic national convention.
He said that the campaign would be
Bryan against the trusts; expansion and
anti-expansion. He said he respected the
boys in the Philippines. but they were en-
gagged in great wrong. He said it would
he as easy for the United States govern
ment to whip the Filipinos as for a grown
man 10 whip a small boy, and just as
unrishteous. He thought the beautiful
sentiment who will haul down the nag
would be ridiculous If Turkey should talk
that way about hauling down its flag.
Just where the argument in this state
ment came in was hardly discernibIe, for
nobody cheered It. If he didn't mean to
say that the Turkish government is as
good as the government Of the United
States Il is useless TO waste time guess /
ing what he did intend. He thought that
President Mckinley should call an extra
session Of congress at once and turn the 1
Philippine Islands back TO the natives and /
apologize. but that Cuba ought 10 be re-
tained-ought TO be annexed.
There was very little cheering and no 1
enthusiasm. out Of the thirty-seven dis 4
interested voters present MOI more than /
twenty cheered at all and most of the 4
time applause was confined to about eight 4
or nine. 1t was different in this same /
grove three or four or six years ago. /
Any Populist who is fair, viii admit that /
the meeting yesterday was less than sue /
cessfuL
Thirty-seven voters out at the opening 1
rally. with Jerre Botkin the card. will /
hardly serve 20 boast OF. The meeting I
was q fizzle as any sensible Pop knows. /
Any sensible Pop knows that the people I
OF this country are not going to turn out /
and whoon it up for party that wants .
TO tear down something all the time and 4
are just now after the fiag. Il IS not .
patriotic and It won't so
luIHIITA H0lINTN SUEN