Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-10-12
DEMOCRATIC RALLY A FIZzLE.
Abba People Wait for Bryan and Hear
Nugcnt Enstend.

AlDla, Oct. lU.-tSpeclal.)-lne Qem-
ocratic rally so extensively advertised
to occur in this city yesterday was a
complete aud utter tizzle. The mana
gers had offered as an inducement to
raise a crowd that they would hear
Bryan discuss the political issues, that
Fred T.. White would be present to
shake hands with the people. They
had secured the large tent that had
been used at the Blakesburg meeting
and all day Sunday d force of men put
in their time in getting the tent erect
ed. They had announced that the
speaking would be held from this ''pa-
vilion."
Shortly before time for the speaking
TO begin and while many people were
in the tent a gust of wind swept
across the lot. and getting beneath the
canvass lifted it from the poles, tore
the canvas in many places, let the large
center poles fall among the people and
caused a general panic. An effort was
made 10 again raise the tent but it was
no 60, the public did not want to
stand beneath those heavy poles again
and the opera house was secured and
thither the crowd was invited.
W.. NJ. McHenry was present to do
the talking and for an hour he made
the usual democratic wall. AT the con-
%clusion of his speech the crowd hus-
tied to the street, and made their way
to the Iowa Central depot where it was
said Mr.. Bryan would alight from Il
train from C~enterville. The gentle
man came not, neither did Fred White
and the committee, the bands and peo-
pie who had gone down to witness the
reception ceremony saw all the demo.
cratic leaders turn their backs to the
station and begin the march to the
city, not a public speaker, nor a man
of the party having arrived to take
part in the nights program. Over at
the c., B. g. q. depot it was somewhat
different for there the Rev. Father MI
gent stepped from the train and the an
nouncement went out that he was to
do the talking that Bryan was to have
done. There were, perhaps, 1000 stran-
gers in the city at this time and they
followed the band to where the tent
had stood and which had now been re-
moved and a platform erected in its
place.
The reverend gentleman was intro
duced by Hon. L. T. Richmond, the
bank cashier populist and he proceed
ed to tell of the sins of republicans for
an hour.
He dwelt at length on the questions
of Imperialism and trusts, and from his
point of view the republicans were re-
sponsible for all the sins that have
come upon the world. He said that
public paid liars were going over the
country to deceive the people, and that
Dunn and Bradstreets were among the
most accomplished liars in the United
States, and that they were under CEN
sorship as much as the c%ablegrams re-
ceived from Manila. He denounced the
leaders of the republican party as I'M
covered traitors and said when Presi-
dent Mckinley ONE through Iowa he
will preach treason from the rear end
of a train. He said it was not the
intention of the leaders that this ma
ton should remain a republic; that the
people are passing into a lower stage
of government and the last days of q
republic are now close at hand. He con.
tinued in this strain for an hour
thanked the crowd for being so atten-
tive, went to the hotel and prepared to
go to Creston where he was to fill an
engagement for Mr.. BRYAN.