Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-10
POINTER MEETS 4 FROST.
Ncbrnskn's Governor CoIdIy Received
ut lown's Capital.
DIS Molncs RegIslor.


Governor POynter OF Nebraska did not de-
liver his speech at the Auditorium on
Wednesday afternoon to "thc monster mass
meeting" advertised by the democratic COM
mittec, Instead he returned to Nebraska
on the 4:i0 train, with his democratic
troubles untold. 1t was sad In fact, as
Judge Tom Burke, chairman Of the meeting
remarked, 1T was disCcuragng" but the
hald truth, humiliating and painful though
it was, could not be concealed. There were
hut thirty one people In the audience room
when it was time TO begin and even the
governor OF Nebraska, amiablo man though
he be, rcbclled and went home,
Had the situation been less embarrassing
1t would have been more amusing, though ms
1t was there were some rather entertaining
remarks made by some of the prominent
democratic leaders present. The half dozen
local lights Of the democracy. who accom-
panied Governor povntcr from the Savcry
over to the Auditorium, made six separate
apologies to the Ncbraskan explaining how
it happened. The Semi ON Sed carnival
the afternoon, poor management, lack Of
advertising, failure Of committees to work
and, in fact, any old excuse was dragged
forth to assuage the feelings of his excel.
lency, when it became evident that no one
was to attend.
Desperate efforts were made TO get a
crowd, however, before the attempt was
abandoned At 90 minutes until . O'Clock n
democrat happened by the hall and found
the ushers standing idly inside the main
entrance, He walked briskly through the
doorway and passing into the big audience
room started with surprise. There was only
ono woman in a box, two small boys eating
peanut candy down in the front row and
couple Of strangers IN the left
aisle gazing at the architecture
of the new building. After gaspng a few
times and hurrie,lly referring to his watch
and inquiring IL it was correct that the
meeting was slated for . o'clock, he took
bee line for the Savery. About ten min
utes later banner announcing the meet
ing was started for tour of the down
town streets preceded by a band and a
dapper young colored drum major, with a
suit Of clothes so loud that the Midway
seemed quiet when the major marched past
The band circulated for about twenty min
utes and marched back to the Auditorium
The crowd that followed consisted OF two
boys and donkey cart, advertising a down
town music store
BY this time it was clear that the Jig was
up But Chairman Huffman, Governor
other speaker of the afternoon, Jerry Hart
enbower, Ira F.. Irwin ana two or three other
democratic leaders started bravely for the
Auditorium Stepping on the stage they
retired behind a wing out of sight of the
thirty people in front and began to
consult.
ITS awful, isn't it?" said one of the
gentlemen.
There has been bad management" an
nouncod Father Nugent.
Yes, and it will all be in the Register in
the morning. moaned another.
After a parley between the Des Moines
men, Judge Burke approached Governor
Poynter, who had seated himself on a set
tee, and said with an inquirng tone in
his voice: 'Well of course, we can't ask
you to speak to this crowd, can we, gov
ernor?'
"lt does look a trhe thin" responded the
chief executive Of Nebraska
Another council was held. Governor
Poynter was asked if he could remain
over. He said he could not. Editor Win
dell was asked the same question. He re-
piled that he could and would. 1t was
then decided to abandon the meeting.