The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-10-12
MAGNIFICENT
EXPOSITION
OF THE ISSUES
.of the Campaign Was That by United
! States Senator John c. spooner,
~ Of Wisconsin.
HEARTY TRIBUTE TO M'KINLEY
Was Enthusiastically Received-His
Tearing Up of "Billyo Bryan
Was Complete.

The address on the issues OF the cam
Paign. delivered last evening before a
crowd that TANNED Pythlan Castle, by
United States Senator John C. Spooner,
OF Wisconsin. was one OF the greatest
speeches ever heard In Wheeling, not
wlthstandins the fact that the speak
er's voice was IMPAIRED through almos,
continuous use since the opening OF the
campaign. Senator Spooner, was re-
+ ceiyed with great enthusiasm when In
troduced by Colonel Caldwell. His argu-
ment was convincing and was put with
plth and eloquence. His tribute to
President Mckinley. very near to whom
he stands, was received with great ap-
+ plause, while his denunciation OF Bryan
aand what he stands for In politics, was
caustic but not too severe. The speech
was vote maker. and every one, al
Sniost, of the 1900 persons in the audi
ence was held to the close.
I Before the meeting proper there was a
fine street demonstration by five Of the
I, Rough Rider companies, under Lieut..
Colonel chas. H. Geiger. together with
! the Elkins Cadets. The clubs acted as
\ escort for the speaker. but they were
late In reaching their rendezvous, and It
was o'clock when Senator Spuoner be-
gan his address. He talked for two
hours and fifteen minutes,
Col. Caldwell's Address.
:: The meeting was called to order ut 8
O'clock by County Committeeman
Charles a. Helmbright. who introduced
as chairman Col. George B. Caldwell,
who said it was no more fit to forget to
gather In political assemblages than to
forget our religious duties. And when
the speaker makes good point let him
y hear your appreciation. We've been
having a pretty dry time for several
weeks. but we will soon have Reputli-
can deluge that will sweep out the
Democratic ravines and waste places-a
regular gully washer. (Checrs.) 1t
will be mighty tidal wave such as
that OF 1896 that will elect every Re-
publican from President down to con-
stable. Continuing, the. speaker told a
pretty war story that was enthusiastic
ally:applauded. This incident was that
of Captain Mckinley at Kernstown. Va.
who was sent on mission so hazardous
that his general. Rutherford B. Hayes,
himself afterward President, feared he
would never return-but, as is usual
with the Ohio man, he got there. The
speaker called Imperialism I ghost OF
dead nonsense-we none OF us believe
in the divine right, and it Is. ridiculous
S'to talk OF an emperor and an empire In
America. The truth is, Bryan is getting
little theworst OF 1t. and he is now In
4 dugins in,vile abuse OF Republican mo-
etivcs-he is about out of soap when he
begins that sort of thing. This comes
nicely from i party whose West Vir-
..ginia leader is the knight of the purple
fpencil." (Applause.) The speakers
reference to Captain Dovener was en-
Enthusiastically applauded. Concluding.
Colonel Caldwell introduced Senator
'Spooner, to whom he paid the highest
tribute.
Senator Spooner.
Senator Spooner was given magnin-
cent ovation. He opened by saying he
feared he could not make
Himself heard. owing to his
impaired voice He was here to
make u speech in favor OF the election OF
William Mckinley. of Ohio. '(.Applause.)
He was in favor of TEDDY" Roosevelt
tApplause) He knew OF no more i'm
portant function than the selection OF
"a President. The President executes
The laws, recommends policies. he has
charge of our foreign relations. The
people choose President because they
want him, and not because he wants It.
And who Is better qualified than VIII
liam McIiinley?ts
Proceeding, the speaker paid n nigh
tribute to the President. He had been
nearito Mckinley. and he did not hest
5 tate to say that he has been faithful.
devoted and masterrul. Never for one
moment has he thought OF empire or
conquest. He has studied only the In
terest Of our people and humanity.
Bryan says Mckinley Is opposed to the
Declaration OF Independence: Think OF
that. will you! Long ago In 1861, he
was among the first to rally to the ma
tons call. Year after year he offered
his life for the preservation of the
Union, for the Declaration OF Indepen-
'dence-for that OF 1t, "all men are ere
ated equal" shall become an eternal
truth and not I lie. How odd It Is, after
SO many years. under the same flag, n
prairie statesman from Nebraska
/ should challenge the loyalty OF Mciin-
ley. (Cheers.) In those days Bryan
was In arms, too. Uaughtcr)
. Wanted Change.
she wanted to talk to his hearers few
minutes, for their own interests. He
did not always understand the Amerl-
can people. In 1891 the Mckinley law
had brought great prosperity. and we
had n Republican President, Benjamin
,. Harrison. one OF the best we ever had,
3 Suddenly the people discovered they
wanted a change. and Cleveland was
elected. Not long after Cleveland's In
nuguration paralysis pervadcd our In
dustrics: banks called in their loans;
the panic OF 1893 came. and there was
depression until 1897. need not tell
you about it;you will neverforgct!t. You
felt 1t more than did: you were work