The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-12
SEVEN CAR LOADS
Many Topeka Republicans Go to
Wakarusa Picnic.
Farmers, Not So Enthusiastic,
Staid at Home.

1t isn't every political speaker who
can draw a crowd Of 500 at his own
home, and the speaker who can take q
crowd of that number twelve miles into
the country on q. wet, dismal morning
to a damp. muddy grove, and talk to
them for an hour must be a wonder.
But that is what Tom McNeal did to-
day, and in his speech at the Republican
basket picnic at Wakarusa this morn
ing he reminded his audience of the
fact
Those who arranged for the first open
air Republican meeting of the cam
paign at Wakarusa today feared this
morning that the gloomy weather would
spoil the meeting. They viewed with
alram' the clouds and mud, but the
Twenty third regiment band marched
from the old court house followed by
the Old Soldiers Mckinley and RooSe-
welt club carrying red, white and blue
umbrellas 1t seemed like q. minstrel
parade on wet day. But the five cars
that made up the train were not enough
and two more coaches were put on.
By actual count 478 people went from
Topeka But the farmers We're not so
enthusiastic. When the Topeka delega-
ton marched into Snyder's grove there
was not a corporaPs guard awaiting
them. So when Tom McNea1 spoke in
the morning he was heard by the crowd
clouds disappeared and the farmers
commenced to arrive in time for the
speeches by Congressman Charles Curtis
and ChaS. f. Scott of lola
The seats in the grove were wet, but
the people stood up and seemed to en-
joy it. A half mile from the grove the
usual midway with beer in bottles and
in kegs and the usual crap games
and other gambling games were run
ming ten minutes after the train ar
rived.
The candidates were well represented.
George w. Clark, Populist and indie
pendent candidate for county attorney,
sat next to Galen Nichols, his Republic
can adversary, and listened while Tom
McNeal Skinned his party Nichols
aplauded; Clark smiled.
In his speech Tom McNeal said:
Il was brought up in a Christian fam
lily and was taught never to speak Ill or
the dead. 1t is not right therefore to
speak i'll of the Populist party We are
gathered around the last resting place
of the Populist party, but We shed no
tears. Let US speak philosophically OF
When the Republicans thought they were
absolutely sure of the usual 10000 ma
jority we were suddenly thrown in the
air. We could not understand it. 1t
was like the story of the two Irishmen
who came to this country and were
hunting for work. They went to sleep
by a railroad track. They didn't know
what it was. Along came an express
train, with the sparks and fire blazing
out in the night. What is it, Pat?' said
one. Faith and don't KNOW said Pat,
but I think they are moving hell and
that is the first load. That is what we
thought few years ago.
I'VE are apt to be scared by things
we know nothing about. If some one
would announce that a new and strange
wild animal was coming to this grove
you would not stop to investigate but
would run and leave me to follow you.
That reminds me of two young men who
r-.ex4c r,1 hrC1r
had to raise the wind to live-on. One OF
them suggested that they start a show.
One said we can buy pair of horses
in these Democratic times for $3.50 and
a wagon for $3.50 and that's enough
They went to town and put out bills
announcing that they would exhibit the
wonderful untamed giastercutis from
the wilds of South Africa. The crowd
assembled at the hall that night and one
of the young men got on a platform and
told about the long haired, big toothed
giastercutiS with a tail IL feet long that
would be exhibited.
Just then the other man came running
in with his clothes torn and hair stand
ing on end. Run for your lives he
shouted, the giastercutis has escaped.
The people ran and the showmen went to
the next town and repeated the show.
1.-The human mind fears something it
knows nothing about. The Pops found
ed beasts. Did you ever eat mince pie
and go to bed and dream of forked tailed
whang doodle from hypediam. If you
are so lucky as to be married and have
been married a short time, your wife win
say, John but if you have been married 4
long she will say Wake up, you old
fooll' You wake up and there is nothing
in it, That's the way with the Pop dra-
CONS. The fate of the Pop party is set
tied"
Mr.. McNeal in his serious moments
compared the Democratic editorials
about Abraham Lincoln to the editorials
against Mckinley. He showed them to
be the same and in both cases announced
the wars of the time to be unjust.