The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-10-27
'DWELLS ON TRUSTS
John A. Atwood Arraigns the
Republican Administration
AT THE GARFIELD HALL
Much 0ratoricaI Ability but
Arouses No Enthusiasm.

one of the best orators in the state
thusiasm more than ordinary while here
The Garfield hall was filled by the
rank and file of the fusion forces and
good attention was paid during the grea.
ter portion of the evening There was
that feeling of ustlessness among the
audience, however, and when the speaker
made a point in his speech, the audience
| failed to respond with any great show
| of enthusiasm.
Previous to the meeting the Bryan
! Fambeau Club, with their white suits,
/ fanbeaus, etc, paraded the streets head
| ed by drum corps. 1t was the street
! demonstration advertised for last night
and even 1t failed to arouse enthusiasm
or attract more than passing attention
from the people on the streets.
This matter of speakers and crowds
is getting to be a serious thing among
| the fusionists of the county. The meet
ing Of last night was first to be held at
. the Auditorium, or at least that impress
sion was out and then came the an
nouncement that it was to be in Garfield
hall. Whether it was the fear of no
crowd, or for some other reason tho
change was made is not known.
After the marching of the fambeau
club and the arrival at the nall, Colonel
Sam Amidon stepped to the front of the
stage and in a few words, introduced the
speaker of the evening. AS IS usual in
political meetings, the speaker is ap-
plauded when he makes his appearance
This was tried last night, but Mr.. At
wood commenced to speak before the re-
ception was under way.
Mr.. Atwood as a speaker, is one OF the
best orators who has visited the city for
the fuSioniSts during the campaign. He
handles his subjects in a pleasing man
ner and at times his flights of oratory
command more than ordinary attention.
In honor Of Mr.. Atwood's presence the
Democratic decoration committee had
covered the pipes of the gas lights with
limbs of evergreen. One of these decor
atoms was between the speaker ard the
audience. When Mr.. Atwood began he
said he wished that green stuff was out
Of the way. He said: whether I am
telling the truth or a Iie like TO look
into the face of my audience" The
decoration was speedily removed and the
speaker resumed. Atwood has a rapid
flow Of language and INDUCES in many
oratorical flights, making it difficult to
follow him and understand him, especi-
ally if one is looking for argument Strip
ped Of fantastic expressions Mr.. Atwood
said in part:
hn fa Of FL 10 ~
Republicans are actuated by the same
motive that we are. recognize that they
are DESTROYS of doing what they think
best. We are trying to find out what is
the right thing to do as American citizens
November 6. The only difference is a
matter Of opinion as TO the best policies
to pursue
AS 1 speak to you tonight I want to
manifest the spirit of fairness. I want to
address you with all the candor and re-
spect that is due you. 1 have no ,nore
right to abuse and insult you than you
have to abuse and insult me. shall to-
night use only such expressions as might
with propriety be used in your parlors.
IF there is a Republican here tonight
want the kindness Of your attention.
Any Republican here or any Republican
in this city is a better representative of
American citizenship than the leader of
the Republican party, Marcus Hanna. If
one of your neighbors should happen to
place you upon a level with Hanna your
check would blush with crimson and
with angry words you would resent such
comparison When you Republicans
glory in your party affiliations you point
with pride back over the years to such
men as Abraham Lincoln as being lead
ers in your party and 1 would gladly ad- |
monish you to follow the principles of |
that greatest man of American history
Lincoln.
The first great question that l shall |
discuss is what is denominated by all |
parties as that vast inner evil of the ma
hon-the trusts. Now. before entering |
into the discussion Of the question proper
want to deal with this talk about an /
Ice trust and a cotton trust Whenever /
a Democrat begins to talk about the
trusts there is always some one ready 10 /
make the inquiry: How about the ice /
trust" l want to dispose of that feature /
before talking of trusts in general. First /
With reference to the cotton trust There /
S no such thing as a cotton trust. A man
invented a machine to compress cotton
and sold the same to a cotton firm. OF !
which Mr.. Jones of the Democratic COM
nittee. IS interested. This company
handles a great portion Of the compress
ID cotton in the United tSates. but it is
lot in any combination with any other
company to control the market Now a
rust IS a combination which is organized
o control the output Of a product and
hen set the price OF the product This
; not true OF the so-calIed cotton trust
Let me- illustrate the trust idea to
'ou. Suppose you want to buy some
'arbed wire. You come 10 Atwood. I give
'ou my price on the article. But TIE
rice does not suit you so you 81 %
mother dealer, Mr.. Amidon He IS
competitor Of mine In ali probability
Ia viii give you better price than I
lave. But suppose that Mr.. AmIdon and
myself enter into an agreement that We
viii sell wire az q certain price and VII
en it no cheaper We control the mar
-et at which you have to purchase yofr
wire That IS what is meant BY trust
Suppose that YOU are q lsborer in some
sctory- Your employer becomes diSsatls-
ed with your work You are thrown o1t
T job. You can then 20 70 another
manufacturer and get employment %
i'm But Il al the manufacturers have
one into q combination ard work To-
ether. when ron are fred from one fac
o-y you are fred from all OF them This
: the great inner evil that Is recegn .zei