The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-29
FIRST DAY IN KANSAS.
Roosevelt Makes II Speeches
and Travels 400 Miles.

Hutchinson, Kan, Sept. 29.-The first
day in Kansas of the Roosevelt cam
paign was successful as far as au-
diences and interest are concerned The
meetings have been larger and the in
terest greater than at any other time
during the trip west of the Mississippi
river. The Kansas towns appear to be
turning out en- Inasse, and the country
people are Joining their forces to the
numbers and interest of those in the
towns Big meetings were held at Abb
lene, Salina and Lindsborg. The last
meeting of the day was at this place and
as it was a night meeting and had been
we'll prepared for and advertised it was
by far the greatest demonstration of
the day.
National Republican Committeeman
Mulvane and the state committee of the
state of Kansas arranged for the day
seventeen speeches for Roosevelt includ-
ing q night speech and a day journey of
400 miles. The result was that the spe-
cial Roosevelt train did not reach Hutch
inson until 10 O'Clock, two and a half
hours late. The train failed to run on
schedule time, and thousands of people
were kept in the open air at different
places along the road for hours awaiting
the arrival of the train.
ranged for eighteen speeches in this state
today. At Phillipsburg very large
crowd assembled to which Governor
Roosevelt spoke briefly. His hearers
y.
were many men and women on the plat
form and around the station. Apparent
ly the entire population of Mankato and
surrounding districts had assembled at
the little station to see and to hear the
candidate for vice president.
At Belleville the governor was taken
from the train and placed on a platform
nearby. He spoke for ten minutes to a
seven hundred people assembled at Clyde.
When the special train pulled in there
was a shout and a rush for the rear plat
form where Governor Roosevelt stood.
A short speech was made and when the
train was moving off a rush was made
to shake hands and several women and
children were trampIed and injured in
the rush.
Clay Center was the next stop and a
large crowd was in waiting. Governor
Roosevelt left the train to go to a plat
form around which crowd had assem-
bled.
When the train drove into Junction
City a great surprise awaited the gov
er'nor. Drawn up in line on their horses
were Buffalo Bilrs soldiers and Indians
in costume and large crowd of people.
A dozen or more of the soldiers were
found to have been members of Roose-
velt's own regiment. When the train
stopped Cody, in the picturesque dress
of a pioneer frontfersman, appeared at
the rear of the coach and was warmly
greeted by the governor. After Governor
Roosevelt had concluded his remarks
of few minutes during which he intro
duced Cody to the crowd, Col. Cody
said:
Ladies and Gentlemen: Governor
Roosevelt is the American cyclone, and
I don't wonder that some have taken to
their cellars. The Wild West is here not
to make political speeches. The ticket
the governor represents is already elect
ed and all they have got to do Is to show
down and take the pot. I have with me
members of Colonel Roosevelt's regi-
ment at San Juan Hill. have others
who belonged to the Sixth and the Tenth
cavalry. I also have with me some of
the men who were the best soldiers from
Great Britain and the continent. came
to Kansas boy in 1853. 1 doubt if
there is a man in the hearing of my
voice who has been here 50 long. Ny
father gave his blood and his life for the
freedom of Kansas. He stood between
civilization and savagery. Every mile
of Kansas has been covered and won
with blood. We had to expand. Kansas
is still expanding. The state was then
known as bleeding Kansas 1t is no
longer bleeding Kansas it is one of the
great states of the union
At this point the train moved of and
Colonel Cody's Grafton was cut short,
much to the regret of Governor Roose-
Welt, who seemed to enjoy the incident
greatly.
The audience at the Auditorium in the
park at the c. A. r. reunion in Hutch
the Roosevelt train, though it was 1890
o'clock before Governor Roosevelt ar
rived. The governor was much worn by
the excessive labors of the day and after
a warm reception and a brief address
retired to rest.