The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-09-18
STAFFORD IS Q|JAK|NG
1t Has Been as the Very Git
adel of PopuIism.
LONGS GREAT MEETINGS
Contrasted With Puny, For
Iorn Pop Gatherings.
LONGS GREAT MEETINGS

| Especial Correspondence Of the Eagle)
Stafford, Kan, Sept. 1.-THE weather
has changed and is much cooler, but no
frost has come, politically or otherwise,
especially not to Chester I. Long.
Less than two weeks ago. Former Lieu
tenant Governor A NJ Harvey, fusionist,
held meeting here which he says, is the
best he has held since his advent in
the campaign. That even Stafford Pop
uIists admitted that Longs meeting here
Saturday was 3 to times as large as
Harvey's and it was only one Of the or
binary Long meetings.
The meeting was held in a nib tent and
besides the filed seats, over 100 men stood
around the edges, absolutely unable to
find seats.
Robert Ffnd1ay of Sterling, candidate
for state senator, in the Barton-Rice-
Stafford district, accompanied Mr.. Long
ard spoke briefly preceding Mr.. Long.
Mr.. Findlay is a hustler and is making
a good fight There is little question of
his election.
Changes from Bryan in 1895 to McKin-
ley in 1900 are frequent and numerous in
Stafford county as elsewhere in the dis
trict. Among those who have changed
the substantial ones-are:
A. J. Van Sickle, farmer, Stafford.
James Van Sicqle, farmer, Stafford.
r. c. Holmes, preacher, Stafford.
G.. w. Ward, farmer, Stafford.
J. ]. Cox, pumps and windmills,, Stat
ford.
c. A Thomas, farmer, Stafford
Fred Harbeson. farmer, Stafford
J. D. BeaIs, photographer, Stafford.
Reuben DeC5aw, carpenter, Stafford.
A. ]. Van Sickle is an old soldier He
lies north Of Stafford. He said to the
correspondent for the Eagle Saturday:
81 cast my first vote at Chattanooga,
Tennessee, for Abraham Lincoln in 1864.
I was a soldier in the Union army. In
the early '9Vs went over to the Popu-
lists on reform I got enough of it.
am now going to eb a Republican.
voted for Bryan in 1886. I thought good
times depended on free silver. I don't
think 50 now. I have more money and
and better times than ever before, and
believe the same is true generally.
81 am for expansion and the flag, too,
and Imperialism doesn't trouble me at
ALL"
Mr.. Van Sickle has had a big wheat
crop this year, and will have more next
year His son, James Van Sickle, a for
mer Populist, now a Republican, is put
ting in $50 acres of wheat this fall
The fusionists held a grand rally at st.
John Friday, in which the throngs num-
bered from 50 to 81 at various times, while
United States Senator w. A. Harris and
Hugh Farrelly, candidate for Attorney
General. discussed the burning issue of
imperialism The fusionists were aston
ished at their failure. Bill Campbell,
former railroad commissioner and repre-
sentative, presided. and in opening the
meeting, said he didn't know whether
the farmers were too busy or whether
the meeting wasn't sufficiently advertis-
ed The latter could not hae been the
reason. for since three weeks the ut
most advertising has been done. 1t must
be that the farmers are "too busyy,' for
that is what they generally say when
they fail this year 10 attend a fusion
"anti-imperialstic' meeting.
Frank Maxon is county treasurer Of
tSafford county and a Populist. He was
chairman of the Populist delegation to
the Hutchinson convention last week,
and after its conclusion said the conven-
ton might as well have Endorsed Long
direct instead of taking the action 1t did
The other day a Republican friend ap-
preached ATaxon and congratulated him
on the stand he took for his Populist
principles in the Hutchinson convention
''Well, I'll tell you" replied Moxon; I'm
tired and sick of having the wagon run
over me-"
When Stafford county goes Republican.
there is nothing left-the bottom will drop
out Of Populsm in the Seventh district.
For years il has been the hotbed of Pop
ulism. In 1883. when Kansas only elect
three members of the lower house Of the
legislature who were not Republicans.
out Of a total of Is. Stafford sent one
Of the three. Steadily since has she
done the same. This year. there is hope
nay, more certainly, Of lecting a Repub-
lican representative along with the bal
ance or a good portion Of the ticket and
of Long carrying the county.
The Republican candidate for repre-
sentative is the Rev. Thomas Coates.
who IS popular, a good mixer and win
ner
Among the leading Republican workers
here are DR.. ]. ". Rose, c. G. Webb. G.
w. Fort and Earl Akers. They are all
hustlers and good fellows.