The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-03
COCHRAN NIGHT
Famous New York Orators To-
peka Date Changed.
viii Be Here Saturday Even
ing, October 6.

1t was announced some days ago that
Bourlxe Cochran, the great New York
Democratic orator and Tammany Hail
chieftain would be in Topeka for an af-
ternoon meeting on the Sth day of Oc-
tober. This announcement was pre-
mature as J. G. johnson, vice chairman
Of the national committee, advised
Chairman Ridgely and also Frank 5.
Thomas of Topeka that he had not as
get gotten Mr.. Cockran's consent but
would make an effort to do so. AT a
meeting Saturday between Chairman
Ridgely and several of the local Demo
Gratis the question of an afternoon
meeting came up and Mr Ihonas reg
istered a very vigorous protest on an a
ternoon meeting. saying that the people
of Topeka were busily engaged at their
regular business on Mondays and es-
pecialIy the Santa Fe shop men, and that
he did not propose to be a party IN
bringing a great man here like Cochran
and have the shop boys abuse him Tor
bringing him on a day when they could
not hear him, and insisted on a nlght
meeting. Cochran only visits Such cites
as Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City,
and Omaha, and at that time it seemed
impossible to get night meeting, ana
Chairman Ridgely wrote Mr Johnson
that he had consulted with MI IhonaS
and he declined to have anything to do
with day meeting.
The Democratic state central commit
tee was called TO meet at hcnSdS lily
yesterday, and both Chairman Ridgely
and Mr.. Thomas attended, as J. @. john
son. the vice chairman of the national
committee was there from Chicago.
Chairman J. Mack Love and J. 9.
Johnson were surprised that anybody
should decline to take BOurke- Cochran
for an afternoon meeting, telling Mr..
Thomas that there were 50 cities in the
west that would jump at a chance to
get as great a man as Cochran for a
day meeting, saying 10000 were turned
away in Chicago and thousands at
every other point Chairman R1dgely
left early in the day after having given
up the idea of getting Cochran at all
while Thomas remained and kept up the
fight, saying that Topeka had now fin
ished a great Auditorium, and he was
going to have Bourke Cochran for a
night meeting so that people at Topeka
could have an opportunity to near OEe
of the greatest orators IN the nation on
the great questions of Imperialism, mil
itarisn and other issues. Thomas also
insisted on having Senator Wellington
of Maryland and one or two others Of
the most prominent men in the coun-
try.
About 4.30 in the afternoon J. G. John
son was handed a telegram from the ma
tional committee at Chicago, which read
as follows:
s-St. Louis Cochran meeting night Oc-
tober 6th off. Cannot get Auditorium. I
can run Cochran from Evansville to
Kansas City, Mo, arriving Missouri
Pacific 5:45 D. N. Can you arrange meet
ing at Topeka for that night and get
him there?
ID. MCONVILLE.
J. G. Johnson smiled and said: Good
fortune seems to attend me and my
friends and threw the telegram over to
Thomas saying: There's your night
meeting providing you will get Mr..
Cochran from Kansas City to Topeka" :"
All right said Thomas, .'all comes to
him who kicks Yes said johnson,
kick and everything will come your
way"
The railroads have arranged for one
fare for the round trip from all points
and have instructed tnear local ticket
agents to advertise the meeting. The
ed.
Bourke Cochran did not support Mr..