Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-10-03

great oak trees, the only ones in
broad field, William j. Stone, of st
Louis, and Champ Clark, of Pix,
county, opened the senatorial cam
paign here this afternoon. Each "a
didate made a speech, something ovei
an hour in length, from a wagon. The
listeners, a vast crowd from three OIL
four countines, sat on the grass as the
two distinguished Missourians out.
lined their positions on the issues In
the public mind.
Gov. Stone made no direct allusion
to his candidacy. The greater part OF
his speech was devoted to the state
ment that he had never for an in
stant receded from the position the
party occupied in 1896 and in 1900. He
recalled his Washington park, Kan
sas City, speech, and declared for q
reaf1irmation of the Chicago and Kan
sas City platforms. He said also that
he deemed it. unwise TO submit to
newspaper interviews on important
questions without either writing the
interviews or seeing the subsequent
proof,
He said hat he had not declared
against the ratio of 16 to 1, but that
he would be willing to change that
ratio as a concession in order to Sc
cure a repeal of the act of 1873 and
to retore bimetallism.
Mr.. Clark made direct answer to
this point. He said that he meant to
stand by the whole of the Kansas
City platform, emitting no detail, and
that he meant by this that the ratio
would continue as set forth. He said
that concessions meant defeat.
Many uncommon circumstances at
tended the meeting to-day. Until this
morning neither candidate. knew that
the other was to be present Mr..
Stone was on his way to Lamar and
Mr.. Clark was booked for a speech at
Moberly tomorrow. Both we're in
vited to stop here and address the
people at the fair grounds.
When the speakers reached the
grand stand at 2 O'Clock this after
noon they found a baby show in prog
ress. On the other side of the amphi-
theater there was enterprising music
that could not be stopped. Mr.. Bas-
sett. chairman of the committee on
arrangements, announced the ora
torical plans for the afternoon, pre-
senting Gov. Stone as the first speak
er. Gov. Stone, looking better than
he has appeared in several seasons,
stood before the audience and waited
for q lull in the music. There was
none. He brushed his famous lock
back once or twice, smiled at the
great crowd and at the chairman, and
a seat.
Then some one said that old-fash-
Toned stump-speaking would come
to the Monroe county idea for
the launching of senatorial booms.
There we're two great trees a quarter
of a mile away. What did Mr.. Clark
and Mr.. Stone think about it? They
were much pleased.
So the crowd, good natured and in
terested, started. 1t was like the
Benton campaigns half a century ago,
told about by Senator Vest last sum
mer down at Sweet Springs. The two
speakers, one tall and slender, the
other tall and thick, led the process
sion across a stretch of fall pastur-
age. The crowd was so great hat
some one suggested two meetings.
This was voted down..
There was some delay in finding a
place for the speakers. Then a light
wagon that yielded to every
move of the orator was
wheeled up. Gov. Stone mounted it,
and, after his characteristic survey of
the great crowd, began by saying: