The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-03
He GOT BAD
IMPRESSION
OF OKLAHOMA
Senator TiIIman Had Accident
and Disguised Audiences.
PEOPLE DIDN'T LIKE HIM
Or His Show Of Poisoned Race
PredjudiCes,

Guthrie. o. T., Nov. Upon the whole
Senator Tilman's experience in Oklahoma
during the past week, where he appeared
as d lecturer, has not been a pleasant
one. He appeared last at Shawnee. In
going from LIE lecture hall 10 the hotel
he missed his footing on an insecure
sidewalk and went head over heels int q
ditch fun Of muddy water and was be-
smeared from head to foot. The incident
viii not increase his impression OF the
good points of Oklahoma.
\ large portion OF TIlman's audiences
aid not like his lecture: they abhorred it,
and the frigidity. they felt reached the
fiery South Carolina senator. He viii
probably never come to Oklahoma again.
Oklahoma is in a position TO judge the
Face question nationally. The popula-
ton IS made up Of northerners and south
urners. and there are negroes from both
the north and the south. There is a rec
UgnitiOn throughout the territory Of ra-
Cial-sOcial differences and lines of demar-
ration. but there is little race prejudice.
Under the guise of a lecture, Tflman de-
Iivered himself of a speech that rang with
the poison Of race prejudice.
Even southern democrats were in some
instances disguised. One, writing to the
Saltwater Gazette. says:
''As native and friend of the south and
n Democrat with a big d, I was griev-
iously disappointed in Senator Tinman's
lecture on "The Race Problem" at the
opera house last night.
While ] have lived long enough TO know
that ideals and idols are usually far off.
yet am young enough TO have an ideal
shattered occasionally while Senator
Tilman had not reached The eminence of
81 ideal in my mind. he had almost done
so in my affections; but his last nights
lecture wholly obliterated the mental
standard ] had credited him with and
punctured several holes in the sentiment
with which I had invested him.
LAS a logician he is lameu$ably disor-
Fanized. and as an orator. 2 distressing
failure. He does not even handle a pitch
fork in g manner that is either tactful or
pr3iseworthy; and when one calls to mind
The names Of Calhoun and Hayne names
which made history and glory for South
Carolina one is compelled to recall the
triteness Of the old saying, How the
mighty have fallen
.eThat Tinman is fighter no one can
doubt. for pugnacity is written an over
his face and fills every bump on his head
hut the intelligent and refined audience
which faced the gentleman last night ex-
pectcd a calm and statesmanlike presenta-
ton of q grave and momentous question.
''W hat sam Jones is to the church Till
man is to the world of politics, addressing
himself to the prejudices of the day
rather than the logic of events
Like him. I know that I belong to a
race far superior to the Niger but in
dealing with this problem believe if
were going to undertake its discussion I
would rather address myself TO the intel
lirence of my audience, rather than 10
drag out for public view the ugly skele-
ton of a bloody past
The Norman Transcript goes after TIL
man with its own pitchforlz. saying in a
review OF his lecture IN that city:
His lecture was 70 have been on "a
Plea for the People" but at the last
moment it was changed to The Race
Problem" This met with the approval of
lis audience. for. if they heard him at
nu they wanted his most radical lecture.
The lecture was really vicious har-
Bngue. presenting nothing new and offer
Ing no solution of the problem" It
was neither uplifting. instructive nor
amusing. unless the very viciousness he
displayed IN the contortions of his face
ard body and The vehemence of his Ian
Euage might be termed amusing IT was
hrded with oaths. vulgarity and sug-
gcst5ors that were entirely out of place
at such a rue and place. if they are ever
fxcusabie. II he he a southern gentle
man-God save the mark
While boasting of his position as United
States senator he advocated lynch law,
ihe shot gun policy and determination of
lhe negro. and remarked that if the
'sassv uiggcrs Of Oklahoma were down in
carolina their bones would soon bleach
npon It's mills lie talked about the
breeding up of the race as a cowman
would talk about improving the strain Of
his cattle, and excused the number of
muiattoes in the south by saying that
the white mans passions must be satis-
fed Was there ever more damnahle
hoctrine-and this too from United
States senator
such lectures ID rs Humans are poi
Eonous 10 the atmosphere ard detrimental
D. every way 10 community. such men
hs Tilman oueht not 10 be recognized by
hn intelligent and civilized community.