The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-10-25
People Flock to Newkirk to
Hear Their FavOr!te
NO PARTISATSHlP THERE
Democrats and PopuIiStS
Cheer Like Republicans.

meetings Kay county has had during
the present campaign. Bird 5. Mcclure,
the nominee of the Republican party for
delegate to congress, was the speaker Of
the afternoon. and this man, who is i'm
hensely popular in this county, received
an ovation from his audience, which was
composed of men affiliated with all polit-
ical parties 1t was difficult to draw
the political line as far as enthusiasm was
concerned. for Democrats participated
with Republicans in the applause given
the speaker from time to time. Hereto
fore it has been hard to secure large au-
diences at any political meeting held in
the afternoon. People are busy on their
farms They have given thought to pei
itics. but have not deserted their labors
for the purpose of hearing political dis
cussions.
The meeting this afternoon was in real
ity record-breaker, and men from miles
around Newkirk drove in to hear the Re
publican candidate elucidate upon the
ideas of the Republican party relative to
statehood and the other issues in the
present campaign.
1t is not the first time that Mr. Mcclure
has been in Kay county or Newkirk dur
ing the campaign. Before the Enid con-
vention was held the Republican central
committee of the big county in northern
Oklahoma determined to hold a ratiiica-
ton meeting to properly ratify the nom
ination of the choice of the delegates
in the Enid convention, at which time
Mr.. Mcclure was nominated. 1t would
not have made any difference who had
been nominated at that convention, the
ratification meeting would have been
held The Republicans of Kay county
were for the man nominated to represent
the great party in this territory They
had planned their ratification meeting,
and when Mr. Mcclure appeared here as
the nominee of the party for delegate
to congress he was accorded a reception
that will ever remain in the political
annals of the county. The auditorium OF
the city building was filed on that day.
and the candidate made a speech during
the afternoon that made friends for him
and demonstrated that he was eminently
able to be the person to go before the
people in the campaign which means so
much TO the residents of this territory.
IT was the first discussion Of the issues
before
him. and his remarks created much favor
able comment. 1t was in reality his firss
political speech for two years and 1t
pleased those who had assembled 20 greet
him. The speech made by him at that
time is not to be compared with the
speech made here this afternoon, As an
advocate of the policy Of the Repubi-
can party ne has expanded and the ad-
dress made to the people assembled in
Nevkirk, while confined to territorial
matters. was a masterpiece in thought
anu logic. 1t was a speech that created
enthusiasm Immediately. Many times
Mr.. Mcclure was interrupted by continued
cheering on the part of his auditors At
times. before the speaker could resume,
the cheering would break out again. and
in the matter OF enthusiasm, there has
never been q meeting held in this portion
of the territory this year that can equal II
in this respect.
Judge Virgil II. Brown Of this county,
q nersonal friend of Mr.. Mcclure, and
one Of the talented men Of the territory.
introduced the congressional candidate 20
the audience. He did it in a few neat
words but what he did say demonstrated
that he knows the man and is familiar
with the splendid campaign he IS making
in all parts Of Oklahoma.
AZ he arose 10 greet the people. Mr.
Mcclure was enthusiastically applauded.
COMMUNICATING his audience upon their
splendid county: commencing them for
their energy and push. Mr. Mcclure be-
san his speech. After a few remarks of
This nature. he took up the theme of
his address. He stated that it made lit
tie difference to him whether man was
of opposite political faith or not, he had
M criticism TO make If men differed from
hin, politically II was his CONCESSION
that every man has the right 70 think
politicany as he pleases, but that ne dlo
not know what he would rather have
him be. Showing conclusively that he
nronosed TO be absolutely fair, he took
nm the question of statehood, and in New
kirk he found an aundience anxious TO
know the facts relative 10 the stats
hood matter. From the beginning or the
statehood agitation be followed it up TO
the present time, explaining every step
giving the history of the fight made or
the Flynn bill. even after it had passed
the house of representatives and with
practically a unanimous vote.
NIr Mcclure freely commented on the
e~b+ made upon the bill and gave some
o~.-ac,s from speeches made when that
egb, was on. He told or the energetic
vork done in behalf Of the bill and ex-
,1stnes bv reason Of the vote OF the
democrats on the Flynn bin that the
Democratic party in this territory IS nof
=, Iins With the party IN congress upon
The statehood question.
He gave his reasons for believing that
,,,,mediate statehood is the thing for Ok
lahorna 70 have and that Il Is net policy
n wait until the Indian Territory can %
admitted. or even 70 attempt 10 take N
that territory as a part of the state ai
is ,i-ne owing 70 the fact that the
-eo,le Of that country are not prepared
s,- a step ss important as statehood and
tha. such ? thing would mean hard
sb;, an the people OF this ts-Titcry- His
-s-,sra-s on the statehoc5 question were
( osesred repeatedly ard Z there IL any
sn,,b. "a 70 the sentiment or statehood
=, Ecav county. I'VE minutes ~ meeting
ssr,;,ar 70 the ore held here would con-
vince the most uuEeiieving that Kay
county neorls do vrant immediate state
/ hood for this territory
( Reference vas made ey the Speaker =
the mixed school question and The his
torv CT This matter was explained. L 5
not a new thin zto the majority os Kay
county peonIe. but they were slightly n
The dark IS 70 the reasons Why s.fch :
| plank was placed IN the Democratic 7iat-
/ form 4. the tine Nr Cross vas ro-ai-