The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-23
THISISFuS|0N DAY
The Opening Rally Is Held in
Topeka.
Rain Does Much to Prevent
Large Attendance.
KANSAS CITY MEN HERE
CraddOck's Neighb0rs Turn Out
in Force.
Afternoon Meeting Changed to
Auditorium.
Orators Will Appear at Same
Place Tonight.
KANSAS CITY MEN HERE

Place Tonight.
Jupiter Pluvius appears to be a Re-
publican this yeari AT any rate he is
not lending any material aid to the fu
sionistS. A worse day for the fusion
rally could scarcely be imagined at this
time of year. In the first place a big
parade had been planned in which the
farmers of Shawnee county should take
a prominent part, but the day brought
forth a steady drizzling rain and the
mud was so deep that the farmers could
not come into the city with any degree
of comfort.
Then, too, the rain was general over a
great portion of the state and kept
away some of the bands for which the
fusion committee had made arrange
ments. The Chanute band arrived early.
but others wired or telephoned that
they did not wish to take part in any
parade when it was so muddy.
Altogether it was a very discOuraging
prospect. Early this morning it looked
as though the big meeting might not
fare much better comparatively. from
the standpoint of a crowd. than did Mr..
Lathrop's midd1e-o -the-road conven-
tion earlier in the week.
There was an element, however, which
the rain did not keep away. That was
the candidate W. H Craddock candi-
date for governor came in last evening
and other candidates on the state ticket
arrived on the late trains. This morn
ing nearly all the fusion state and con-
greSSional candidates were on hand, but
the expected crowds from over the state
did not appear although a Kansas City
train brought up about 400 Craddock
hooters.
At 10 o'clock this morning the execu-
tive committee held a meeting at the
headquarters and decided that it would
be useless to attempt any sort of pa
rade at all. the rain still COM
ing down and nobody was enthusiastic
rain.
1t was out of the question to try to
hold meeting in Garfield park as wet
as the day was. but the committee
decided to change the place of the after
noon meeting to the Auditorium and go
ahead with the programme as planned
yesterday.
The train with the Kansas City root
ers arrived about 1920. There were six
coach loads of them and they turned
loose considerable Craddock enthusiasm
despite the rain. Every few minutes
they would give forth this yell:
Rah, rah, rahi
Who are we2
We are Democrats
From K. CT
The headquarters of the fusion COM
mittees in the Metropolitan building
presented a busy appearance. They
were crowded all during the morning,
and there were frequent impromptu
conferences on various subjects among
IHe candidates ana leaders.
During the morning after the parade
had been declared off, crowd of the
Kansas City rooters. aided and abetted
by some from the Sixth district who had
arrived In the meanwhile. not having
anything to do. got up impromptu
parade of their own. Headed by Cole
mans Military band of Kansas City.
Kan. which accompanied the Wyan-
about $50 marched up Kansas avenue
double file The rain had almost ceased
but the majority carried umbrellas.
When the procession reached the
Copeland the crowd stopped in front of
the Copeland lobby thinking the Re
publican state headquarters were loca-
ted there. The headquarters were moved
out last night. The band played and
the crowd cheered for Craddock
A few minutes later the procession
again formed and moved the state
house. Just it was entering the east
entrance a carriage drove up with Gov
ernor Stanley, who had just returned
from attending picnic at Waveriy.
The governor necessarily Joined in the
procession and marched in with the
rest
The crowd marched around the corri-
dors few times, cheering for Craddock
and giving the Kansas City Democratic
yell. By that time Governor Stanley
had become settled in his office. Some
= body proposed that they march through
his quarters and the band started. The
band played "A Hot Time and the
crowd surged into the governors outer
Office. Governor Stanley heard them
coming, and taking his stand at the
door of his inner office he shook hands
with every man as thev marched in.
Then the crowd called on Stanley for
speech. They got it. The governor
told them what great state Kansas is
and gave them a jolly about Kansas
City, and told them it must be a pretty
fair sort of man who could get SO en-
>thusiastic crowd of followers to come
from his home town on such a day.
BY the time the governor had finished
the crowd was largely Stanley crowd
and when somebody proposed three
cheers for Governor Stanley the Demo-
Gratis made the windows rattle. 1t was
a little out of the ordinary for Demo-
cratic political gathering to cheer a Re-
publican governor, but the Kansas City
crowd did it
The meeting at the Auditorium this
afternoon was a frost, so far as the size
of the crowd was concerned. The Audi
tOrfum was not more than One-fourtu
filled. and it is doubtful if there were
more than a thousand people present
when the meeting opened shortly after
2:20.
What crowd there was was made up
largely of people from outside of To-
peka. The meeting was announced for
Garfield park. and Topeka people did
not know differently consequently
comparatively small number attended
but there will probably be more out to :
n.~ht.
About 2:30 German singing society.
which came up with the Kansas City
contingent, marched into the hall sing
Ing as it came. and was heartily ap-
plauded. The crowd made up in enthus-
Size. 4e 8
There We're a number of state and
congressional candidates on the plat