The copper era. (Clifton, Graham County, Ariz.) 1899-1911, 1902-10-09
THE REPUBLICAN
RATIFICATION
Transmitted to a Grand and Sue
cessful Social Function.

, TRANSMITTED 10 GrdnQ an0 Suc
cessful Social Function.
The local republicans had announces
with liberal distribution OF posters
that they would hold a grand ant
glorious ratification meeting al Pret
tyman's hall Saturday night last. Al
it was to be the opening gun OF the
campaign, and as all OF the republican
candidates were 10 be present, tn,
people were wondering why the meet
ing was not called for the Library, &
more central location, and although
this question was frequently asked
Judge Egan, the territorial commit.
tceman, no satisfactory reply was re.
ceived. The judge only smiled and
advised them to be present at the hall
at 8 p. m. representative of the
ERA, along with a few others, made
| his appearance at the hall at the APP
| pointed hour. The band was playing
popular Mexican air. About a dozen
stalwarts were there and several candi-
dates, who looked like frost had
| blighed their prospects. or course
Judge Egan was there, and he was the
| only one who appeared confident and
happy, but as that is his disposition,
no one then realized that he had a
deep-laid plan for bringing out big
audience.
Col. Dell Potter happened along
about that time. He is a hustler and
believes in practical politics. He took
in the situation ~ a glance, and be-
coming alarmed lest the meeting prove
a failure, he rushed over to Holt's gro-
cery store, where he mOnopolized the
that time he rang up every republican
In town, told them OF the gravity OF
the situation, and urged their imme-
diate attendance. He returned to the
hall in radiant good humor, confident
that he had nobly performed patri-
otic duty. In the meantime a few
more stragglers, attracted by the
music, came in, but the time for OPEN
ing the grand ratification had long
since passed, and the candidates were
growing nervous, still Judge Egan
smiled with all the confidence OF
man with the right bower hid up his
sleeve. The few democrats present
admired the judges confidence, but
they felt sorry for him, and were ready
to go out and hustle up few more
democrats in order to make a respect
able showing and to encourage the
speakers. The judge was so busy
chatting with friends that he seemed
to have forgotten the appointed hour.
Along about Q O'Clock Dell Potter's re-
inforce ements commenced 10 arrIr~------
finally quite showing was made. The
Judge then marshaled the candidates
and marched them to the platform
where they were seated in the form OF
a horseshoe, which he afterwards eX-
planned was to bring them good luck,
though a rabbits foot would have been
more to the purpose. Then the band
was brought in and it played La
Paloma-the dove-which was doubt
less intended to convey the impression
that the candidates were there on 4
peaceful mission.
Then Judge Egan commenced to ad-
dress the audience, aud continued to
address it for Ihirty minutes. He
stated that the audience was not large,
but select, referring, of course, to Col.
Potter's work over the phone. The
Judge is most gifted and eloquent
orator, and is never so happy as when
making 4 republican speech. On this
particular occasion he surpassed all
previous records, and shone with
unusual brilliancy. In the meantime
Potter's reinforcements continued to
arrive, and what was still more sur
prising many fashionably attired ladies
and gentlemen were also arriving, and
soon the large hall was fairly we'll
filed. But to return to the speaker.
The judge insisted that the people
OF Arizona were not responsible for
the striking coal miners OF Pennsyl-
yania who now number l41, 900 men.
He said that as long as Arizona had
no vote in congress our people were
not directly interested in national is
sues and should therefore confine their
politics strictly TO local affairs. Then
he coyly pulled an official-looking
document from an inner pocket and
proceeded to read the county republic
can platform, which he seemed to
think was broad enough for both par
ties TO stand on, and still have room
enough left for few pops. He dwelt
at length upon the great virtues OF the
platform, which is As silent as the
Sphynx on the eight hour law, the
mine inspector law, the boiler inspect
or law, the freight and fare bill, law
regulating railroad taxation, the anti
blacklist law, and many other planks
OF the democratic platform which ap-
peal especially 10 the working man.
He spoke at some length in regard to
establishing an agricultural school in
the Gila valley in Graham county; OF
territorial assistance in locating gov
ernment reservoirs for irrigating pur-
poses within the county from which