The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-10-14
ENTHUSIASM
PRONOUNCED
AT ARAPAH0E
An immense Audience GreetS
Bird Mcclure.
SPEECH WAS EFFECTIVE
People Manifested Strong
Preference for the Speaker.


Arapahoe, 0. T, Oct. lat was phe-
nomenaI None better ever held in
Arapahoe" "A magnificent audience.
a splendid speech" Such We're the
expressions used in referring 10 the
meeting held in this city last Saturday
night by Bird s. Mcclure, the Republi-
can candidate for delegate to congress
No building in Arapahoe could have held
the people who assembled TO hear Mr.
Mcguire discuss the issues OF the cam
pagn. The largest room in the city
in an unfinished brick building, was used
People were repeatedly denied admission
owing TO their inability even to obtain
standing room. Every seat was occupied
early. People were standing in every
portion of the house, and il was not an
audience confined TO Arapahoe by any
means Men and their families came for
miles around to see and hear the Repub-
lican candidate. Arapahoe citizens
turned out en- masse and many minutes
before the time for the meeting the hall
was packed. 1t was not an audience Of
Republicans, by any means. There were
persons affiliated with all parties pres
ent. They attended to secure informa-
ton on the issues from a Republican
standpoint. They were not disappointed
in Mr.. McGure's effort, and il was con-
NNOSA " nc Ol4t VI AilE ydlEESI ana IuOSl
logical speeches ever made within the
confines of Custer county.
When the congressional candidate en-
tered the hall he was given reception
that was deafening in it's intensity and
enthusiasm. In spite of the fact that
he had made two speeches elsewhere
during the day. he was in good condition
to appear before the people In a neat
Introductory speech by w. c. Lambert,
one of the coming young men of Arap-
ahoe, ne was presented TO the audience.
When he stepped to the front of the
speakers platform the standard bearer
OF the Republican party was given
rousing ovation. At the beginning Of his
speech he stated that it made no differ
euce if there were people in the audi
ence Of opposing political faith, they
would hear no expressions from him
offensive to them, that he was not pres
ent for the purpose Of engaging in abuse
but that he had come to Arapahoe TO
discuss the matters before the people in
a fair manner, to the best Of his ability.
4 concede every man, woman and child
the right to their opinions. I have my
opinion on matters. and it may not agree
with Wours l Go not care whether you
are a Democrat, Republican, Populist,
Prohibitionist or Socialist; you are enti-
lied to think as you please on political
questions. l know what l would rather
have you be, but because you are not I
cannot criticize you for a difference Of
opinion" (Applause)
1T is not a question in this campaign
whether Mr.. Cross should go to congress,
as far as we are individually concerned.
The Democratic party Of this territory
probably could have named one hun
dred men who would have represented
= he ar.1 NJ Es
and the chances are that the Republican
party could have found more than hun
dred men who could represent my party
more ably than I am doing 1t is a ques-
ton before the people whether the prin-
ciples advocated by one party will con-
tribute more good to the people of this
territory than the principles represented
by the other party" Applause)
Mr.. Mcclure Immediately took UP the
statehood question. He referred to the
two conventions. pointing out the differ
ences in the two platforms. He explained
the Democratic idea Of statehood and
elucidated upon the Republican idea Of
immediate statehood for Oklahoma along
the line of the Flynn bill now pending
in the United States senate. y ou will
remember that the Democratic party, the
Republican party. the Populst party-all
Oklahomans-in years gone by, were uni
ted on the one idea. that OF immediate
statehood for Oklahoma. Conventions
were held in the leading cities Of Okiaho-
ma territory Memorials were prepared
and sent to the congress Of the United
States, suppiicating and demanding that
Oklahoma be admitted to the Union.
There was no difference Of opinion in
this respect, and il was the one thing
that we as Oklahomans were working
for The Republican party In nominal
ing me placed me upon a platform de-
claring for immediate statehood for Ok
lahona The Populist party met in FL
Reno. It failed to nominate 4 candidate
The party did. however, pass resolutions
declaring for immediate statehood for
this territory along the lines OF the we'll
known Flynn bill. (Applause.) The
Democratic party. when in convention
assembled at Enid, nominated Mr.. Cross
and placed him upon 2 platform declar-