The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-04-05
RATIFICATION
BIG SUCCESS
Wichita Honored Victor With
Tremendous Audience.
NIGHT OF GOOD FEELING
Several Distinguished Visitors
in the City.
LOYALTY TO CANDIDATE
Was Predominant Spirit of
NIGHT OF GOOD FEELING
LOYALTY TO CANDIDATE
Was Predominant Spirit of
Demonstration.

Wichita did itself proud last night in
doing honor to her favored and favorite
son
The demonstration in ratification Of his
the fact that business men could not
leave their stores, was among the most
inspiring events in the citys history
The Auditorium was thronged from the
footlights to the ceiling with Wichita peo-
pie They did not come there out of curl
osity to see a candidate, for they all
know Victor Murdoch, and hence it must
necessarily be assumed that they came
there to pay him honor, 10 rejoice at his
success and to give testimony to the fact
that they all believed that his nomina-
tion was merited compliment
The stage was draped with the national
colors, and patriotic music filed the great
hall from a brass band.
Many distinguished guests were pres
ent, including Thomas T. Kelly, state
treasurer; General Chapman and c. A.
Swartz of Great Bend: Hon. Tom Rus
sell, of Kingman; Wilson Smith and Her
bert Porter, of Great Bend; Robert
Colonel McMurry, of Mcpherson; Senator
Robert Ffndley, of Sterling; Eben Carlson,
OF Mcpherson; Mayor Ferguson, of Wei
lington: Fred Vandegrift, of Kansas City,
and many others.
The defeated candidates who came to
pledge their allegiance to the new leader
were Hon. Dumont Smith. Mr.. David
Blaine, Senator Charles Branine, Mr.. Sam
Grattan, Mr.. Harry Holloway, and that
noble Roman among them all, William
Wallace. of Kingman.
District Congressional Chairman Thomas
C. Wilson called the meeting to order,
and asked Mr.. Charles V. Ferguson to
preside. He made a very happy chairman,
and much of the pleasure of the great
ratification was due to his versatility.
Victor Murdoch was the first speaker,
and as he walked to the front of the
stage the demonstration which greeted
him was splendid tribute to his charac-
ter among his neghbors. Colonel and
Mrs Toler sent him a fine basket of
flowers that filed the stage with sweet
perfume.
Mr.. Murdoch made heart to heart talk
TO his home people. He said that when
he was a child here in Wichita a do
mestic servant named Sarah directed his
devotions at bedtime. Fe asked God TO
bless his father and his mother and
sister Kate. AS he grew larger his ac-
ouaintance spread and he included in his
irlvocations Judge Balderston and others
Now his prayer to God would be to bless
everybody in Wichita. This touched the
audience greatly, and more than one in
the audience was visibly affected
Mr. Murdoch referred to the functions
of the heart and head in public life in q
pretty way. and concluded with well
uttered ana exceedingly earnest tribute tC
the leadership of President Roosevelt.
After Victor had concluded. the Away:
eloquent Rodolph Hatfield addressed {
spell-bound audience. urging Republican
loyalty in the coming municipal election
as a preliminary to the election OF Mr.
Murdoch He said some splendid things
His counsel was wise and was amply rati
faed by an applauding response.
Major Levi Ferguson, OF Wellington
came to represent A. \. Richards, and hi
was as happy as if he had just partici