The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-30

which he played part of the time, and
part of the time used as a baton TO
| lead the other musicians w. F. Roehr
| played several selections on the pipe
organ, and the Kansas university quar-
| tet sang a number of songs very well
and were given numerous encores. At
the close of one of their numbers, the
old students in the audience gave them
! the Rock Chalk yell.
Great credit is due 10 w. H. YER
non. the secretary of the club, for
the admirable arrangements, and he
certainly made good" and justified
the confidence which the members be-
slowed upon him when they elected
him Tuesday afternoon to serve an
other term
What the Speeches Were Like.
There is one general criticism that
might be made upon the majority of
the speakers last night. and that is
that they hadn't memorized their
speeches. and had to constantly refer
to their manuscripts Thus the ora
toricaI effect of some of these adj
dresses was greatly impaired.
o. B. Towne of Topeka probably
carried off the honors for the finest
delivery He brought his climaxes in
at the right places. and when he made
cast" for applause he rarely failed
to secure a rise"
Parks Helmick, of Chanute, al
though badly handicapped by sore
throat, made a very pleasing appear
ance, and was wise enough to cut his
speech short. Most of the speeches
We're altogether too long. Helmick
did not try to rant and tear, but he
made people lister to him.
George A Murphy. an orator from
Muskogee. Okla, had one of the most
evening. 1t abounded in elegantly
rounded periods. and admirable sim
lies and figures of speech. He devoted
most of his time to sl<inning the Dem
%o1Ts -I-1s
must eventually prevail in Oklahoma.
Murphy talks well. but his rate is only
about so words a minute, and his
speech was very long. The audience
grew restless.
J. P. Coleman of Clay Center, the
native son who toasted Kansas"
made a decidedly favorable impress
sion. His was one of the best Kan
sas" speeches ever delivered before
the club.
James Ed stevens of Goodland, who
looks like the Melancholy Dane es-
capped from Shakespeare. showed lot
OF elocutionary ability. but his speech
was too long, and the audience was
fussing a good deal when he finished.
Newlin Said Some Things.
William Newlin of Hutchinson had
a speech which contained more meat
than any other of the evening. He
didn't go in for platitudes and gen
eralitfes. but went at it like man
who really had something to say. And
he said it with a direct and earnest
manner which convinced everybody
that he meant what he said The
sentiment of the crowd seemed to be
generally with him, and he was fire.
quently interrupted by applause His
reference to Robert NJ. LaFollette
caused more enthusiasm than any,
thing else in his speech Here are a
few extracts from his speech which
seemed to hit the popular chord:
kansas anxious and serious stands
waiting-she offers the Republican
party its choice. Which will 1t
choose? The welfare of a great peo-
pie? Or the continuation of paying a
discriminating and negotiable toll to
the public service corporations? The
one, continued lease of power-the
other, the certain fate of Carthage +
speak not as a prophet but as a his
torian. for the ear in the grass roots
has heard that the thoughts and the
eloquence of Webster and Phillips of
Garrison and Lincoln; of the lamented
Mckinley and our courageous presf-
dent of today, have penetrated to
every nook and corner of this country
starting into pulsation the heart of
freedom. and the desire for fair play
The result is inevitable. Ohio, be-
Heving that able emissary from
Roosevelt's cabinet. Mr.. Taft, voted
down and out of power a corrupt ring
and retired Boss Cox; Minnesota
striving for equality and fair play,
made 1t possible for Governor Van