Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1908-09-30
THE FIRST GUN.
Hon. Sam |. Hale Delivered a master.
fuI Speech in Medicine Lodge
last Wednesday night.

NOuhJ WoS HAoNS " ANh' Ooih IL AoiS
Of La Crosse, Rush county, in this city
last Wednesday night. The attendance
far exceeded the expectations Of friend
and foe alike. Mr.. Hale was billed on
Saturday which gave the local committee
only FIVE days to advertise the meeting.
but an extra effort was put forth to tell
the people Of Mr.. Hale's coming and
the result was that the conrt house was
completely filed when the meeting was
called to order. Not since the old al
lance days have we seen such studious
attention as was given to Mr.. Hale on
shis occasion. A few Of the opposition
came to pick flaws and criicise but the
vast majority came to hear and weigh the
evidence, as they say in court, and
having heard, it is their purpose to In
vesdgate and then act on the prompinss
Of their better judgment on election
day. In the past few years the Demo
cratic party has not succeeded in secur-
ins good attendance at political meetings.
We remember Col. Harris's last visit to
this city when even he, the most popular
public man in Kansas, could get only a
small crowd out to hear him. The con-
.trast Of the Hale meeting last Wednes-
day afforded a subject for comment
and it is a straw indicating the direction
an which the wind is blowing; and the
further fact that probably sixty per cent
ofthe audience was composed Of Re-
publicans, shows that the rank and 6le Of
that party are open to conviction.
Before Mr.. Hale made his address,
Dr.. Stout, chairman Of the meeting. in
troduced Hon. w. c. Afford, Demo
cratic candidate for Representative, who
made brief speech but on account Of
an eye afliction, he could not talk long.
His remarks were so fair and honest,
however, that they were favorably re-
ceived.
Mr.. Hale, upon assuming the rostrum,
at once impressed the audience with his
sincerity, his ability and his candor. He
is man Of most pleasing address and
disposition. His speech was absolutely
free from abuse, dealt with the Republi-
can and Democratic platforms as adopted
at the respective national conventions
and was so manifestly frank that even
the most narrow partisan could find nc
cause for ofense. He took up six vital
questions that are among the most impor-
tant national issues this year and upon
which the two parties squarely disagree.
They are as follows:
|. Reduction Of Tariff Rates.
2. Income Tax.
3. Bank Guaranty.
4. Physical valuation Of Railroads.
5. Publicity Of Campaign Contri-
buttons.
6. Election Of u. S. Senators by
popular vote.
One by one he discussed the ones
tions and advanced many substantial
reasons why each is necessary to the
rights and best interests Of the people II
all walks Of life. On the FIRST three the
Republican National platform committee
did not ever consider argument, while
the last three were submitted to both
the platform committee and the conven-
ton but rejected by vote Of 8 to |.
All Of the SIX propositions were adopted
by the national Democratic convention
at Denver and the party stands com
mitted to them.
MIR. ftale showed the awkward po
si6on the Republican party occupies Oh
the bank aranty,especially. Nationally
Judge Taft has expressed himself as I'm
alterably opposed to it, while the Re.
publican state platform contains a planl
giving state banks permission to volun
tarly associate themselves together t
guarantee deposits. This,Mr. Hale said
the state backs can do now without
law, if they so desire, and the plank
mere surplusage. 1t was adopted t
catch the Republican voters who de
mand compulsory guaranty deposit law
and at the same time mott offend thos