The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-03
Senator Was Frequently Inter,
rupted During His Speech.
BY FALSE PRETENSES,
Says BristOw Used That Means
to Win Nomination.
Temper of Audience Seemed to
Be With Salina Man.

In the presence of an immense crowd,
stage setting such as that Of the
historic debates of Lincoln and Doug
lass and many other epoch-making po-
iitical events of the country, the rival
candidates for the nomination for
United States senator from Kansas on
last Saturday afternoon made their
flnal argument for votes before the
jury OF the people, and are now await
ing the verdict, which will be rendered
at the ballot box tomorrow
Garfield park has seen many in
teresting political meetings. 1t has re-
sounded to the oratory of Ingalls,. Bur-
ton and a host of others. In this grove
much political history has been made
But no meeting has ever surpassed in
interest and significance the closing Of
the states first primary election cam
palgn on Saturday afternoon by Ches-
ter l. Long, of Medicine Lodge, and
Joseph L. Bristow of Salina.
When the debate commenced at two
O'Clock about 1000 people We're present
throughout the afternoon the crowd
steadily increased until at the close
there were probably $500 men, women
and children present.
At first it seemed that this audience
was somewhat apathetic Bristow
opened the debate with q speech of an
hour, and while he was frequently in
terupted by applause, there was MOTH
ing approaching what politicians call a
demonstration The audience gave
him respectful, earnest attention, and
cal and intricate argument on the rail-
road problem.
Then came Long. the present senior
senator, and with his we'll known elo-
quence, presented his answer to the
attack.
About fifty years ago another dis
tinguished Kansan came to Topeka
and in opening his address to an excit-
ed audience said: Il have heard these
charges against me, and am here to
answer them will take them up one
by one This man was Jim Lane.
Senator Long followed much the
same course. He stated the charges
against him, and proceeded to answer
them, Long had not been speaking
more than ten or fifteen minutes, how
ever, when a hostile demonstration oc-
CURED in the audience. Long referred
to the 35 charges made by William
Allen White and said that he had an
| swered those charges fully and COM
pletely.
Suppose you answer them now,"l
yelled someone at the edge OF the
crowd.
Senator Curtis, who was presiding at
the meeting, leaped to the front Of the
platform.
Gentlemen in the audience will not
interrupt the speaker he shouted.
Those charges have been answered" 80
said Senator Long.
No, no, mol" came a chorus Of
voices from the crowd.
They have been answered to the
satisfaction of the Republicans Of this
stater' shot back Senator Long.
mo. no." came the reply from the
crowd.
'I will not take up the time of the
nd txyIi II
have already answered in full" said
Senator Long, and that settled 1t. He
didn't.
This wasn't the only time the tenn
per of the crowd showed itself When
Long attempted to skin his oppon-
ent, the crowd resented 1t. Long ridi-
culed Bristow's ''holier than thou" at
titude and said that Bristow wanted
job which paid $500 a year and didn't
take any time.
"I don't blame him." shouted a BriS-
tow partisan in the crowd.
Long Showed Nerve.
1t was hard proposition which Long
was up against, but his nerve didn't
weaken. He told about Senator Dolli-
vers interview, in which Dolliver inti-
mated that Bristow was trying to get
into the United States senate under
false pretenses.
"And that's exactly what you are do
ing" thundered Senator Long, walk
ing up close to Bristow, and shaking
his finger in his face. You are trying
to obtain goods under false pretenses.
and the goods are seat in the United
States senatei
A storm of boots and exclamatfons Of
Don't want abuse! No abuse arose
from the crowd. There were also cries
of Answer those questions"
My friends" said Senator Long
coolly, turning and facing the crowd.
Il hope you won't be over restive under
these things you don't want to hear.
1 hope you'll sit still and take your
medicine. You'll have to take it some
time. You might as well take it now"
How about that personal letter."
said a man in the crowd.
You'll have to ask my opponent
about that" retorted Long.
How about the Brownsville AFFAIR.""
shouted the voice of a negro.
Long ignored the last question, and
went into his attack on Bristow's rec
ord as secretary of the Republican
state central committee.
Bristow Received With Cheers.
When Bristow arose to reply, he was
received with cheers and continued ap-
plause. He waved his long arms,
"hunched" his coat up like man about
to lift a trunk. placed his finger tips
together and began:
We'll. I'm still alive. I was afraid
for a while / might get hurt, but /
lived through it. I've been a personal
friend of Senator Long for some time.
and from what he says. we have had
some very confidential communications.
But I've never seen him perform just
like he did this afternoon"
Pump your fist in his face" ex-
claimed white-whiskered man with
the little bronze button in his coat
lapel
.Oh, no, 1 won't do that" replied
Bristow. I'm not excited
Bristow when replied to Longs