The Lamar register., 1910-09-07
WHAT FLANAGAN THINKS OF
DRUNKEN KANSAS


tened to his matchleas oratorical
"skinning" feats. Because of the
fact of Mr.. Flannigan's acquaint-
ance as we'll as for the intrinsic
worth of the production The Tri-
bune reprints a letter which Mr..
Flanagan wrote in reply to an in
vitation to be one of the speakers
at the annual old soldiers picnic
at Baxter Springs, Kansas.
When Mr.. Flanagan received
invitation to speak at the Baxter
Springs picnic he had an impression
that what he would have to say
would not be acceptable to Kansas
in her present state Of mind, SO
he wrote the following letter to
the secretary:
Mr.. A. G. Hanback,,
Baxter Springs, Kansas.
Dear Sir:-I have yours of the
18th instant. in which you invite
me to attend and deliver an address
at your reunion, on August 80.
1t is always a pleasure to be SO
remembered, and for this action
on your part ! express my thanks.
But i would not fit the spot in
Kansas this year.
spoke at your reunion in 1896.
when Kansas was on one of her
periodical 'jags.' Then II was free
silver and Populism. / think l need
not remind you that my talk did
not please every Kansan who heard
it-and this year. when Kansas Is
'ibeling the party of Lincoln. Grant
and Mckinley by running a lot of
free trade. Populistic nondescripts
on the Republican ticket for con-
yress. / should. I am sure. please
many Kansans less. II possible. than
did in 1896, II I expressed my
opinion as / should vote this year
were ! an elector in certain Kan
sas districts.
have seen Kansas elect Popu-
list for governor: ! have seen Kan
sas prefer q lot OF hair and whisk-
ers 1.-THE name OF the bearer I have
forgotten) over the Immortal In
gals; ] have seen Kansas cast her
electoral vote for Bryan over the
martyred Mckinley: ! have seen
Kansas almost deity Mrs. Leaae and
shout itself hoarse for Jim Weaver
and the Rag Baby; I see Kansas
this year treat President Taft as
contemporary as 1t did Mckinley in
1896: see Kansas. alleged Re-
publican Kansas. this year tanning
the dying embers Of Bryanikm-the
guaranty Of bank deposits-while
Republican America Is striving to
guarantee the citizen in having
something to deposit: 1 have seen
Kansas embrace every idiouc ism
which has come to the surface in
my generation: I have seen Kan
sas drunk before-drunk with pros
perity-this year with her Bristows
and Murdocks she is maudlin-
No. this year J have nothing in
Will MANASSAS "AAN sAh
she gets sober; walt tall . two-year
old steer sells for eleven dollars
till a full grown hog II worth three
dollars-till wheat sells for forty
cents a bushel and corn Is worth
ten cents. Then Kansas will come
rushing back to the Grand Old
party for relief. and swear she's
been leading all the time.
Kansas is never thoughtful I'M
til she's broke. and then. more than
half the time. she only thinks she's
thinking, and is mistaken about It.
Yours truly,
John II, Flanagan.
After reading this answer to his
letter, Secretary Hanback, replied
that the association was all the
more anxious for Mr.. Flanagan to
appear on the program and assur-
ed him that the ''bridle will be off
and you can make . first-class re-
publican speech After receiving
this second invitation. Mr.. Fhnni-
gan sent his acceptance.
vice-President Sherman will be
one of the speakers on the program.
He will arrive at the reunion
grounds August 81. He will prob
ably speak in the afternoon.
Governor Hadley Of Missouri.
Governor Stubs of Kansas. Sena-
tor Curtis of Kansas and Senator
Warner of Missouri. and a long
string of notables will be on the
program. AS the bride will be
off," some red hot speeches may
be looked for.-Maryville (Mo)