The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-04
HAD A BIG MEETING.
McNeal Rally at Auditorium Developed
Enthusiasm.

II was llVely meeting at the Audi
forum last night-that Tom McNeal
revival for mayor. It was the last
chance of the McNeal supporters to
make known their ideas on the may
orally question-and some of the best
and most sensational speakers in the
city were employed
1t was a rouSing meeting About
1900 people braved the threatening
weather to hear J. w. F Hughes, DR..
Finch, DR.. Loveland, Captain Waters
and Tom McNeal speak. OF this num-
Der, all but about 100 were for Nc
ly in the minority-but they made
plenty of noise and made it known
that Billiard was in the race
Not until the meeting had pro-
crossed to the end of the speaking list
did the Billiard people make known
their wants. Then they interrupted
the speaker, yelled for a speech from
the mayor and cried challenges to the
people.
Mayor Billiard sat near the front of
the house and listened to every word
spoken. He clapped and applauded
with the people and seemed to enjoy
the meeting. At times when the speak
ers would heap abuse upon him, call
ing him Rip Van Wrinkle, an agent
for the breweries and an enemy to the
best interests of the morals of the city
and state, the mayor moved in his seat
shifted his position-but kept his eye
on the speaker at all times.
After the meeting Mayor Billiard
said:
st enjoyed the McNeal rally-it does
me good to see just how the oppon-
ents feel about these things. Natural
ly, 1 was rather disappointed in To-
peka's most prominent ministers and
citizens claiming that my vote was
the prostitute, booze and gambler
vote, but 1 guess they were excited.
&I.f,
cellent talk-it was a cleaner and more
sensible argument-the one he used.
He did rot resort to abuse and he stat
ed his side without sentiment.
81 was embarrassed at the manner
in which some of the boys yelled in the
back part of the room when DR.. Love-
land was speaking think possibly
they carried that a little too far
The yelling the mayor mentioned
was the only real exciting moment in
the meeting.
DR.. Loveland was telling of the
sleepy mayor" the manner in which
he had RIP Van Winkled too much
and was not awake to the real condi-
lions in the city, when a crowd of
Billiard supporters yelled:
'Hurrah for BillardI'
This bothered the minister.
That's right" he retorted, wake
Billiard up" Es
This started the crowd. The HcNeal
audience went wild at this LOVeldnQ
answer-and the Billardists cried:
Wen wake you up tomorrow
For several minutes the minister
could not progress,
At last he pointed down at the mayor
who was sitting near the platform and
said:
Billiard. go back and take care Of
your followers!' -"
''WeIl take care of ourselves! Well
show you tomorrow. Don't worry about
us!'' came back the yells.
At this an old soldier arose in the
center of the hall and raised his hand
for quietness.
Here you are waking up an old SOL
dier!" said Loveland.
Again the bedlam broke loose.
Speech, Billiard! Speech, Billiard!
Speech, Billard!" came the cries from
the rear of the building.
Ladies and gentlemen" Numbered
DR.. Loveland when he could work in
his words. THAT is the kind of a gang
you are up against
The rest of the meeting was more or
less mixed with Billiard audible senti-
ment.
Tom McNeal made the hit of the ev-
ening His talk was without passion,
he talked straight facts, he compliment
ed Mayor Billiard on his integrity, hon
esty and his business ability and he
told funny stories to keep everyone in
good humor. If Tom McNeal had made
that speech a week ago he would have
captured a surprise in votes.