The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-09-20
Anyway, he did not appear as he
was advertised. .--.

Anyway, he did not appear as he
was advertised.
A thousand people waited and
waited in vain. Woodrow refused
to appear he further declined to rec
CgliZe the entreaty of the demo
cratic committee, who sent him a
message imploring him to at least
say: How do you do" At about four
o'clock this morning the operator al
the station announced that the train
which was due at 4:30 and which was
to bring Woodrow Wilson to Man
kato. wouldn't arrive until $50. In
about five minutes more Charles
Forte rushed out of the station with
message addressed to Mayor
Charles T. Taylor saying that owing
to the eXacting nature of Governor
Wilson's other engagements he would
be unable TO appear in Mankato.
When Mayor Taylor Appeared.
Mayor Taylor had not yet appear
ed upon the scene when the mes
sage was received, but he was met
on his way and told of the awful
calamity. He took it calmly. He
aSCended to the telegraph office and
considered what should be done in
the matter. No other member of the
reception committee had appeared.
Soon c. 4. Wise came. He was told
Of the sad news. After a consulta-
ton these gentlemen decided to send
a message urging the gentleman to
appear. The message was sent to be
delivered at Madelia. This message
was delivered but there was no re-
ply. It was expected that an an
swer would surely be sent from
Lake Crystal, but none came. An
attempt was made by the Mankato
democratic committee to have an
other message delivered at Lake
Crystal. but the agent for the Omaha
road at that point was too busy
handling baggage to accept tele-
grams-not even for the democratic
presidential nominee. .....,...
The Crowd Thickened.
And so they waited. The crowd
thickened and the one topic, Of con-
versation was whether or not Wilson
could harden his heart when he saw
the crowd which awaited him, and
not appear. At last toot of the
train whistle was heard in the dis
lance Fully thousand people surg
cd to the upper end of the platform
prepared to give a loud and long
cheer for the democratic candidate.
AS the train pulled in Mayor Tay-
lor called to Conductor Steadman
and said, rs he up?" The conduc-
tor replied in one word, mo"
Mr. Wilson's private car, the Mag
net" was true to its name. 1t drew
the crowd toward it, but it also kept
it's occupants within its doors. There
was no sound from the inside. There
was no light shining from the win
dows. The crowd was jocular and
some good democrat, who hated to
admit that he had been so badly
"stung," cried out, ''Hurrah for Will
SON. The cheering ended right
there. Silence reigned supreme, both
inside the Car and outside, on the
depot platform. Some small boys
tried to stir up enthusiasm, but
there was nothing doing. Just before
the train pulled out a figure was
seen to move past one of the win.
dows. Perhaps after all, he would
come to the platform. But the fig
ure remained by the window, and
proved to be the cook who was
fast. .......... -..
Mayor Wore a Smile.
Mayor Taylor retained his dignity
Of bearing, his composure and his
Taft-like smile. through it all, but
not so with c. E. Wise. He is
slow to anger, but this mornings
occurrence caused him to be exceed
ing wroth. John Wise appeared late,
but his immaculate appearance just
fled the lateness of the hour of his
arrival .... 80.
Lee Champlin, chairman of the
democratic county committee, ap-
peared in his best bib and tucker"
and as he was not found to be min
Cling with the prominent democrats
who infested the town last nigh,
he is thought to have put in that
time in seclusion rehearsing the in
troductory speech for which there
was no occasion this morning.
J. J. Daley, chairman of the state
democratic committee, spent the
night in the city, and left on Cover
nor Wilson's train this morning for
st. Paul. He, with Frank Day,
mingled with the crowd this morn
ing, instilling patience and courage
into the hearts of the democrats.
Senator S. ID. Works also remained
calm, but found it necessary to have
a cup of coffee to keep up his spir-
its when the news came that the
governor refused to acknowledge the
kilograms of the committeeman of
Mankato. -,...4.-.
An Unnecessary Announcement.
AS the train stopped Senator
Works mounted the front platform
of the governors car and announced
that Mr.. Wilson. would not appear,
which announcement seemed alto
2ether unnecessary. Senator Works
did not give way to his disappoint-
ment, probably figuring that he
would have an opportunity to talk
with Mr.. Wilson on the way to st
Paul. ,,s-
Mr.. Wilson's failure to appear here
this morning is in no way the result
of any negligence on the part of
the local committee. All arrange
lnents were made by this committee
through Fred Lynch, national com.
Jnitteeman of st. Paul, and Mr.
Lynch made his arrangements with
the democratic headquarters in Chi
cago. 1t was understood that ar
rangements had been made with Mr.
Wilson and that the stop here had
been agreed upon by. him.