Mexico weekly ledger., 1917-10-18
LOAN RALLY
SHUNS SPEAKER REED
100 Guests Threaten to Leave II
Missourian is Allowed to
Address Meeting
REGARDED AS INTRUDER
Legislator Wits Under Frigid Re,
ception of Workers Who Came
to Show Patriotism
(St. Louis Republic)
BY Vim. II. Mas.

The unexpected presence of United
States Senator James A. Reed, of Mis-
souri,, at a luncheon and patriotic
| rally in behalf of the Liberty Loan
Bond campaign came near causing an
embarrassing scene, which may have
resulted d~isastrously if he had at
tempted to address the gathering.
The meeting was given under joint
auspices of the Liberty Loan organi-
cation of the Eighth Federal Reserve
| District, the Chamber of Commerce,
Missouri Athletic Association, Rota-
ry Club and City Club.
Gov. Charles H. Brough, of Ar
kansa, and R. Goodwin Rhertt, pres
| ident United States Chamber of Com
merce, were the speakers. j. Lion
berger Davis presided.
Immediately following Reeds en-
trance to the dining hall, more than
100 business men present immedi-
ately summoned members of the CON-
mittee in charge of arrangements, and
announced their intention of leaving
| the room if Senator Reed attempted
to speak.
Threats to Leave Made
Whispers started at a table at
which 80 Missouri bankers, members
of the Liberty Loan Organization.
were seated, and were soon followed
by mumbles coming from various
groups at surrounding tables.
Don't let him speak," they told the
committee, cor we will leave imme-
diately."
In speaking of the incident last
| night, Thomas N. Dysart vice chair
man Eighth Federal Reserve Dis
trict, said:
81 was in charge of the 80 bankers
at the county chairman table, and l
took it from the temper of the crowd
that they were not very anxious to
hear Senator Reed talk. / never saw
anything worse. 1t certainly showed
the temper of the whole crowd when
the United States Senator was not
permitted to speak"
Reeds unheralded arrival in the
dining room did not bring forth
cheers and greetings as in former po-
litical meetings. There was no re.
ception committee to conduct him to
the head table, no one to show him
the usual honors. 0ld-time friends
and supporters avoided him as much
as possible, or, if they were forced to
meet him face to face, mumble1
something and hurried away. Even
the usual delegation of office seekers
were conspicuous by their absence.
In the gathering of 500 business
men and prominent bankers who had
come to listen, express their patriot
ism and lend their moral and financial
support to the raising of the sinews
of war, there seemed to be no pla2a
he Junior Senator could fit into the
scheme of things, and it was evident
all through the meeting that so far
as he was concerned, it would have
been better had he stayed away.
Depressing Effect Apparent
The icy reception seemed to have
very depressing effect on the Sena.
tor. Instead of his aggressive dom
ineering attitude which he usually
carries, he seemed crushed by a new
experience. His lips trembled slight.
ly, his eyes were downcast or looked
over the heads of the gathering. His
brow was furrowed with wrinkles
His tone, to those who conversed with
him, and an apologize ring entirel!
foreign to its usual sound.