South Bend news-times., 1922-10-22
Throw Wasp Nest Into Hall
To Stampede O'Keefe Speech
Woman Congressional Candi-
date Addresses Enthusias-
tic Granger Crowd.

] ~ hen Esther @ keefe appeared al
| Granger Saturday night a desplcable
attempt to stampede and break up
/ the enthusiasm of more than 200
/ who were in attendance was made by
4 persons unknown who threw a nest
filled with Wasps through an open
window.
Miss O'heefe was in the midst of
and address in whicn sae had level
ed her shafts at the vote of Hickey
upon the tariff ana upon the income
tax laws when the incident occurred.
3 The school house was crowded and
il was necessary TO open the win
dows in order 10 obtain ventilation
The nest of wasps was pushed
through the windows and in an in
stant the wasps had begun 10 attack
the persons nearest the windows.
There was commOtOn. few stiff
led shrieks Of pain, before some
quick minded person picked up the
nest, hurled il out Of the window
and prevented stampede.
That the act was one inspired by
her political enemies who were a
niazed at the size OF the audience
and who took this desperate means
OF opposing her influence in that vi
cinity was the accepted explanation
OF the incident
OF Sinister Aspect.
Following as it did the sending
I Of fraudulent letters to many Ger
mans Of the district. endeavoring 20
incite their hostility by a pretended
endorsement of her candidacy on
the ground that she favors cancel
lation Of British debts, the open ap-
peal TO prejudice on the ground Of
her religious convictions whicn was
made by an officer Of the district
republican committee, the act Of
.andalism in attempting to break
up her meeting had amost sinister
aspect
some few of you have been
stung by these wasps VINO were
thrown into this meeting" said Ed
stung by these wasps which were
for prosecutor who followed Miss
. O'Keefe L take it that you will not
be stUng again by any vote for Mr.
Hickey. And ] also assure you that
if you can discover who perpetrated
this outrage upon her in an endeav-
or TO break up this meeting that
they will be prosecuted to the full
extent OF the law"
The audience which greeted Miss
O'Keefe filled every available bit Of
room in the large school house of
the Granger precinct. 1t rivalled
in size the crowds which attend po-
Iitical meetings in presidential cam
paigns and in its enthusiasm and
appreciation o. her arguments gave
every indication Of being most fav-
Orably impressed.
Challenges Opponent
The great crowd cheered when
Miss O'keefe said My chivalrous
opponent who last night in South
Bend tried 10 give the impression
that I know nothing of government
nothing of parliamentary procedure,
nothing Of the issues, is seeking 10
avoid his own record"
He is not explaining to you why
he voted TO reduce the taxes Of those
who have incomes in. excess Of $2OO.-
900 a year and place those burdens
upon you and upon the workers in
d. the cities. Il am willing TO let the
people judge. and if ne viii consent
1 will meet with him at any meeting
in this district and debate the real
issue of this campaign
Il have faith in the people.
have faith in their ability TO choose
do not shrink from appearing upon
the platform. where he may defend
if he Will his course in congress and
let tne people say whether their in
terests Will be safe in Congress after
I am there TO represent them
The open challenge TO Congress
man Hickey TO joint debate met with
! prolonged applause The idea seemed
TO catch the fancy OF the voters as
an admirable test Miss O'Keefe's
address was directed mainly 10 the
votes Of Hickey on tax measures
She pledged herself not only 10 a
program of tax reduction through
economies but TO laws that would
not shift tne taxes from the million
aires to the backs of the democratic
workers
Various county candidates made
short talks A giee club provided
music