Volume 14 , Issue 39

1912 - Zinc Miners Crush Colonel In Enthusiasm

In The Washington Times, dated 24 September 1912, we found the following article written by Theodore Tiller, by way of Chandler, Oklahoma, September 21, 1912, where "Zinc Miners Crush Colonel In Enthusiasm" as Colonel Roosevelt spoke at Joplin, Missouri before he headed towards Tulsa and the State Fair in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Theodore Tiller wrote, "Back to the picturesque land of cowboys and Indians came Col. Theodore Roosevelt, once a rancher himself, today. The colonel zig zags across the State with typical western breeziness, for all the principal towns want to hear the call of the Bull Moose, and Mr. Roosevelt is scheduled for at least a dozen speeches, the first of which was delivered at Tulsa early this morning.

"Oklahoma, however, can hardly offer a more unique and thrilling reception that that which met the Progressive candidate in Joplin, Mo., last night. Joplin is a mining town, with zinc mines dotting its suburbs, and it seemed that every man, woman, and child in the little city was at the train or on the street to shout for Roosevelt. Several hundred miners escorted him uptown and when he went to the ball park an hour later for a night speech at least fifteen thousand persons were massed under a mammoth tent and surrounding it.

Colonel In Football Rush

"The police arrangements were confusing. It was a big night for Joplin, and the colonel and his party had to literally plow their way through a mass of struggling humanity to the speaker's stand. For a hundred feet or so the colonel and his escorts did a football rush.

"Strapping miners sought to shake hands; they shoved the colonel this way and that; his felt hat was curated and his clothes were badly wrinkled, but through it all the Bull Moose laughed and said, as he reached the platform: isn't this great. It's one of the most unique experiences I have ever had.

One enthusiast whooped that "Teddy is the poor man's friend." The colonel decisively responded, "I am the poor man's friend if he is square, and I am the rich man's friend if he is straight. I am against the crook, poor or rich, big or little."

In opening his Joplin speech, Colonel Roosevelt scored by citing the singular fact that on the platform with him was the Progressive candidate for governor, Judge Norton, a former Republican; the Progressive candidate for lieutenant governor, J. M. Burris, a former Confederate soldier and former Democrat, and Col. H. H. Gregg, a former Union veteran and former Democrat, now Progressive candidate for Congress form the Joplin district.

Attracts Blue and Gray

"We appeal to en of all classes, regardless of former political affiliations, to the valiant men who wore the Blue as well as the valiant men who wore the Gray," said Colonel Roosevelt. "We ask them all to aid us in this common fight against the powers that prey." Veteran of the great war cheered and the younger generation joined in.

In his Missouri speeches yesterday the Progressive party candidate paid a compliment to Governor Hadley, but he coupled with it a gentle, but none the less direct, hint that the governor cannot consistently support the nominee of the June convention after having seen the Chicago performance.

As the colonel left Missouri for Oklahoma the night before it was reliably reported that Governor Hadley, in a public statement which he would issue that week, would jump off the fence and would align himself wight he Progressive movement so far as the national ticket was concerned.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

---