Unwelcome Greeting

At Paris, Mo, Banner was Thrust in Buckner’s Face

Disturbance at Fayette, Next Station

 Oct. 30 1896—Generals Palmer and Buckner arrived at Paris, Mo. This morning, on their trip through Missouri, and were met at the station by 500 persons. It proved an unwelcome greeting, and the party was compelled to pull out without accomplishing anything.

As the candidates stood on the rear platform, with their heads bared, a crowd of young men pushed up with a big Bryan banner and raised it under the noses of the generals.

“Look at the McKinley aid society!”

Stung at the last fling, Gen Buckner pointed at the banner and said:

“Let me tell you who and what constituted the McKinley aid society. In 1892, on a sound money platform, we elected Grover Cleveland, but the last elections in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio were disastrous, because country shouters with your heresies, drove the party to failure and contempt. Hold up the banner. There is the emblem of the McKinley aid society Look at it.”

The train had to pull out to get away from the banner carriers. Many in the crowd expressed regret at the occurrence.

At Fayette Generals Palmer and Buckner received even worse treatment than at Paris, and for a time violence was threatened. The party was greeted by a howling mob, which seemed bent on causing trouble from the moment the train stopped. No sooner had the two generals emerged upon the car platform than a Bryan banner bearing the inscription “Fayette Democratic Club” was thrust into Gen. Palmer’s face by its bearer.

A citizen named Williams tried to urge peace and the gold men rallied and rushed the Bryan banner back. This only made disturbers more ugly.

A man tried to punch Gen. Buckner with a flagpole and Williams seized it and the crowd rushed upon him and began beating him. The rioters then tried to get at the generals and strike them with their banners. Scores of men fought bitterly around the car, and women were pushed about and knocked down, and many blows were exchanged.

An old farmer climbed on to the rear end of the car and shouted:

“You are carrying Missouri for McKinley!”

He was pulled down by the crowd.

After five minutes of fighting, screaming and tooting of horns, the train pulled out without the candidates even trying to make a speech.