A Screaming Farce at Pioneer Square

The meeting held in Pioneer square last night to discuss the bond issue, to be voted on today, was a screaming farce. W. J. Linser, of Fremont, was the first speaker for the Populists. He was followed by M. F. Knox, who ran for congress on the Populist ticket last election. Knox rehashed statements made by city officials and newspapers to suit himself and had made the crowd, which was strongly in favor of the bond issue, thoroughly tired, when the city comptroller, J. M. Carson, was introduced and made a short but complete defense of the bond issue. He was heartily applauded by the crowd. Knox then again stepped out and began a harangue, when he was interrupted by A. H. Foote, who cried out that statements made by Knox were not true. 'You are a liar,' shouted Knox. 'Come up here if you want to debate the question.' Foote went to the platform and was about to begin speaking when Knox attempted to compel him to take a seat. Foote refused to be set down upon and made a short speech in which he warmly commended the statement of the city comptroller and denounced as false the statements made by Knox, who said that city warrants were often sold for less than 50 cents on the dollar. When Foote finished E. J. Jeffries made a few remarks, and was howled down by the mob. By this time all except the Populists were wearied and went home. The Populists, however, were only warmed up, and held a love feast on the square for two hours longer.