“This is a progressive, strenuous age, and no section of the country has progressed more rapidly than this, the Eighth District of our great and glorious State.  I may say without danger of contradiction that the people I have the honor to represent in the State Legislature, and expect to have the honor of representing the next term, are the most intelligent, the most thoughtful and the most prosperous to be found in any like district in the United States. (Cheers.) Who, then, dares to denounce them as fools?  Who dares interfere with these liberties, who dares intrude uninvited into their premises and paint out the signs they have permitted to occupy their fences and barns and sheds?  Who would do these things but an impertinent meddler who is so inexperienced in life that he sets his own flimsy judgment against that of the people?”

The orator paused impressively to wait for more cheers, but the audience was silent.  In the outskirts of the crowd a faint hissing began to be heard.  It reached the speaker’s ear and he hurriedly resumed the oration.

“I do not say Mr. Forbes is not a good citizen,” said he, “but that he is misguided and unreasonable.  A certain degree of deference is due the young man because he inherited considerable wealth from his uncle, and—­”

Again the hisses began, and Mr. Hopkins knew he must abandon personal attacks or he would himself be discredited before his hearers.  Kenneth and his supporters sat silent in their places, the three girls, who were now well known in the district, forming part of the Republican group; and none of them displayed the least annoyance at the vituperation Mr. Hopkins had employed.

“I have already called your attention in my circulars,” resumed the speaker, “to the fact that advertising signs are the source of large income to the farmers of this district.  I find that three thousand, seven hundred and eighty-three dollars have been paid the farmers in the last five years, without the least trouble or expense on their part; and this handsome sum of money belongs to them and should not be taken away.  Stop and think for a moment.  Advertising is the life of every business, and to fight successfully the great army of advertisers whose business is the life-blood of our institutions is as impossible as it is absurd.  Suppose every farmer in this district refused to permit signs upon his property; what would be the result?  Why, the farmers of other sections would get that much more money for letting privileges, and you would be that much out of pocket without suppressing the evil—­if evil can attach to an industry that pays you good money without requiring either investment or labor in return.”

After continuing in this strain for some time, Mr. Hopkins announced that “he would now give way to his youthful and inexperienced opponent,” and asked the audience to be patient with Mr. Forbes and considerate of “his extraordinary prejudices.”