Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1900 — A CHALLENGE TO SENATOR PETTIGREW. [ARTICLE]

A CHALLENGE TO SENATOR PETTIGREW.

A Cowboy Reseats tbe Insinuations Made Against Col. Roosevelt. Sioux Falls. S. D., is Senator Pettigrew’s home, and the Senator said it* a recent speech there that Col. Rooaeveß did not lead his regiment at Sau Juan Hill, but was six miles in the rear. At the recent Roosevelt meeting in the town many of Col. Roosevelt’s old regiment came to greet him. some of them traveling quite a distance, and one rough rider came 150« miles. This particular cowboy heard cf Senator Pettigrew’s utterance for the first time while in Sioux Falls, and mounting his horse he would ride to a street corner and issue this challenge: “Ladies and Gentlemen—l have heard that there are people in this town who say Col. Roosevelt was away in the rear at San Juan and did not lead his regiment in the charge that was made that day. I was in that regiment and followed Col. Roosevelt np that hill. My captain was killed and several of my company. 1 saw that fight. I was in it. Whoever says that Coi. Roosevelt did not lead his regiment in that charge is a liar, a scoundrel, a coward and dare not tell tile so to inv face.” Then he would wait a minute, ride to the next block and repent the same challenge. The incident will keep Senator Pettigrew quiet for awhile. He may be kept busy in explaining what he meant.

Cotton, Consumption Doubles. The cotton consumption in the United States in 1894 was 15.91 pounds for every man, woman and child. Good times brought by the McKinley administration have raised tbe per capita consumption to 27.14 pounds. t The people dress better and buy more articles made from cotton than eVer before in the history of the country.