The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-26
Addresses at Union City
Porter and Judge Villa
Cassius NJ. Clay Talks to a Ic9 Audience
at Wabash Reports of paign
Work in all Parts Of til ate.
4 GREAT DAY IN OLD Shelby.
A Meeting Which Was Disappointment in
All Except Numbers.

| odELBYNlLLEi OepI Coins mas DeeQ a great
day for the Democratic mugwump in "Old
Shelby" The great barbecue, or political love
feast, for which such extended preparations had
been made was decided success, so far as theat-
tendance was concerned, and the enthusiasm dis
played, but it fell short of the object hoped for.
The original intention was to get up political
meeting of such magnitude, with number of
the most prominent men of the party from all
parts of the country in attendance, that the
growing disaffection which has existed in this
county for several years might be allayed, and
/ the opposing elements of the great party that is
notin power might once more be united on
| basis of fraternal amity, and organized and
effective opposition to the party that is in
| power, and is likely to continue so. The plan
was good one but non-productive of the de-
sired results. The reasons for this were
various. The originator of the idea of a barb O.
cue was Mr. Scott Ray, proprietor Of the Shelby
Democrat, and man whose peculiar methods
have been the principal cause of the disaffection
in his party In making the necessary arrange
ments he was ably assisted by his brother. Mr..
George w. Ray, and an employe,
Mr.. Joseph Mcbride, and to the
efforts of these gentlemen whatever success the
meeting attained, can be attributed When it
became generally known, however, thatthe Ray
gang, as it is locally designated, were the prime
movers in the enterprise, many of the old-time
Democrats who oppose them refused to have
! anything to do with it, and the breach between
the two faction Of them instead of being closed
was widened There was an immense
crowd here to day, but the people came prnci-
4 pally from outside counties. Another drawback
was in the fact that the prominent Democrats
advertised and expected to be present failed to
/ come. The greatest disappointment was caused
by the failure of Mr. Hendricks to keep his
promise to be in attendance, for it was thought
that his simple presence and pacifying words
would do much Allen g. Thurman, George H.
Pendleton, Governor Hoadly, of Ohio; General
J. G. Black, of Pennsylvania; Proctor Knott of
Kentucky; S. j. Randall, Of Pennsylvania, and
/ others no less noted, did not come, and among
! the long list of speakers to day there was but
i one man from outside of Indiana, Hon. George
| r. Vending, of Illinois. On all sides could be
heard inquiries concerning the missing leaders,
/ and much bitterness was manifested towards
Mr. Hendricks for his failure to attend the great
| est demonstration ever given by the Democrats
! of his former county.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE MEETING.
The arrangements for the barbecue were elab-
crate and carefully made. 1t was advertised all
over this and adjoining States, and personal in
yitations were sent to hundreds, urging their at
tendance There were the greatest expecta-
tions regarding the meeting No we'll
disposed Democrat could be found who
anticipated a less attendance than
/ l50 0OO and others confidently hoped for three
| times that number Every possible inducement
/ that could be thought of to bring the people out
| was resorted to, and the result was a great
4 crowd, an immense crowd, in fact, who filed
/ ShelbyvilIe to overfowing, and crowded the
/ fair grounds so that locomotion was attended
| with positive difficulties The attendance was
| variously estimated from %, 600 to 60 000 and
4 Eb Henderson, chairman of the Democratic
| State central committee in that guileless man
ner for which he is so noted, declared that
there could not be less than 150, 900 people on
] the grounds. A fair estimate, based upon
mathematical calculations places the
attendance at between 10000 and
| 80, 000 OF these the c., l. st. L. g
g road brought about 10000 from Indianapolis
! lines Its Western connecting lines furnished it
nearly 5000 more, and from the south and east
the attendance was correspondingly large. Many
came from the extreme limits of the State and
nearly every county was represented Vim
cennes alone sent UP delegation of 1000.
/ Within circuit of twenty miles, hundreds of
farmers with their families came in their
own vehicles, bringing their dinners and
taking day of rest and recreation from their
hard work While the local committees had done
| all in their power in arranging for the enter,
| tainment Of the crowd, it was too great for
| Shelbyville to accommodate. The hotels and
restaurants could not supply food enough for
! the hungry, and number of enterprising ladies
| of the Presbyterian Church, led by Mrs. Bless
ing, improvised restaurant and, in
the language of one of them, were eaten
out of house and home in a short
| time Elaborate arrangements had been made
for the barbecue demonstration and it was d sue.
cess Twenty-four fatted steers, forty six sheep,
4 20, oh