Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-09-24
Fifteen Hundred Torch Bearers Parade
Through the City,
rESrIFYIHG TO DEMOCRATIC ARDOR
Eloquent Notices, Blazing Fireworks and
Sweet Music
GREET THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE,
A Splendid Inauguration Of the Parading
Season, and an Indication Of the
Greater Pageans to Follow
During the Campaign.

lt was q big parade.
Great as to numbers.
Immense as to enthusiasm.
Prompt in its response to the weeks no.
ties to turnout.
The demonstration was well character
lied in . remark dropped by one nettled
but admiring Republican: IF the Democ-
rscy can get mp a procession like this at the
outset, what will they not do when the
campaign warns upP"
The fact is, there never was q parade in
Wheeling, at the outset Of q Presidential
fight, which at all compares with the turn
ont Of Saturday night, and there have been
few professions at times later on in a
canvass which exceeded it in any respect.
The time for preparation was very short,
the facilities for getting up a creditsble
demonstration were meager, and there was
want of experience among those having
charge of the matter, but the spontaneous
enthusiasm of the people rose superior to
every obstacle, and the result wa a parsd-
ing column five or six squares long, and
containing, while it was passing over the
first half of the route, upwards Of fifteen
hundred men. When il is taken into con-
siderstion that not over one hundred and
fifty of these came from beyond tie limits
of the county, and that n district was
not represented at all, and another by only
fifteen or twenty men, the turnout seems
what it really was-remarkabls, and au-
gers well for future efforts 10 the same line,
when q more perfect organization has been
effected, and the campaign has livened up.
NOTICEABLE FEATURES.
The procession presented several re-
usrkable features to the casual observer.
One was the great amount OF enthusiasm
displayed, and another was the extremely
large percentage of young men in the
ranks of the several organizations. As
the column passed along the streets there
seemed to be q decided prepcnderance Of
bright young faces of men just attaining
their msjority- an indication that the
Young vote is very largely with the party
Of the people in the great battle for lower
taxes and purity of government. Another
characteristic of the column was the large
number of workingmen in the ranks. The
gage-workers were out in force, and their
presence WAS notably conspicuous In the
Union, Washington and Richie clubs.
the splendid B & o. contingent was
another feature in this lire, some Of the
railroad men showing their enthusiasm
and devotion by CREST sacrifices in the way
of personal convenience and loss OF sleep,
ia order TO be on hand for the occasion.
Another noteworthy feature Of the dem
onstratiou was the presence of q large num-
Ger of farmers and flock masters from the
country. Each Of the three back-county
districts had q good representation III line.
either on horseback, or in carriages and
wagons, and they formed a by no means
small percentage of the column. II is 3
very different thing for q farmer to
drive or ride eight or ten miles to the city,
TO take part in a parade, from what it IA
for the city man 10 20 around the corner
to his club room and fall in with MS
neighbors, and march q few blocks 70 the
rendezvous, and the county contingent are
entitled to the sincere thanks of the city
Democracy for their invaluable aid.
The older members of the party were
not out. 1t was the first effort at o
procession during the campaign, and many
who are usually in the front ranks upon
ike occasions contented themselves with
illuminating their residences or places OF
business, and then securing some point Of
vantage from which to view the passing
show. These, in common with others,
were sstonished at the size of the column,
aud many were heard TO say it exceeded all
their expectations, and that next time
We will be On hand to swell the ranks Of
the clubs"
The gentlemen who had charge Of the
event have every reason TO congratulate
themselves over the success which crowned
their efforts, and they will feel encouraged
to 20 on in the future with like demon
stration. With Saturday evenings sue
cess in full view, and in the light OF the
experienced there gained, il Will not be
difficult to get two thousand men from
Ohio county alone in line, and with q con-
eerted and well directed effort to get clubs
from surrounding towns, we can have a
psrsde Of twenty-five hundred men on a
weeks notice.
THE ENTHUSIASM.