Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-11-12
RoosrERs RousD ms ggoK.



How a Joyous Massachusetts Democrat
Celebrated the Victory.
Boston Herald, November 9Th.
All the Democratic leaders in Massachu-
sets know George S. Willis, and nearly all
the Republican leaders do. Heretofore he
has been chiefly known as an ardent Demo-
crat, a leading member of the state COM
mittee, and prominent citizen of Berk-
shire county. Hereafter he is to be known
by his shirt collar
Mr.. Willis for many years, in season
and out of season, has worked hard for
the success of the Democratic party be-
yond the Connecticut river. That rising
young statesman Congressman Crosby,
owes no little of his success to Mr.. Willis.
There are senators and representatives who
have come down TO Boston in past years,
to whom George Willis has acted as god
father.
Mr.. Willis has paid out more money
during the last two days for shirt collars
than the average man does in two years.
His idea was that il Russell should be
elected, Of which he had no doubt, the
event should be celebrated by roos!ers of
one kind or another. Then he pondered /:
"How can man best display roosterP
mot by flag, for everybody
totes flag in the procession; not by q
handkerchief for that would be vulgar"
Then he thought the thing all over for
half an hour longer, and said. Il will
have ROSTERS, and will have them on my
shirt collar"
Boosters on shirt collars" said Mr..
Willis, ARE not to be bought and sold.
Governor Russell's success is great event.
My shirt collar and my ROSTERS shall be
worthy of the OCCASION"
The result of all this was that when Mr..
Willis appeared at the Democratic state
headquarters yesterday afternoon he was
the most conspicuous Of all the crowd con-
gregated there.
Mr.. Quincy was in bed recovering from
the fatigue of the campaign, but General
Dale recognizing the rubicund face and
the genteel figure Of the Pittstield COM
mitteeman, rushed forward to grasp his
hand and congratulate him upon the
party's success in Berkshire county.
As he did So his eyes caught the tremen-
dous collar which Mr. Willis wore. II
was more than four inches high; extended
of his neck. and upon its ends there were
beautifully painted, by an artist of evil
| IDENTIFY more than ordinary skill and dex-
terity, pugnacious and rampant Demo
cratic ROSTERS.
They were emblems of victory. Mr.
Dale greeted them as such, aud Mr.. Willis
was the hero of the hour.
| lIlcll MT. w HIS went ONGT 10 OuUk /
Hotel, and thence, by Court avenue and
School street, to the Parker House. AS he
| went by the savings bank he was suddenly
surrounded by great crowd of people.
| There were anxious inquiries as to what
| all the trouble was about, but the expana
ton that Mr.. Willis was simply wearing
| Democratic ROSTERS diverted attention
| from the run on the bank.
| In conversation with the Herald man
| last night Mr.. Willis was sure that he had
devised something entirely unique in the
way OF q campaign badge. There are only
| two collars like this, said he, Sin exist
| ence. 1t is the Democratic collar. I am the
only man in Massachusetts who wears one,
though and Grover Cleveland wears one
In New York. don't know whether it Il
an odd fact or not, but 1t Is
| true that Mr.. Cleveland's neck and mine
are of the same size. These two collars
were manufactured by the same artist, and
the young lady has in the painting of the
ROSTERS exerted her best skill"
The collar was girdled by tie of the
most pronounced read, and probably,
| with the exception of Gov. RUSSELL nc
other man could have attracted so much
| attention.
Last night Mr.. Willis was the guest Of
| Fire Commissioner Fitch. He says that
he will not exhibit the ROSTERS and collar
after to-day, but he does promise that nc
similar collar to this and the one worn by
| Mr.. Cleveland shall be worn or exhibited
by any one else.