Evening star., 1896-10-31
NEW YORK'S PARADE
An Unprecedented Demonstration in
the Streets Of the Metropolis.
HALF A MILLION FOR DECORATIONS
Flag Makers Unable to Fill Orders
From Thousands.
OVER 100000 MEN IN LINE

NEW YORK, October 31.-Probably never
in the history of political campaigning in
this city have the streets of New York pre-
sented a brighter or more animated aspect
than they wore today, the occasion being
the parade Of the republican organizations
in honor of the party's presidential nomi-
nees, Mckinley and Hobart. Practically no
business was done in the mercantile es-
Establishments, the interest in the man.
moth demonstration obliging even those
who are not in sympathy with the repub-
lican cause to suspend operations for the
day.
The parade was 10 have begun at 9:30
m, but, owing to the great number COM
posing it, there was considerable delay in
getting Under way. Hours and hours be-
fore there was any chance of the advance
guard of the great parade appearing the
sidewalks on either side of the streets
named in the line of march were scarcely
pasSable. AT the points where the review
ing stands had been erected people congre-
gated in overwhelming circles. Street cars
were stopped early, and drivers of wagons
found that they had to make long detours
to reach their destination.
But 1t was downtown, along Broadway
and the streets that stretch east and west
from 1t, that the press was greatest If
was in this section where the 125OOo
paraders gathered, that the first realization
came of how gigantic the gathering was
Just before the start everything seemed
confusion. The onloOkers from the thous-
ands of buildings wondered how the parad-
ers and the spectators could ever be SEN
arated. The multitude that jammed Broad
way from the building lines was like sea,
which moved from side to side swept
down obstacles and obliterated the familiar
slght OF show windows. Whenever u mount
ed officer of the parade attempted to force
ms morse through the throng, to those who
locked or, man and horse were swallowed IN
as thoush they had plunged into water
instead of humanity.
And above all the motion there arose
the thunder of voices and the blare of
musical instruments that made the scene
more bewildering, more wonderful than the
city has seen i'll many day.
Lavish Display Of Flags.
Along the route of the big parade from
the Battery to 10th street there was a
lavish display of flags and bunting. The
spectacle presented on Broadway and 9th
avenue exceeded snything of the kind ever
witnessed in this city. Myriads of Ameri-
can flags of all sizes, and thousands of
yards of bunting, tastefully arrayed, fut-
tered in the breeze from the roofs, windows
and door ways of the buildings On the
line of march. At short intervals huge
flags bearing the names of Mckinley ard
Hobart, and in some instances appropriate
campaign legends, hung from wires
stretched across the street. Each of these
big flags represented an organization of
business men, and some of the legends
were:
Law anu Order For Honor and Pros
perity." The National Honor Must Be
Preserved" "A Nations Credit is a Ma
tions Life "One Hundred Cents in the
Dollar
A noticeable feature of the decorations
was the absence Of the pictorial political
banners and transparences which formed
so conspicuous part of the decorations in
former campaigns. Only occasionally was
picture of one both Of the repubIi-
can candidates exhibited, and then it was
invariably framed in flags.
The resources of the flag and bunting
makers in this and neIghboring cities were
taxed to the utmost to supply the orders
that poured in One large dealer estima ted
that not less than half a million of dollars
had been spent by the business men of
New York in decorating their establish
mentS.
Broadway was vista of fl: gs. The dra-
peries on the big office buildings in the
lower part of Broadway were in many in
stances very elaborate and expensive, some
s., 600
At least one church on the line of march
was decorated. This was the Marble Col
legiate Church at the corner Of 9TH avenue
and 18th street, over the main entrance of
which We're draped two silkcn flags
Speaking of the profusion of flags, a
dealer said:
Il have been forty years in the business
OF making flags and bunting, and / never
saw so great demand for my goods d
has existed within the past few days. !
should say that not less than 100000 Amer
lean flags are waving in New York al this
moment Many of these flags are 40 by 80
feet, and cost much as $40 each. There
are not less than 300 flag dealers in this
city, and not ore of them las been able to
fill all of the orders that he has received.
We have been applying to another for
material and help, and have drawn upon
the resources of dealers in neighboring
cities, but in spite of our efforts thousands
of persons who were anxious to decorate
have been unable to obtain flags or bunt-
ing"
The Start.
1t 10 o'clock to the minute when
Gen. Porter, grand marshal, gave the order
to march. After the grand marshal, his
staff and aids followed a detachment of
mounted processionists. Next came Mayor
Strong and exMayor Hewitt and their
escort the latter being afoot. When the
mayors carriage had passed Worth street
the dry goods divisions wheeled into Broad
way. headed by a band and costly white
silk banner, with gold letters, reading:
Dry Goods Division, Mckinley and Ho-
bart. 1885,
paraders awaiting in Franklin, Leonard.
White and Lispenard streets took their DO
sitions in the parade. All were cheered
from the upper windows Of the big dry
goods houses, as, with waving flags, they
moved up Broadway.
AS the vanguard marched up the street
the other divisions fell into line, until ali
were In motion, forming one of the most
notable demonstrations ever witnessed In
this city.
The two reviewing stands were in Nadi-
sen Square: the stand on the easterly side
of the avenue extended from 23d to beth
street and was divided into two sections
in one of which space was allotted to the
reviewing officers and the Special guests of
the occasion. Stretched along the ton of
this stand was huge banner, bearing this
Inscription: I'VE know no enemy's country
in this fair land of ours"
Chairs had been placed in the incIosure
reserved for the reviewing officers and fhe
invited guests. To provide the necessar nv
illumination for the evening portion of the
parade seventeen lime lights were distrih,i
ted on the grand stand. BY 10 O'clock bofh
stands were filled, the one on the westerly
side of the avenue being occupied by the
families and friends of the Business Men
Republican and Sound Money Associa tion.
Number Of Paraders.
1t was next to impossible to get anything
Ike an accurate estimate of the men in
line. The multitude was 90 vast that the