The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1896-04-11
GRAND RALLY AT POLLOCK.
The Citizens Of Grant Parish Turn Out En-
Masse to Hear Governor Foster and
Party Speak.

Inc Clt1xenS OF Grant P0risn Turn Out En-
| Masse to Hear Governor Foster and
Party Speak.
The barbecue and mass meeting at
Pollock on the 4th instant was an occa-
sion that exceeded the expectations of
the Democrats of Grant parish, and
greatly aroused their enthusiasm and
confidence in electing the Democratic
ticket in this parish. Gov. Foster and
Senator Blanchard, accompanied by
Hons. g. w. Bolton. E. G. Hunter, Ben
Turner, j. w. Alexander, A. T. Hunter
and a number of other citizens of Alex
| andria, arrived IN Pollock at $40 q. M,
and were met at the depot by q delega-
ton OF about thirty persons. notwith-
standing the early hour of their arrival.
Gov. Foster and Senator Blanchard
were taken in charge by Mr.. Samuel
Patterson, the affable agent and manager
OF the Big Creek Lumber company, who
escorted them to his residence, where
they were delightfully."- entertained dunng
the morning and evening by Mrs. Patter-
son and her charming daughter, Miss
Clara. The other members of the party
were entertained by Messrs. s. r. Lee,
j. b. Wilmut, j. E. Walker, John PEN
ningtou, Capt. j. NJ. Rucker, DR.. j. v.
BOnnette and others. In fact the entire
town was keeping open house, and the
hundreds OF visitors who came over night
and remained during the day were treated
to the most royal hospitality.
The most of the people took the entire
day as grand holiday, and from early
morn till dewy eve, put in their time as
hosts and entertainers. At II o'clock
the mills were all closed down to give
the hands and their families the oppor-
tunity to attend the speaking and bar
becue, preparations for which had been
made in fine grove in the edge of the
town, where grand stand for the speak
ers and seats for five hundred persons
had been arranged, and also raised seats
for the Monroe brass band of ten pieces,
secured for the occasion, which furnished
excellent and inspiring music at inter-
walls all through the day.
Great credit is due to the committee
for their excellent management of all the
details for the barbecue and speaking,
which were arranged with tact and good
judgment, and we must compliment
Messrs. w. P. Bird, j. B. Wilmut, John
| Pennington, S. r. Lee, Capt. Rucker and
their associates upon their successful
management and good order.
The large assembly was called to order
about 11:30 a. m. by H. G.. Goodwin,
chairman of the Democratic parish ex-
ecutive committee, who called upon Mr..
j. A. Williams. the Democratic nominee
for representative, to preside over the
meeting and act as master of ceremonies,
which he did in good form, rejecting
credit upon himself and pleasing the au-
dience with his prompt and pithy method
of address.
Hon. Nv. Bolton, of Rapides, Speaker
of the House, was the first speaker intro
| duced, and a count of those present
showed $50 men, women and children on
the ground at the time he began his ad-
dress, which lasted about one hour. As
he stood before the people plain citizen,
asking no favors at their hands. but con-
tented with the honors already conferred
upon him, his words had great weight
upon the hearers, and swept away preju-
dice that has heretofore held sway in
many minds. We regret that we are
unable to lay his excellent statement of
affairs before our readers, but trust that
the hundreds who heard him will be able
to repeat his business like vindication of
every act of the administration, with
which he is so familiar from his close
connection with all its affairs.
| Gov. Foster was the next speaker. and
as he arose before the crowd which had
now increased to nearly thousand per-
sons, he was greeted with enthusiastic
applause. He was bit weak physically
from continued fever, but as he faced the
audience few could appreciate his condi-
ton from the firm demeanor and deter
mined countenance before them. His
splendid will power stands him well in
stead of the health and strength SO me-
cessary with most men. He had no
words of abuse for those opposing him,
but his quaint and sarcastic manner of
commissioning old man Pharr and the
Populists who had given up their own
party and gone over to the Republican
party body and soul. simply as the crea-
lures and tools OF q set of men who wanted
to use them to get into Office, was edify-
ing and amusing, and had most telling
effect upon those Populists who are hon.
est in their convictions and true to their
principles. The governor spoke about
forty minutes, and was frequently ap-
plauded during his remarks, as was also
Speaker Bolton.
During the progress of the speaking
people were constantly arriving on the
ground. and at 100 p. M, when Gov,
Foster closed and dinner was announced,
there were fully thousand people pres.
emit. The dinner table was arranged in
a hollow square of 400 feet, and was
loaded with more than HOO pounds Of
barbecued meats, bread, pickles, sauces
cakes, pies, etc. The supply of edibles
was ample for the crowd, and enough t.
feed 500 persons was left over. Arrange
ments were made for 1900, but as some
malicious parties had industriously cir
culated the report in the country thai
there were three cases of smallpox ir
Pollock, at least 300 or 400 persons were
kept from attending.
| At 3 o'clock the meeting was agar