The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-11-04

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The sky was as serene as the gal
liant standard-bearer of the Republican
party at his modest home in Canton.
The golden rays of the morning sun
brought inspiration TO Republicans
throughout the Union and gave them
renewed courage TO battle for America
and Americas honor.
The enthusiasm of Somerset county
Republicans was comparable only to
the enthusiasm manifested by the same
party at the elections in the years inn
mediately following the war, when
voters went to the polls in delegations
headed 10y bands of music and under
the folds of the stars and stripes AT
seven o'clock in the morning when the
polls Were opened voters were in line
waiting an opportunity to cast their
ballots for Sound Money and PrOtec-
ton. The shower of votes continued
to fall until the voting booths were
closed at seven O'Clock in the evening.
One of the inspiring sights in Som
erset was the visit of the Republican
voters of old "Chewink," who came
to town in delegations. One party
composed of fifty or more voters rode
in n hay-wagOn drawn by six horses.
All of the members of the delegation
wore badges of gOld-colOred ribbon on
their coats and carried tiny American
flags in their hands. The horses were
also resplendent in gold-colored trap
pings. In the front of the wagon a
small pine tree was erected and among
the branches of the tree two live coons
cuddled, seemingly satisfied with the
part they were playing in the demon
stration. The delegation was accom-
panied by the Friedens brass band.
which discoursed popular airs while the
caravan was hauled through the prin-
cipal streets. \ halt was called in
front of the Court House, where three
cheers were given for Mckinley and
Hobart, and three cheers more were
added for Congressman Hicks. The
delegation was frequently and loudly
cheered by the crowds lining the
streets.
As soon as the polls closed crowd
of several hundred voters collected in
and around the HERALD Office. where
they patiently waited until the returns
from the various States began to arrive.
The first report from New York, say
ing that Mckinley had swept the En-
pire State 10y 100000 majority started
the cheering, which never died out un-
til four O'Clock this morning. Every
dispatch brought encouragement to the
Republicans and before IL o'clock il
it was known that the country had de-
clared against free ;f..ae, free silver and
free riot.
The crowds on tho streets and the
enthusiasm displayed were unprece-
dented.
At 1888 p. NJ. Mrs. Abner Mckinley
visited the long distance telephone
office and congratulated the Major on
his election. The President elect re-
piled that he was satisfied that victory
was assured by a large majority and
that the next Congress would be over
whelmingly Republican. Mrs. Me
Kinley also conversed for few min
utes with the next mistress of the
White House.
Among local politicians the greatest
interest centred on the Congressional
hattie. The Congressional Committee
and the Republican State Committee
both issued addresses To the voter. ask
ing them tn concentrate their strength
on Hicks, whom they deemed the
stronger of the two Republican candi-
dates, and loyal Republicans in all Of
the four counties accepted their sugres-
tion and worked for Hicks as earnestly
as they did for McKinler. ITi~lSs. il
was known from the beginning OF the
fratricidal battle, would have the hear
ty support Of 30 per cent. of the from
four 10 six thousand veteran soldiers in
the district. but notwithstanding this |
fact and the earnest appeals of the DO |
litical organizations mentioned. Re |
publicans OF the borough of Sonlel,..;,
and elsewhere, some of whom have |
been honored by the voters Of the /
county on previous occasions, made a
desperate effort To run sufficient votes
for Thropp 50 insure the election of
Mcnamara, the candidate of the DEM
ocratic party. The success of their ef- |
forts is set forth elsewhere in this pa
per.
In Somerset county several hundred
Republicans, evidently disgusted with
the failure Of the late Congressional
Conference to give the party a proper
iy nominated candidate, refrained
from voting for either Mr.. Hicks or
Mr.. Thropp-