The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-31
CAMPAIGN BUTTONS.
Artistic and Popular Designs to Suit
All Fancies.
The Practical Joker VIII Have an
Opportunity to Enjoy Himself.

A novety dealer who has rgured promi
nently in the selling OF campaign wares
for the past sixteen years, has some very
interesting comments TO make upon the
trade Of the present political struggle. In
the first place the real rush of business
Will not coma before the local factions
take up the fight, but when 1t does, he
figures that fully $500 will pass over his
counter alone. A his Will give the
casual observer fair start upon which
TO estimate the number OF nickels, dimes
and quarters that will be given in ex-
change for campaign emblems. All sorts
and conditions Of novelties are on the
market and one must be OF a fastIdious
nature indeed If he cannot be satisfied by
the assortment. In prices they range
from nickel to quarter, and likewise
vary in their attractive design. Some are
in the shape of buttons, and pins, Others
as watch charms, while few resemble
TO degree the pendants worn by the
various labor organizations.
Probably 60 or 70 per cent. OF the num-
Der sold are of the button or pin order,
while the remainder compose the more
or less artistic and novel designs.
As in every other business tue inuova-
tion of the wheel has also affected the
campaign mblem manufacture, inasmuch
as the jewelers., who, previous TO the past
or three years invented and manu.
factured the bulk OF the stock, have been
supplanted by a large New Jersey bicycle
button concern which now produces fac
SMILES OF the contesting candidates in a
very creditable manner upon celluloid
composition surface.
One OF the latest additions to the al
ready large list of campaign emblems is
photograph OF "Dickn Bryant, sur
ad hv N nj ha1 0rnnnd
upon which is empossed in large letter.
ing the following phrase: "Free Silver,
1e to j." Another Democratic standard
bearer Is n white enamel button, about
the size of the large pearl button worn
on ladies' cloaks. In this the heads OF
Bryan and Sewall arc close together,
with tho sllverites motto of "16 to i"
above. The whole Is surrounded by u
blue border.
A third, probably manufactured for the
use OF the Populists, is a plain button
with the head OF William j. Bryan re-
produced upon it.
or the Rspuohcan designs, one is
struck by the patriotic sym bols and en-
blems employed. The American flag fig
ures prominently in many, as do the
words Mckinley" and Protection"
The famous gold bug with heads OF Nc
Kinley and Hobart upon the wings, Is
a prime favorite with the financial men,
and is bound 70 attract attention where
ever it is worn. Speaking of attracting
attention the practiccl-joko fend has
imposed another OF his wares upon a
long suffering public by presenting a
base-relief of McKinley's head upon a
background OF yellow metal In place OF
McKinley's mouth there Is small hole,
through which tiny stream of water
can bo squirted by pressing bulb con-
pected with tube joining the back of
the button. With this any amount of
fuu has been had, and on occasions dis
ruption in the ranks of the u. o. =.
was threatened owing to the too energet-
ic employment Of the political "good
thing
The glass watch pendant with minia-
ture photographs or Mckinley and Ho-
bart on either side are very neat, and
will probably be the choice OF the more
dignihed and conservative Repu ublicans.
There are also scarf pins similar in de-
sign to this that present a natty appear
ance in dark-colored ties.
Taken altogether, this years assort-
ment is equal to, IL not superior to any
production OF previous presidential en-
blems, and the predictions indicate that
they Will be quite as prominent a fea-
ture in the fight as in days OF yore.