The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-01
THE PopocRATIc PARADE.
Just One Hour and Two Minutes Pass
ing One Paint


Just one Hour and Two Minutes Pass-
ing One Point.
Compared with other Popocratlc parades
that were given before last night. the free
silver parade was a decided success. but
when placed by the side OF the Republican
parade OF last night it was such a fzzle
that il really is not entitled TO be called a
parade. 1t Is not intended 10 say that the
parade was OF no importance or lid not
amount to anything. for such is not the
case, but by comparison it was so greatly
overshadowed that IL sank into insignih-
canoe. 1t was well arranged and showed,
probably. the full strength of the party in
this county, but when compared with the
sound-money strength IL was simply moth
ing. The parade started from the corner OF
South and Meridian streets and in passing
tie Grand Hotel it occupied just one hour
and two minutes which, on any other oc-
casion, would have been considered a fine
showing.
The absence OF farmers from the line was
the most significant part OF it, It is true
that there were some farmers there, but
when the brags of the party leaders about
the great strength Of the silver movement
among farmers are considered, this part OF
the parade was small, indeed. There were
three delegations OF farmers and one OF al
legged farmers. but in this part OF the
parade men who have never known what IL
is TO turn the soil except in the streets OF
a city. were recognized in large numbers.
The most amusing thing about the whole
affair was what was termed the Business
Mems Free-silver Club" This club was
headed by f. NJ. Johnson, city controller.
and Myron King, private secretary to Gov
ernor Matthews. These two oficeholders.
posing as the leaders o. a Business Mems
Club" made il very amusing. They gave
bland smiles as they passed and received
the queries Of their friends as TO how long
they had been in business" with smiles.
la Tom Taggart.
When the men were gathering for the
two demonstrations il was seen that the
silver men were badly outclassed and some
desperate scheme had 10 be Matched uD 10
make showing worthy of the cause. The
only plan was 10 have the parade counter
march on Meridian street and continue go
ing round and round until the last OF the
Republican parade had passed. This scheme
was adopted, and the people at Washington
and Meridian streets soon got tired OF look
ing at the same banners and deserted the
line for the more interesting parade that
countermarching on Washington
street, just east of Meridian street. Those
who watched the carrying out Of this
scheme saw the same wagons pass on Me-
ridian street six times.
One feature OF the parade was a wagon
drawn by sixteen white horses. some OF
sign or not, il IS fact that the wagon
also contained thirty-two boys. The horses
showed the ratio of the Popocratic platform.
but the boys showed the true ratio OF the
value Of silver and sold.
There were many banners I'm the parade
which would have been in place in a Re-
publican demonstration, but were sadly out
of place there. One read. Patriots are
never rank partisans." Thus an excuse is
offered for the desertion of the party by SO
many real Democrats. Another was I'VE
have not been coerced." But the one that
told whole story ana was so much out Of
place as to be ri iiculous was Double dol
lars are for double Dealers and I'VE want
no double dollars" These and many others
equally as meaningless in that company
We're displayed.
There was an effort made 10 show n
strong following OF silver Republicans. but
II was failure. There was a club COM
posed of about $50 men carrying banners
marked Silver Republicans but il was
apparent TO most of the residents OF the
city that those marching under the banners
were simon pure rooster Democrats: that
Is. men who would vote for anything IL
there was rooster at the head of the col
umn. that being their sole standard OF
Democracy. A number of them were rec
ognized by men no viewed the parade.
ana are known to be men who never voted
anythfng but the Democratic ticket.
The word prosperity" which. by its
meaning, is emblematic Of Republcanism.
was stolen and was seen displayed ON many
banners in way that was simply plagiar-
ism. Many banners bore the words Vote
Tor Bryan and Prosperity
The crowd that witnessed the Democratic
parade compared with the crowd that saw
the Republican parade, was about i'm the
proportion of the men in line. Illinois
street and Washington street west of Me-
ridian street were almost deserted COM
raratively speaking. For any other occa-
sion the crowd would have been considered
good. but when enc passed through the
crowd that saw the Democrats parada
ana found no trouble i'm moving about and
then attempted to squeeze through the
other crowd, the Preat difference became
apparent at once. One was a crowd that
did not block the way OF any one who de-
sired TO go from place TO place while the
other was so great that IL was with diff
Guilty one could move a dozen feet
Those who came down town exDectfns IN
see trouble on account of the two pars,des
were disappointed for I'm both lines OF
march the crowds were orderly and good
natured. There was great deal OF good
natured bandying Of words but no trouble
OF consequence resulted. At Meridian ana
washington streets. where the two parades
passed within a few feet Of each other ~
was expected that there might be trouble
but as the two lines passed the supporters
OF each passed the compliments of the
evening. which i'm this case were shouts
Tor their faNorite candidates. Sometimes n
even went so far that a crowd OF supporfers
or one party would surround a supporter oF
the opposite party and attempt TO rake
MIN shout for his opponents but ihes.
cases were rare and there was little lIl feel
ing shown in them "