The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-17
TWELVE THOUSAND ADVOCATES
OF SOUND, MONEY
s@ s4sv3fou /, MARGH.fc ss.f,s-..f..s X
1T WAS A WONDERFUL DISPLAY
SUCH A DEMONSTRATION AS EVEN
THE MOST sANGEINE HAD NOT
HOPED FOR. s.sts
EVER VARYING bINi INTEREST.
individuality shown in the Differ
emf Clubs and I'M the Hundreds
of Transpnrencies.

"A Slllllle WOulu SlS1dliy IaH TO
press the spontaneity of the immense
gathering of voters that assembled
early in the evening at the points des-
lgnated, for the purpose of marching
in solid columns, forgive the solemn
note of warning TO those who would
dishonor the greatest republic of the
world by dishonest financial basis.
Early in the evening, from all parts
of the city, came the marching coll
umns, all headed for the place of meet
ing designated, all the side streets
convergings from Tenth street. from
NicOllet avenue to Park avenue in
elusive. Everything was at the double
quick, showing that the hearts of the
men were in it, and that they had
needed no urging to come and lend
their presence to a cause which meant
the good Of the nation they loved
One of the most wonderful things
about the parade was the individuality
which showed itself everywhere. The
call had been made for marching men,
but a surprise was in store in the
many elaborate and brilliant features
both in dress and illumination. 1t
seemed incredible that without a pre-
arranged system such q gathering
should be brought together, especially
as there had been no hints of the kind
until the moment of sthecforming of the
lines on Tenth street r
At that point the streets were a sight
At o'clock there as little to be seen
aside from several small boys and a
dog, but springing into sight, as if by
magic, columns Of men appeared and
within ten minutes the streets began to
q hun n W
Then the jam became denser, and in
quarter of an hour it seemed impossible
that the marshals could ever bring
order out Of that seeming chaos
HAD A PERFECT SYSTEM.
The system had been perfected how
ever. Denser became the lines, until
! upon the converging streets the clubs
and wards were drawn up three
abreast, awaiting the word to move,
torches glazing, brilliant hued lights
flashing, drums beating, a dozen bands
playing martial music, the shrill shrek
of the fife piercing the tones Of the
brass instruments, and above all the
hcarse and enthusiastic cry of the men
with the yellow ribbons, waiting pa
tiently for their turns to fall into col
umn and march with the rest. Looking
from Nicollet avenue up Tenth street,
the street was not so animated, for the
marShals succeeded in keeping the thor
oUghfare fairly well cleared, but as the
converging streets were passed. as far
as the eye could reach either way, the
marchers were waiting, until it seemed
as If there could be few people left to
look on the parade, with the exception
of women and children
Some idea of the magnitude Of that
immense gathering can be imagined
when it is remembered that beginning
with Nicollet avenue, from Tenth street
out, there were five blocks Of solid men
waiting to fall into line. Each cross
street from there to Park avenue, each
way, had from three to five blocks, and
out Park avenue, where the head Of
the reserve column was to march
there were three blocks. These dis
tances were not made up Of men
ranged in double file, as is often custo-
mary in political parades but the
streets were. literally filed, and on the
streets where cars were to run
1T was with difficulty that the
cars forced way through,
and they were all marching men,
and not onlookers. Counting the
blocks as they were filled with the
men, and marching the men in lines
of breadth enough to reach across the
street, it appeared that there would be
fully three miles of parade in that
shape, which is more dense than
parade ever marches. To estimate
how far the lines wouldreach if formed
in double file, would be mere guess
work, for the crowds ,Were too much
packed to give any idea.
A GOOD NATURED CROWD.
Above all there was the best Of good
nature. At every crossing were mar
shals or people left to inform
those who belonged in the lines. and
there was little confusion. Ever and
anon there would come the battle cry
of some club, then the cheers of some
more than usually enthusiastic body of
marchers and then the whole would be
silenced by the strain of the bands
stationed at intervals along the route,
which played selections in order to
keep the men patient. 1t was predicted
that on account Of the unexpected i'm
mense number-althoug a large turn
out had been looked far-that the
parade would be at least an hour late
in starting, but the work was so well
done that it was precisely 1885 O'Clock
when the elephant float turned down
Nicollet avenue, and the column form
ed on that street wheeled into line
amid the cheers of the veterans. and
the line of march was taken up with
the cavalry in the lead.
Everything worked to perfection. The
Nicollet avenue column waited until
the head of the other column APP
preached, and then marched. The head
avenue, and as it marched down Tenth
street, as soon as the rear of that
column reached the first cross street
the head of that column swung in with
a shout, and when 1.-The rear of that
column swung into the street. the OBJ
posite side of the street formed in, and
SO on until the last of the column.
formed on First avenue south. fell in
and marched with the rest In spite
of the immense crowd of marching
men, therefore, there was no confusion,
and the columns We're well handled.
A FEW WE'RE MIXED
OF course there Were some unfortun-
ate circumstances, but they were ow-
ing to the fact that the marchers them
selves had not sufficiently informed
themselves as to the proper places to
form. Therefore, there We're numerous
stray men with yeIlow ribbons who
never found their ranks, and the huge
parade was perhaps ajathousand short
In number for that reason but it was
large enough. 1t filled the streets with
humanity and excellent lungs, and in
spite of the size of the crowd, the size
OF the enthusiasm exceeded it all.
The parade numbered not far from
Il, 900 men. The head of the procession
crossed the bridge, about s o'clock, and
1T was $50 when >$he rear was brought
up A squad of policemen on horse
back opened the way, crowding through
mass of struggling humanity John
Calderwood and F. S. Danforth rode at
the head of the column, followed by the
First Regiment band and a float repre-
senting the G. o. P. elephant A divis-
ion of mounted men, 100 strong and led
by p F. Jones, acted as an escort to
Gov. Clough and his staff, after whons
came the Minneapolis Flambeau club.
This organization was commanded by
" g. Rogers, and had fifty men in