The Portland daily press., 1896-02-27
A PNEUMONIA RALLY.
u%
Democrats Shiyering in a Gloomy
Skating Rink.
A GATHERING TO MEET MIR. BIRD
WHO WASN'T THERE.

Messrs. Somers, Birnie Clifford and Bar
ton Make Speeches Visible in the Frigid
Atmosphere-As a Political Meeting 1t
Was Frosty But the Doctors Will Get
Some Business Out of 1t.
Nansen may have discovered the North
Pole, but it was probably no colder up
there than it was In the Congress rink
last night, where the d en- ocrats of Ward
One had been asked to meet. that they
might become acquainted with Candidate
Bird. The Democratic City Committee
will have to look in the cemeteries for
some Of the boys, il 1t asks them out to
such another gathering. Three feeble
lamps tried to dispel the gloom in the
barn-like structure. They made very
little impression ON the darkness, how
ever. and all that could be seen above
the forms OF the little group OF men in
the centre Of the floor, was their rapidly
conRealing breath. Somebody with an
eye to the preservation of the voters of
the ward until after election, had built a
fire in a stove In an ante-room, to which
the audience repaired in sections to thaw
out.
The meeting was called to order by
Committeeman Somers, who told his
hearers that they were there to see what
could be done about getting the voters
out. This was the keynote of the meet
ing, all the speakers telling what won
derful things would happen if the voters
came out. Mr. Somers will probably
escape serious illness for he spoke only
about three minutes and then put on his
hat Mr.. David Birnie, the candidate for
alderman, whom Mr.. Somers introduced
as chairman, also had a care of his
health, keeping his hat off only minute
or SO while he urged his hearers to vote
and get their friends to to vote.
Nathan Clifford, ESQ.,, chairman Of the
city committee, was next introduced,
and dsfied the elements for he unbuttoned
his overooat, took off his hat and spoke
about fifteen minutes. Mr.. Clifford
eloquently referred to Ward One as a
ward in which the Democracy had fought
some of Its hardest battles. 1t was the
ward in which Mr.. Brine and Mr.. Guptill
had been elected alderman. Mr.. Clifford
did not allude specifically to that "hard
fought BATTLE" Of the spring of 1898. Mr..
Clifford then told his hearers how each
should vote himself and also capture at
least one other man and see that he also
voted. Mr.. Clifford spoke for some time
upon this point and then expressed the
opinion that the March election in this
city, could by no possibility have any
connection with the prospects of Mr..
Reed as a Presidential candidate.
Llewellyn Barton, Esq., next took his
turn at trifling with pneumonia. Mr..
Barton also told his hearers that the city
election and the nomination of Mr.. Reed
were in no way connected. The burden
Of Mr.. Barton's remarks, however, was
a review of the Republican administra-
ton of the last three years. Mr.. Barton
referred to Mayor Baxter as "bene-
ficiary " of the city who had given it a
public library building. 1t was difficult
to tell at times whether Mr.. Barton in
tended to say beneficiary or benefaotor,
but he himself explained his meaning. by
saying that Mr.. Baxter's generosity had
string tied to it, In celebrating this
proposition, Mr.. Barton revived the old
attempt of the Democrats to maze cam
paign thunder out of the purchase of the
fire boat and thu widening of Oak street.
Mr.. Barton seemed to think that Mr..
Baxter should have given the city $40, GOO
worth of land
Mr.. Samuel L. Bates, young lawyer,
who correspondents Of the Argus urged
the other day as a desirable member of
the school board from Ward Three, was
next called upon. Mr.. Bates told story
which was loudly applauaed by some of
his hearers. The story is unfit for publ
cation.
During the meeting, Mr.. Birnie an
nounced that he had received a message
from Mr.. Bird saying that he should be
kept busy until 10 p. m. by case in
court "Well watt said somebody in
the crowd. ooh, he wouldn't expect US
to-, responded Mr.. Birnie.
Then the crowd gave three cheers for
the success of the ticket and went home
to thaw out.