The record-union., 1896-09-19
Biggest Political Event in the
History Of Ohio.
The Opening Of the Republican Campaign |
at Canton.
Thousands Upon Thousands Of Visitors From
Several States.
A Great Parade and Mass Meeting Attended BY over
Twenty Thousand People.

CANTON, Sept. 1S.-The largest po-
litical gathering ever seen in Ohio as
sembled here to-day. Conservative es-
Inmates place the number of people on
the streets of Canton this afternoon and
evening at more than 10000. Eastern
Ohio. Eastern West Virginia and West
ern Pennsylvania sent large delega-
tions The cars were taxed to their ut
most capacity, and every vehicle in the
county was brought into service. The
crowd was almost twice as large as the
organizers of the meeting had expected,
but it was orderly and the people were
We'll cared for.
The streets were strung with stream
ers, banners and flags. Arches with wei
coming notices span the prominent
thoroughfares. and buildings, public and
private, were draped with flags anu
bunting. Portraits of Mckinley and Ho-
bart were displayed in thousands OF
windows.
The day was bright. Many shops, fac
tories and stores closed for the day. 1t
was largely non-partisan demonstra-
tion, all parties participating.
Over fifty special trains brought dele
cations almost faster than they could be
a.
present are the Young Mems Tariff Club
and the Americus Club of Pittsburg. the
Flkins Cadets Of Wheeling, the Tippe-
canoe Club of Cleveland and the Wheel
mems clubs of Toledo and Detroit.
AT an early hour this morning the
people began to stream into the city,
and at 9 O'Clock large crowds had gath
cred about the residence of Major Nc
Kinley. Notwithstanding the other at
fractions in the city, the home OF the
candidate was the center of interest and
people clung about it until III O'Clock
at night They filed the yard. took
possession Of the porches and peered In
at the windows.
There was an impressive parade this
afternoon The procession was an hour
and ten minutes in passing the review
ing stand and il moved at a very lively
pace, with no halts. Major Mckinley
rode at the head of the parade In the
carriage with him were Governor Bush
nell Of Ohio and Senator Thurston OF
Nebraska When the head of the parade
reached the Mckinley house, Major Nc
Kinley left his carriage and reviewed
the procession. There was another big
parade in the evening, Which MAJOR NC
Kfaley also reviewed.
4
At 800 o'clock the speaking began III
the big tent There were 20.OOO people
hacked into the tent and half as many
more standing on the outside waiting to
get in.
Governor Bushnell of Ohio presided.
When he was introduced he said:
"Since the ST Louis Convention the
people Of the country have not waited
for the arrangements of their party
mnagers. but have opened the cam
paign on their own account The
stump has been their rOstrum for elo-
uuence. and around them have gath
cred crowds great and small. This
meeting to-day has been inspired by
the idea Of instituting a pilgrimage to
the Republican shrine 1t is really
ratification Of the many triumphs that
have been achieved by the Republican
candidate since he began receiving those
who call to congratulate him and them
selves upon the WORK of the Republi-
cans in their National Convention. /
am sure vhat all of us can say that we
are glad TO be so near our candidate
and TO contribute little more to the
busy political life Of this city of Can
ton.
THE all-absorbing issue in this cam
paign up to this time has been that of
the present monetary system, as op-
pcsed to the free coinage of silver pro-
posed by the Democrats in their Chi
cago Convention. The necessity of
utterly defeating the Democratic propo-
sition must be apparent to you all. The
free and unlimited coinage of silver by
the Independent action Of this Nation
Uould bring financial disaster and gen.
oral distress such as We have never be-
fore known. The maintenance of the
present monetary system is the policy
of honor, and to that the Republican
r,artv is committed row as it always
has been In the past.
SENATOR CULLOM OF ILLINOIS.
Governor Bushnell was heartily
applauded and when he introduced
Senator Cullom of Illinois there was a
storm of cheers.
Among other things, Senator Cullom
said:
Mr.. Bryan is an out and out free
trader, as well as for free Sill
Yer. Can we stand free silver and
free trade? I don't want either. We
have had four years experience OF
what we may expect all the time under
free trade. God alone knows what VIII
become of the country If we try the ex-
pertinent of the free and unlimited
coinage Of silver at 16 TO i.
Fellow citizens, / feel as sure OF
what / am going TO say as | am that
there is an all-wise. overrulinS Provi-
dence-that if the people of the United
States will at the rext election place
the Government back into the hands
Of the Republican party, with William
Mckinley as President, and with a
Congress in harmony with him on
financial and tariff questions. pros
perity and confidence will come again
to the people DO you not believe it so? ?
Will you do 1t? i have faith that you
will.
"Fellow- citizens, the Republican pol