The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-15
THRONG AT MARION.
All-Day Demonstration and an I'm
limited Flow of Enthusiasm

IN
limited Flow of Enthusiasm.
The all-day demonstration at Marion, IN
Guiding the ovation to the generals, speech
making by other popular speakers IN the
afternoon and a street parade at night,
was arranged for by the Marion Mckinley
Club, together with the soldier organiza-
tions and the G. A. r. Judge r. T. st.
John headed the following committee,
which met General Alger and his party at
Anderson: James Charles, A. E. Steel, c..
]. Bockus, John Watts and j. FL. Miller.
Before the committee left for Anderson to
escort the party to Marion a telegram was
received from Wabash stating that 1900
people would arrive from that place. Be
side this addition to the crowd, hundreds
came from all directions, and every viii
lage, hamlet and cross-road in the sur
rounding territory sent its quota
TO give an idea of the immense crowd
that greeted the heroes a slight description
of the place selected for the speaking is
necessary. A little past the station is q
vacant lot containing two and one-quarter
acres. The lot is low. perhaps seven or
eight feet below the street on one side, and
the railroad grading below it. The lot is
fenced in. About the center of the fence,
on the railroad side, the speakers stand,
twenty feet square, was erected. A gang
way twenty feet long led from the tracks
to the stand. When the train slowed down
almost the entire surface of the lot was
covered with people, packed as close to-
gether as they could stand. while the high
ground between the tracks and the fence,
a strip fifteen feet wide, was covered for
a distance of a block. Backed into the
street away from the fence. on the other
side of the lot, people were crushed to-
gether down TO the next corner, and be-
yond them others were crowded in doors
and windows, on porches and housetops,
straining every nerve to catch a
glimpse of the speakers and some word
that might perhaps reach them. Col. L. n.
Walker and Smiley N. Chambers both say
that the crowd gathered was larger than
that in the Statehouse yard when Bryan
spoke laat week.
Prominent in the crowd was a large COM
pany of old soldiers from the Soldiers
Home, wearing the regulation army coats
and caps of blue. In a couple of wagons,
the only ones that were allowed inside the
lot, other old soldiers, too weak and badly
crippled to walk, were seated. G. A. r.
badges on the lapels of the coats of other
old men in the immediate vicinity of the
stand told the story of battles fought and
won years ago. Thanking the soldiers and
touching elbows with them were younger
men and not a few women, whose dress
and features spoke of a peaceful, life on
and professional men of Marion and other
towns. Others showed plainly by the inn
press of their features that they were men
from the shops and factories of the great
gas belt. too many of which are standing
idle or running on short time and with
Judge r. T. St. John presented General
Alger. He spoke briefly, and. after ex-
of such a tremendous crowd, he gave way
to General Sickies. General Sickles has
but one leg and is compelled to address his
audience while sitting before them holding
his crutches. While General Sicixles was
talking one of the supports under the stand
gave way from the weight of the crowd
that persisted in climbing on 1t. There
was an ominous creaking for a moment
and "a HpV went IN from the mNtfitrda
who expected TO see the whole platform go
down. General Sickies remarked. with a
Don't be alarmed. Some Bryan traitor
has put a Bryan plank in this platform"
Men hastily jumped from the platform to
the ground. six feet below, but the stout
planks proved sufficient for the weight,
finished. introduced General Howard as
your old commander" Howard was in
command of a corps that numbered among
It's ranks many Indiana soldiers. not a few
of whom were there to greet him, and he
was given a rousing welcome.
little girl down the road said that he was
here. but | don't see him"
He isn't here cried several after a
great cheer that his name called forth was
How many friends has he hereo All of
you that are going TO vote for Mount hold
Then hands went up as far as the eve
could see. Some of them We're the lean and
wrinkled hands OF veterans who are about
TO vote for the last time. Others were
those of young men in the prime of life
and hundreds of others We're the toll
hardened hands of laboring men.
General Stewart, he of the goid-bug hair
declared the crowd before him to be the
greatest we have seen in all our travels.
Ii Bryan could see this crowd said he.
..he would have n fit"
Corporal Tanner said that he wondered If
any one was left at home.
Lots of them came the answer. A"And
they viii all vote as we do"
II Mount is a favorite in the gas belt he
is not the only favorite. Corporal Tanner
declared that il would be cruel TO William
Mckinley 10 send a man to Congress that
would hamper him and prove az d dead
weight when IL came to tire enactment of
laws for the benefit of the soldiers. the
restoration of protection and the general
veal OF the country.
We're going to send Steele, they
OF men.
Yes said the Corporal. I'm this district