Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-10-26
BIGGEST EVER SEEN
The Crowds in Rock Island
Last Saturday.
ALL BUSINESS FELT THE EFFECT.

ALL BUSINESS FELT THE EFFECT.
The Gssstsst Event Of Any CaDpaiG. IN
Leeal aseory-A sigaineaat Ocsarrsscs
Down on the Ferry Whsch Inspirss -
Observer Poetic Sentiment.
Such crowds as came to Rock ISL
and Saturday to see Bryan have not
been known il Rock Islands history
before.
Aside from the practical estimate
OF the number Of people at the
grounds. there are various ways Of
calculating the throDg in the city
attracted by the coming OF the next
president. All branches Of business
felt the effect, and merchants knew
that the farmers were in town. The
hotels and restaurants did the
heaviest business in their history from
10 a. m. until in the evening.
While this was true OF all places
where meals were served. the pro-
prietor Of . centrally located restau-
rant. who being . republican would
have no object in exaggersting the
situation said this morning: I'VE did
the most tremendous business we
have ever done. It was bigger than
the entire three days Of the Pythian
convention. 1t started in at 10
O'Clock in the morning and continued
until in the evening. We never
so many people before in single fe
day. The only time before this year
when there we're so many people in
from the country was when Coiy's
show was here and estimating the
| crowd by that there were twice As
many here"
If this may be accepted rs a fair
criterion to Judge of the crowd, it is
to be recalled that it was admitted
that 10000 people attended the Buf-
falo Bill show the night Of June IL.
last. The ticket sales showed that,
and twice as many being here Satur-
day would swell the crowd to 40, 900,
so that any way you figure it the au-
dlence present that afternoon cannot
be cut below that figure. People who
doubt the general effect on business
have only to inquire Of any merchant.
Republicans Not In It.
And they were democrats, too.
The 5000 labeled republicans who
went to the grounds constituted Just
about one-eighth Of the attendance,
and it is not to be wondered at,
therefore, that they made no better
showing than they did. Still they
had no occasion to feel disturbed, as
it was not republican meeting af-
ter all. nor was it intended as such,
and those. there fore, who made the
dismal failure of their attempt to
impress their presence should be
contented to conduct their own
meetings and keep behind the can
vass at that. for when they get out
among the people they are apt not
only to be lost, but to lose them
selves, as many did Saturday who
went up tabled, but came back free
men. 1t was in many instances q
fresh illustration Of the old adage
about the difference between leading
the horse to water, and making him
drink. The man who pinned the
yellow badge on another's lapel in the
morning could not keep it there in
all instances, nor can he follow the
decorated individual into the booth
at the polls election day.
One Instance In Particular
The appended poem was handed
into The Argus today as expressing
the sentiments of employees OF one
big republican institution who re-
fused to be coerced. II WAS written
by q drummer, from what he saw:
THE GAME THAT DIDN'T GO.
On the day of Bryan's coming,
Not very long ago.
The skipper on the Ferry
Tried u game that did not 90.
Yes. the captain on the ferry
With his golden ribbons came.
Told his crew they better wear them
To maintain the gold bugs fame.
But his work was very coarse
And with approval did not meet.
For rather than vote for Mckinley
They'd sleep out in the street.
] And when he returned from dinner
You may imagine his surprise
| To st e his c 'ew sn wearing
| The emblem OF the wise
/ From the pilot to the lines-man
| White ribbons each one wore:
| Said they would stick to Willie i,ryan.
| Stick to him for ever more
L
About the Other Fellews.