The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-27

Boston, Oct. 26-The annual banquet
Of the Republican Club of Massachu-
sets this evening was a magnificent
demonstration in honor of John Davis
Long, secretary of the navy. 1t must
also give marked impetus to republic
canism in this state and maybe be-
yond the borders Of the commonwealth.
Secretary Long made stirring speech,
which all should read who have the
welfare of the republic at heart. Gov.
Wolcott likewise was admirable, and
Senator Lodge, though somewhat halt
ing at first soon warmed up to his
work and evoked applause scarcely in
ferior to that which greeted the speak
ers who preceded him. Probably there
was more imperialism" in this meet
ing than Massachusetts has yet listened
to, but it was not of the spread-eagle
and blatant sort, as will be seen from
the reports of the speeches below.
Words are but a paltry medium to ex-
press the wild enthusiasm which greet
ed Secretary Long when he appered on
the platform with the other speakers,
provocation afterwards. 1t was ms
first public appearance since he took
his seat in the presidents cabinet,
where, as Senator Lodge said he had
added not only to his own prestige, but
to that of the dear old commonwealth
and of the nation. The ex-governor S
hair is now nearly white, and there are
deep lines on his face. Recent cares
seem to have left their mark upon him
The people seemed almost beside
themselves in their eagerness to honor
and welcome him
Music Hail. where the dinner was
served, was packed. There was scarce
ly vacant chair at any one OF the
lR,g tables that extended lengthWlSe
Of the big hall or at those placed be-
hind the speakers table on the plat
form. The two tiers of galleries were
filled to overlooking, and perhaps
fourth of these spectators and listeners
were women. Behind the stage was an
elaborate screen of American flags
The national colors hid the &sont of the
stage and of the galleries and hung in
long streamers from the ceiling to the
walls. A military band in the rear gal
lery added to the festivity and en-
phasized the patriotic aspect OF the
gathering by playing the national airs;
COL William d. Sohier president Of
the club sat at the centre of the long
table which stretched across the stage.
AT his right sat Secretary Long, Sen
ator Lodge, Collector Lyman, Hon. r..
B. Hayes of Lynn, Eben $. Draper,
Henry Parkman, Hon. G. Won l.. Meyer,
Senator Roberts, Franz Hugo krebs,
Alpheus Sanford, Attorney General
Knowlton, Speaker Bates and Hon.
George G.. Crocker. AT the president S
left sat Gov. Wolcott Gen. f. ID. APP
pleton, Hon. Nelson Dingley of Maine
(who was called down from his modest
rxrl- rnd
with applause), LIEUT.. Coy. Crane, Con-
gressmen Gillett and Moody. Col. A. II.
Goetting. Congressmen Greene. Bar
rows and Mccall. Secretary Olin, Au-
otter Kimball, President Smith of the
state senate, Treasurer Shaw and capt.
Picking of the United States ship
Among the Worcester men present
were Charles G. Washburn, Colonel r.
z Glasgow. Hannibal A. Johnson, A.
NJ stone. Ward P. Delano c. N. Prou-
~ and Erastus Jones of Spencer, l.. ID.
Perry of Dudley.
rhis has been called a dull campaign,
ys,,t tbe enthusiasm of this great gath
swing was effervescent and uproarious.
rrhn cheers which went no when Sec
,atorv Long and Gov. Wolcott took
tbeir places at the table was only a
foretaste of what was to come
rol Solier began the speaking with
tbeIess called out applause and con-
tained the first of the numerous kindly
,.aferences to Sherman Hoar that were
,.onoi, - with high favor by the lis
teners Whenever Mckinney, Long;
vaIcott the navy or any of the naval
heroes was mentioned, the people went
off their feet and into the ar
Gov Wolcott. whom Col. Sohier first
;ntrodueed was received with cheers,
ana his speech applauded with empha-
ais - he fold of what Massachusetts,
had done in the last six months me
povernor has improved lmmeasuraDiy
as an orator. His voice mas gained IN
sorority. his manner in ease ana grace
ana his diction in fluency and force.
H. wade fine speech. Especially
hannv was his praise of John u, Long,
and eloouent his tribute to the ll,0UO
MassachiIsetts men who went into the
war The applause which broke 1orth
when the governor closed lasted Tor
several minutes, and the people cheered
till he rose and bowed.
All other demonstrations were
eclipsed. however, when secretary LONE Ion
was introduced. The uproar fairly
shook the great nall. The storm OF
nlaldits rose and fell only to rise
again. Several times the secretary of
the navy opened his lips to speak, put
each time he was silenced by the cheers
from: the tables below. When at last
he was allowed to speak, ne was Wis
IDLY affected His hands tremoled ana
his voice was husky. Such mani
festation of popular gratitude, honor
and affection might well touch the
heart of any honest man. Its equal
has seldom been seen in Boston.
Deserving of this tribute as John ~.
Long was and is, by virtue OF MS pup