Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-10-19

Teddy" Roosevelt gave his great
show at the Fair Grounds yesterday
afternoon. The Republican managers
many weeks ago determined to make
the day the biggest in the campaign
from their standpoint. Never before
was 1T considered necessary to resort to
such extraordinary methods to get a
crowd. The meeting and the parade
cost pretty penny, and must have left
good sized hole in the campaign slush
fund
The dear public, and the plethoric
pursed candidate were required to con-
tribute their share. The first demand
came in the shape of opportunities to
buy tickets-the plural is used advis-
edly-for the recent field day Lethar-
uniforms by the promise that they
would he furnished gratis. The promise
was paid out of the field day receipts.
Then business men, irrespective of par
| ty, were askeu to contribute toward
feeding the visiting marching clubs,
| whose reluctance to accept invitations
presumably vanished upon assurances
of free fares and free food. To further
induce strangers to come, there was
| wholesale distribution of railroad
tickets, which were to be had even with
out the asking.
IT is said that 300 tickets were given
away at Warrington and 700 at Fair
mont. Certain it is that many of
them fell into Democratic hands, and
Democrats came in to see the show and
incidentally to do their shopping. 1t is
said that the gratuitous distribution of
tickets was made at Panhandle sta
tions, and also upon other roads. Then,
lest some unfortunate individual might
not he around when the tickets were be-
ing given out, the railroads made ex-
ceptionally low excursion rates. The
attitude of the railroads was very
friendly, and it was matter Of general
comment yesterday that they were the
reverse when an effort was made to get
special rates for the William ]. Bryan
meeting.
The paramount issue with the local
bosses was the crowd, and they deter
mined to get 'er b. gosh,' If they had
to levy another assessment upon candi-
dates 1t. was even stated upon good
authority that they opened the doors
Of the county jail to swell the crowd
OF marchers. A man who is serving a
sentence is said to have been allowed
a brief liberty to wear khaki uni
form.
In spite of these, most remarkable
efforts, the Roosevelt demonstration
did not approach in numbers or enthu-
siasm, either the meeting addressed by
Mr. Bryan on the fair grounds in 1896,
or his meeting at the public landing
few weeks ago. There was big crowd
Oll tu6 ST. cctS ldOi AlSAis anu S1SiS
was a very pronounced preponderance
of Bryanites, if the sentiment of the
throng could be guaged by badges and
cheers.
Notwithstanding the large attendance
of visiting clubs, there was a great deal
OF dissatisfaction. 1t was openly ex-
pressed by the Pennsylvania contingent
by whom it was claimed that they
were led to believe, if not by express
statement lat least by inference, that
they would see Roosevelt. When their
special returned after midnight, there
were many mutterings of discomfort.
Governor Roosevelt's speech was COM
posed largely of high sounding plati-
tudes. He used nice sounding
phrases, which appeared to tickle his
Republican auditors, but his address
was utterly devoid of argument.