Willmar tribune., 1900-11-02

Did the populists rally last night?
Well, we should most emphatically
say they did. OF course, we had pop
ulist weather. That is needed to show
the enthusiasm of our people. The
republicans can do fairly we'll in nice
weather, but few raindrops uampen
their ardorI completely. But Jupiter
Pluvius is powerless before genuine
populistic enthusiasm. The crowd was
simply immense.
Governor Lind arrived on the Sioux
Falls train and was met at the depot
by vast crowd. The Svea band fur
nished music for the occasion, and a
salute of one hundred guns was fired.
Later in the afternoon reception wss
held in Bonde hall, where a large
number of people shook hands with
the governor.
The way-freight from the east
brought in a delegation from Litch-
field, Grove City, Atwater, and Kan
diyohi. They brought with them the
splendid Litchleld band, which after
wards led the parade and delighted
the audience at the opera house. The
freight from the west did not come in
until the parade had started, and only
a few of them joined the line. AL
though these delegations numbered
nearly 300, they disappeared like a
drop in the vast ocean of humanity on
our streets.
When the time for the parade came
the streets were one mass of people.
We were swamped, that is the long
and short of it. The 250 torches were
grabbed in minute. Four times that
number needed. Five hundred flags
we're caught up in few moments, and
then the demand was not half sup
piled. Many fell into line without
either torches or flags, but the greater
part of the disappointed ones hastened
to the opera house to be on hand
when the doors opened. When the
parade was lined up the ranks were
opened and carriage conta ming
Uncle Sam and Columbia drove
through to the head of the procession.
This was followed by the governors
carriage, and as Lind passed through
the lines he was greeted with deafen-
ing cheers.
The procession was the longest and
most enthusiastic one ever seen in
Willmar. It was one vast river of fire
and flags sweeping through the streets.
Greek fire Illuminated d the line of
march. Four bands discour sed music
at different points in the parade. 1t
was an inspiring sight to the reform
forces and one that struck terror to
the hearts of the republican Office
seekers and shOuters. They were
simply dumbfounded.
At the opera house men had been
stati oned to reserve places for the
marchers, but when the doors were
opened the guards were swept off their
feet and carried forward with the
crowd. They were powerless before
that resistless human tidal wave. The
committee regret very much that they
were unable to keep their promise to
the marchers, but they had not counted
on any such deluge as that. With the
weather we had and the condition OF
the roads, they figured that they would
be fortunate if they could comfortably
fill the two halls. AS it was, only a
small part of the crowd could get in
at either place. Preparations had
been made to have an open-air meet
ing in case of fine weather, but it was
given up in the afternoon because il
was figured that the threatening
weather would keep the crowd away.
When it was seen that the crowd could
not get into the halls, word was sent
to one of the speakers to address the
people in the street, but just then the
rain began to pour down and the plan
had to be abandoned. Fl. a,..
Governor Lind made short ad.
dress at the Bonde hall, and was
given an ovation which showed that
the scurrilous attacks on him had not
diminished his popula, ity with the
voters in this county. He then pro
ceeded to the opera house. where he
was given the most enthusiastic recep.
tion ever given 9 public man. Al
though his vocal organs were badly
affected BY his long speaking tour, he
spoke for about an hour, and dis
cussed the issues as only ] ohm Lind