Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-09-15
epeciaf to the Register.

Is EVANSVILLE, W. Va. September
1S.-The greatest political meeting ever
held In this county, or in this section of
the State, was the one at Sycamore
creek, half way between this place and
Arnoldsburg, on yesterday, when the
voters OF this county and large sections
OF Boone, Clay and Gilmer gathered to
enjoy an old fashioned barbecue and
to hear Hon. John II. Holt, Democ-
racy's gallant young standard bearer,
and others discuss the issues of the
day. AarIy in the afternoon OF the day
previous the people began to gather at
the meeting pace whole families
camping on the ground so as to be GER
tain or being present in ample time.
1here must cave been fully ffty camp
fires lighting up the little valley, east
ing their radiance tar up the h.llsid@s
as the night wore on, joining with the
rlddy glow from the barbecue pits
and making the scene cheerful and in
sI.silg in .ae extreme.
With the peep Of day Others began
to arrive, and by the time the middle
OF the forenoon had come the crowd
had grown away sseyoaa anything thu
had been anticipated, ana there WIS
scarcely enough level ground up and
aowa the creek to afford a resting place
for all who had assembled. 4 eoaser-
vative estimate placed the number
present at 1900, and the figure is PROP
ably below ratheF than above the az
duai attendance
or course these were not all voters,
for yne ladies and the children are tax
ing an interest in this campaign far
beyond that shown by them in any
previous political battle in this Stase,
and they
We're Present by the Hundreds
to show their appreciation OF the efforts
being made to preserve the government
OF the fathers to them and to IdCule
generations, and 10 cheer by their pres
ence and their words the men who are
struggling against such fearful odds for
tie rights OF the people. Ant what en-
thus8asm they displayed! The men
were more than ordinarily enthusiasts
tic, the children exceeded the men in
the show OF spirit, &nd the women went
away beyond besh in its display. Every
telling point made by the speakers was
appIaaaed 20 the ecno, men, women ami
children taking part in the demonstra-
ton until the mis- resounded WIFI the
acclaim OF thousands.
The meeting WAS presided over by
lion. A. P. Mathews, who was cali
>..Gate before the Democratic primaries
for prosecuting attorney. He made an
enthusiastic talk for the ticket from
top to bottom, calling upon all loyal
Democrats TO give it their best support,
declarlng that this was no time to suik
on account OF local discussions or per-
sonal disappointpents
Hon. John NJ. Hamilton.
chairman of the county executive COM
miItee, ana candidate for eleetor from
the Fourth district, made a rousing
talk, in which he dwelt largely upon
county politics and urged ais hearers
to do all ,shey could to elect the entire
county ticket. He was followed by
Warren Hays and j. w. c. Armstrong,
each OF whom made strong speech or
a few minutes, after which adjournment
was taken for dinner.
Three oxen had been slaughtered and
barbecled for the occasion, and IN an
hour net a pfece or the hesh Was Ieit,
and It was said that a large part OF an
other carcass would have been safety
slowed away had 1t been available.
When the inner man had been thor
0ughly refreshed the multitude return
ed to the place OF speaking and Judge
Holt was introduced. He was greeted
with uproarious applause and tmmedi-
ateiy launched out into the discussion
Of the issues of the campaign. He took
up Imperialism first, showing in his
usual powerful and lucid manner the
danger that turks in ENGRAVING it upon
our system OF government. He told
how militarism works to the enslaye-
merit of people, and besougl.~ his
bearers to do all that in them lay
to avert the power which threatens to
overthrow their country and render
nugatory all that the fathers accom-
plished at the cost of so much blood
and treasure.
Taking Up State Matters
he scathingly arraigned the Republican
party for its extravaganza, its usurpa-
ton of power not given it by the con-