Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-11-06
FIREWORKS AND FUN
Rock Island Republicans Enter
tain PopuIace With a CAM
paign Closer.
ALL FAITHFUL GIT IN LINE
Young Democracy Joinsin Noise
Making and Shouts
for Bryan.

Local republicans blew in what
money was left in the campaign rund
for fireworks last night. 1t was the
final rally of the campaign and was
called sound money and pros
perity demonstration. Considering
that the leaders had been work
ing for weeks on the arrange
ments, seeking the cooperation of
every employer of labor in the city,
as we'll AS those in the surrounding
towns, it was rather weak affair.
A pretty night and the announcement
| that the republicans were going to
set the town on fire attracted an un-
usually large number OF people to the
business district. Even young dem
ocracy organized with bass drum and
paper horns-they could not get tin
horns, because the supply was bought
up carly in the day by the republicans
and tramped through the streets
shouting for the peoples leader,
w. j. Bryan. 1t was just 9 O'Clock
when Christian Ferdinand Gaet-
| jer's stunning form astIide a snort
ing steed hove into Second ave-
nue. from the east. Attired in
rough rider suit, head high in
air, and moustache in special curl,
Col. GaetJer pushed Roosevelt clear
off the board. Col. Gaetjer bowed
Acknowledgements for the applause
the marchers received. He was the
whole works. The marchers made
neat appearance as they moved down
Second avenue, liberal use of red
| fire covering the rough spots and ma
/ teriallv helping out the picture. IT e
parade had completed its uptown cir
cult and was then bound down town.
Altogether it was an orderly and
good natured affair, despite the fact
that antics were INDUCED in that
might have precipitated trouble. In
several instances it is claimed missiles
were thrown-and even the proverbial
hen fruit was brought into Play-but
as far as known no one was hurt.
The Union attempts to lay at the door
of crowd of Bryan boys alleged i'll
treatment of a delegation of Milan girls
who were waiting in Market square
| for a car for home, after having taken
part in the procession. The boys
during the evening were indulging in
harmless amusement--theyw were en-
joying themselves as boys will, shout
ing and running and pushing, form
ing a circle around little squads of
people known to be republicans and
razooing them. These boys had paper
megaphones-ands surely intended no
harm to anyone-and if some rowdy
or rowdies were rough in their con-
duct toward the campaign girls they
deserved to be roughly dealt with, but
the entire crowd of Bryan boys should
not be condemned for it.
Cards bearing the inscription "Mc-
Kinley was right" were distributed
about the streets. Many of the dem
ocrats into whose hands the card fell
tied it on to their coats and pinned be-
low it another card with the word
nit in large letters.
MIR. johnson Is Turned Loose.
During the parade Representative
G. W. Johnson, of Moline, grew elo-
quently enthusiastic and made some
rash republican claims that attracted
the attention of democrats, who
proceeded to accommodate him. Mr..
johnson was called on a 500 wager
that Mckinley would get more
electoral votes than he did in 1896
He didn't have the money and threw
his arms around G. II. ID ere and pull
ing him into the Harper from the pass
ing throng and induced him to loan |
the necessary amount. Mr.. Deere was |
called upon several more times as the |
evening wore away to cover similar |
wagers made by democrats on the
com bination order, and he finally |
asked, in dismay, who had gotten him
into such a predicament. Whether
Mr.. Deere's last nights visit was
profitable remains for the votes to |
tell.