Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-08-28
NO VOTE CETTER.
Much Heralded Mass Meeting Of
Clement Followers at
Rutland.
FREE LUNCH DREW H0BOS
Whole Programme Fell Flat from Po-
litical standpoint-A Disgraceful
Attempt to Destr OF Republican:
Banner-smail Boys In Pro-
cession.

Rutland, Aug. A-Clements much ad-
vertised rally which his posters announced
in glaring colors would be the greatest
meeting ever held in Vermont was held
at the fair grounds in this city saturday
and must have been keen disappoin- ment
to him and his friends. Not more than
$500 people, two-ffths of whom we're
women and children. were assembled at
the fair grounds in the after
noon to hear the speaking. Glenn
ents reception was decidedly cool and
the other speakers Jared no better.
But If the voters about the county did
not turn out was expected the hobos
did. There were triNnps from everywhere,
of all descriptions and in every variety
of costume but with great similarity of
appetite. The ate their fill of Clements
free lunch provided at the ground at 6
o clock and they at least were satisfied.
In the evening came the torchlight pro-
cession There were not over TOO people
In line, including the six bands, of whom
not more than 400 were voters. The small
boys were much in evidence in the line
with torches and fish horns. The entire
procession did not extend much over a
block of the business section in length
and had no order a bout it. Decorations and
Examinations were conspicuous by their
absence on the principal streets of the
town.
There was big crowd at the fair
which were as good any ever seen in
this city and the one successful feature of
the programme.
There was no political meeting or dem
onstration at that time. In fact the whole
programme from a political STANDPOINT fell
Hat AS a basket picnic and excursion it
was measurably successful. Those fea-
lures which drew the crowd We're not in
any sense political
LABOR ELEMENT LACKING
Rutland has over 800 voters who belong
to the various labor organizations. Ii a.
large majority of these men are for Glenn
ent. AS he claims, it would seem that they
would have been more in evidence at the
fair 81 ounds and in the parade. As it was
the voters from the city of Rutland in
Clements parade hardly numbered 2p,
since at least POO of the torch bearers old
enough to vote came from towns about the
county.
| A disgraceful incident occurred as the
parade passed under the republican ban
ner on Centre street. This banner con-
sists of United States flag with the names
Of the republican nominees for governor
and lieutenant governor attached and
hangs quite low over the street. AS the
parade passed under this several of the
marchers attempted to set it on fire with
their torches and would have succeeded
but for the dampness OF the flag and the
Interference of the police. who used their
clubs with effect.
| AS a demonstration Of strength Clement 6
monster meet was a tiZ1le. There are
nearly 0,N0people in Rutland county and
an event of any consequence in Rutland
always draws a big crowd. The crowd
Saturday. however, was much smaller
than the one on the streets at any of the
circuses this summer. The celebration was
hardly a vote getter. The indications
seem to point unmistakable to the waning
cl Clements strength here DIS elsewhere.