The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-28
TORCHES AND MUSIC
MARKED THE LINE OF PARADE OF
THE UNION CLUB.
FROM STAGE TO DOME.
ITS COHORTS FILLED THE THEA
TER AT TIE FINAL RALLY. q

and Enthus iasm-CrOwds Cheered
the Candidates and the Speakers.
Walter c. Hartridge the FavOrite
in the DemOnstratiOns-Spe
Criticized Citizens Climb and Cheer
ed the Voters of Their own Fac
tiOn-Mnny Floats in the Process
siOn-One Said 10 Have Been
Wrecked by Citizen Sympathizers.
The final rally of the Union Club
before the county primary was held in
the theater last night, after a street
parade several blocks long, and made
up of the voters from the various dis
tricts, headed by bands and bearing
torches, colored lights and floats.
The parade ended at the theater,
where the faithful crowded in to join
those already there. Cautious men,
who, anticipating the crush that was
to come, had cut the procession in or
der to get good seats. Their prudence
was we'll founded, for the crowd that
entered the theater even before the
meeting began, packed not only the
auditorium, where every seat, the
boxes and window sills were filled, but
lined the walls the whole way around
and crowded the lobby, the entrance
way and even the steps. and this in ad-
ditiCn to the galleries.
So many people were unable to get
in the theater that Messrs. Gordon
Saussy and w. S. Coburn were detail
ed to address the overflow. Speaking,
after the meeting. of the size of the
crowd. the officers of the club said
they were satisfied with the showing.
Some of them admitted that it was
larger even than they had anticipated.
The size of the crowd was subject of
comment, and it seemed to add to the
confidence of the club leaders.
The Parade and Floats.
The parade attracted crowds of spec
tators, who thronged the streets and
gathered in force in Chippewa Square,
Madison Square and along Bull
street. The floats attracted much
attention one in particular. be-
cause it had been all but
wrecked on East Gwinnett street. 1t
was claimed by Citizen Club
sympathizers. They left moth
ing but the frame work, but
this was carried, nevertheless,
during the entire parade.
1t was stated at the meeting that the
men who damaged the sign, and who
are known members of the opposing
faction, may be proceeded against to-
day by the officers of the clbu.
Some of the floats were decidedly per-
sonal in their sentiment, especially so
a large one mounted on a. wagon and
bearing the following question and re-
ply: Where was his Honor when the
light went out? Down at Garfunkels
cutting collars" OF like nature was
another purporting to be a family tree
of men occupying public office. On one
side was one devoted to the members
OF Mr.. w. w. Osborne's family, and on
the other a like reference TO that of
Mr.. James McBrides family.
"Why have they shelved the fixer?"
was the motion on another float, and
you can read the handwriting on the
wall" BILLY pulls the string his hon
or does the rest" IF you value life
ard property turn out this administra-
ton" Turn the rascals out" were
a few of the others The men ia
to get marchers out. Even the
Eightht Militia District was represented
by a body of about thirty Pooleritas
in charge of Secretary D. l.. Christian
The Southsiders in charge of Mr.. Chas
Seller did not enter the torchlight
parade but marched direct to the
theatre
Wanted Hartridge.
In the theater the crowd Immediately
began to call for speakers. Walter
c. Hartridge was vocferously cheered
from the time he entered, and his ad-
mirers kept continual call for him
after the efforts of the other speakers,
until finally they were gratifed by
a talk in which his caustic criticism
of the administration, and of some of
the nominees on the Citizens ticket,
drew prolonged applause and laughter.
Beside the part of the crowd which
had overtiowed to the wings OF the
stage, there were on the platform Mr.
Walter P. LaRoche, chairman; Mr.. D.
L. Christian, secretary, and MesSrs
T. H Mcmillan, c. Fl. Carson. John
r. Dillon, Arthur L. Well L. c. Blasa
D. T. Elliott, r. j. Travis Anton p
Wright, c. V. Hohenstein, r. M Les
ter, Edwin NJ. Frank. Hugo l. Frank
w. S. Coburn Gordon Saussy, c. A.
Vetter. Charles Seller, and George M
Petronovitch. Messrs. B. Dub and J.
Cohen occupied a box with a number of
other auditors while in the audience
was numbers of the district leaders
The audience was seated before some
of the candidates came on the stage
but as each one made his appearance
there was roar of applause, especially
In the case of Capt. Dillon and Mr..
Carson. and cheers greeted them again
whenever their names were mentioned
during the speaking.
The bands played Dixie" 'TIan to
the Chief. Star Spangled Banner
and other patriotic and spirited aiys.
after each address, but at times tie
music was drowned by the hoarse
shouts of approval when the speakers
sentiments had chimed with those of
the crowd and this was always the
case
President LaROche's Speech.
The opening speech was made Nv
Mr.. LaROche. Fellow citizens" he
said, you are approaching one of the
most important elections ever held in
Chatham county. The manhood and
intelligence of this community are
about to wrestle with the spoilers who
have brought corruptions into it. 1t
will depend on the intelligent work
the sturdy manhood and the courage
of you voters as to whether you win
or not
"As Mr.. Osborne said at the last at
tempted rally of the opposition, the
campaign prevaricator has begun to
get in his work. While l lay on my
back sick it was said that w. p. La
Roche had gone back on the Union
Club. / take this opportunity to refute
that statement The welfare of