Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-10-28

With the music of the Fifty third in
fantry band to lend inspiration, with
flags flying and banners waving,
crowds pushing and showing In their
efforts to gain access to the speakers
stand, and the smell of deliciously
roasted OK permeating the air the
greatest political demonstration in the
Iowa campaign was held in this city
today.
Republicans, democrats. prohibition
lists and socialists Joined in making
one OF the most memorable days IN
the political campaign in the great
Hawkeye state. Hon. NJ. D. O'Connell,
solicitor of the United States treasury,
spoke for the republicans. beginning at
o'clock this afternoon. He was pre-
ceded by Hon. j. B. Sullivan. of Creston
candidate for gubernatorial honors at
the hands Of the democratic party. Hon.
Charles Scanlon of Minnesota, candi-
date for governor of the Gopher state
on the prohibition ticket two years ago,
held the attention of the prohibitionists
this forenoon, speaking at ii o'clock.
This evening. at the east court room,
Hon. Benjamin Hanford. of New York,
will discuss the political issues from
the standpoint of the socialists.
The crowds began arriving in the city
early, and from every part of the coun-
ty came wagon load after wagon load
and carriage after carriage. filled with
country folk anxious to participate III
the great gala day. Not all were at
tracted by the political speeches. blt
Instead wished to see the social side
of the day. the serving of barbecue by
the business men of Marshalltown. 1t
is estimated that not one tenth of the
crowd even tried to listen TO the speech
making. All who could got TO the booths
at the noon hour, and We're served with
roast OK, sandwiches, coffee dill pick
les and cookies. Many, not waiting to
be served, went to restaurants and eat
Ing houses, as did also Others who did
not care for barbecued meats. Six
thousand people were fed at the booths
on Church street. and nothing but the
bones of the big OK were left.
Vast Crowds Hear Speeches.
Despite the fact that many did not
make an attempt to hear the speech,
making. there were many others who
came to the city for the express pur-
pose Of hearing the representatives or
their party, and it was a scramble from
beginning to end to get within hearing
distance. The speakers platform was
erected south of the court house. and
altho the day was an ideal one for
out door speaking the wind was from
the wrong direction to carry the words
OF the speakers to the greatest num-
bers. Mr. Scanlon spoke too early In
the day to get the crowd that would
have otherwise been present. Mr. Sui
livan was greeted by a larger number
OF people, and the greatest number
heard Mr.. O'Connell, his audience al
most completely filling the entire south
side OF the court house square.
Nothing But Bones Remain.
Nothing but the bones of the pedi-
greed Shorthoin OK that was killed for
the big barbecue remain to tell the tale
of the feasting The animal weighed 500
pounds when placed in the big steel
oven Tuesday afternoon at o'clock
Cook William p. Gaffney, who was
secured to take charge Of the prepara-
tions when 1t was found by the COM
n1ittee that S. P. Kern. the cook who
had been contracted with to do the
work. was having little barbecue OF
his own and would likely not be in a
fit condition to superintend the work
Mr.. Gaffney secured trustworthy as
sistants and at midnight Tuesday found
his plans SO far progressed that the
parboiling stage had passed. A slow
fire was built under the oven, and at
the work of roasting began. At II
o'clock the animal was a delicious
brown. and all ready for serving,
which was begun at II.
Multitudes Throns the Booths.
1t was a sight good to look upon to
see the multitudes that swarmed about
the booths anxious to be served.
Church street was roped off between
First avenue and Center, and the four
big booths We're erected close to the
court house park curbing, in order to
be as handy to the crowds as possible.
From noon until L.: 80 the crowds show
ed no signs of diminishing, and all were
cared for until the supply was ex
hausted. Six thousand people were
fed, but from what remained there
could not be gathered the proverbial
twelve baskets. Twelve or fourteen
sandwiches were made out of each
pound of meat, each booth having been
furnished with a quarter of the OK.
Five hundred loaves of bread We're
purchased for the feast, each loaf max
ing about fourteen sandwiches. Two
hundred gallons of coffee We're served, |
sixteen cups to the gallon, and into the
coffee went $50 pounds of sugar. and
twenty gallons of cream. Four thou
sand dill pickles, most of which were
cut In two, were given away by young
ladies from the wagon of the Marshall
Vinegar & Pickle Works, presided over
by President w. w. Doolittle. Six
boxes Of cookies and gingersnaps,