Gilpin observer., 1904-10-27
THE REPUB-
LECAN RALLY.
A Chilly Meeting and No
body Hurt.

Gay evening by George 4. Stemen, Hal
stead L. Ritter, Willis V. Elliott and
Joseph S. Jaffa, who call themselves the
"big four" also a quartette OF colored
singers. The meeting was rank fiasco.
1t was fairly well attended, the majority
Of the audience being composed of Dem
ocrats who had gathered mostly to he, r
the negroes sing.
The first speaker to address the assem-
blage was George Stetnen. He discours
ed at length upon national issues and for
while it seemed as though he would
not divert from that subject and dwell
upon the issues Of the state campaign.
But unfortunately for him he COM
menced to laud Peabody and his admin
istration and then was when the fun
commenced. He started out by saying
there are some Democrats and few
Republicans who are foolish enough to
think that Alva Adams will be the next
governor" Upon hearing Adams name
the audience was in an uproar and the
app ause was long and deafening. Up
until this time there hadn't been an ut
terance made by the speaker applauded,
although he had spoken for some little
time. Such an outburst of enthusiasm
upon the mentioning of Adams name
caused the four spellbinders to shiver
and shake their heads. They were Ger.
tainly up against it and it WI
made clear to them that they could do
Peabody no good in this neck of the
woods County Chairman Matthews
was seated in a prominent position on
the stage and it was evident from his
actions that the ovation paid Alva
Adams was very humiliating to himself
as well as the four speakers. Stemen
hurredly tinished the remainder of Lis
speech and Willis +. Elliott was then in
troduced.
1t was plainly seen by the opening re-
marks made by Elliott that he was very
much displeased with the chilly atmo-
sphere OF the meeting. He commenced
by praising Peabody to disgusting ex-
tent and vehemently denouncing Alva
Adams and everybody affiliated with the
Democratic party. He attempted to
roast the audience for demonstrating the
fact that they intended to vote for
Adams and became very personal in b s
remarks. Several times he referred to
those seated in the rear part OF the
house as roudies because their political
views did not coincide with his, and be.
on ba
louder when Adams name was spoken,
perhaps, than in any other. He rsrea:-
edly spoke Of those seated on the back
row as anarchists, notwithstanding the
fact that grouped among those disgrace
fully alluded to were several prominent
people, such as Reverend Father De.
saulniers, few highly respectable min
ing men and number Of representative
citizens. In speaking Of the Italians he
took special delight in CHASING them as
"dagoes" a term the natives OF Italy
could well take otfense at. He paraded
the fact that during the recent labor
trouble he had served in the capacity OF
what he claimed "tin soldier" and ap-
peared proud to be able to make the
statement. Elliott was very sarcastic
and slurring throughout his address; did
his cause more harm than good and as
sisted the Democratic party materially.
Halstead l.. Ritter was the next of the
four to make his appearance before the
few that remained, the Test of the audi.
ence becoming tired OF the political bun.
KUN that was being dished out left with
smile OF disgust on their countenances.
He was dry talker and during his dis.
course many more retired. He discussed
state issues altogether and told false
hoods about the laboring class so rapidly
it was impossible to absorb all he had to
say. He spoke only comparatively
short time and his listeners were not
displeased because he didn't talk longer
Joseph f. Jaffa was not introduced as
there were only few people left to hear
him and those doubtless would have left
had he been presented.
The negro quartette with their
stringed instruments and singing made
hit and received most OF the applause
The audience would not have remained
as lorg as IL did had it not been for
the entertainment provided by the
colored people. The rally as campaign
opener was farce and did not make the
Republican chances OF victory look very
promising for next month, for neither