St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1904-07-13
The WELCOME AT The BELFRY.
Republicans of Both Sexes Present their Greetings
to Candidates Bell and Stearns.-Felicitous
Speeches by Distinguished Vermonters.

SPeeChSS 0S AAosAA
Friday was red letter day for the hill
town of Walden and and one long to be
remembered in the history of the republi-
can party. After Charles ]. Bell was
nominated at Montpelier. George T.
Howard Of Craftsbury. a member of the
republican state committee, suggested
that it would be an excellent idea to
have a rousing ratification meeting at
the "Belfry" and meet and greet the can-
didates. Word was passed around the
state by the press and by telephone and
last Friday nearly 5000 people gathered
at the ''Belfry" at the largest picnic ever
held in the state. The extra train from
St. Johnsbury brought 313 people, 16s
tickets being sold from St. Johnsbury
alone. The train from the west brought
400 and 1000 more came from the sur
rounding towns in coaches, automobiles,
hay racks, carriages. and on foot. The
day was as rare as a day in June and the
heat was tempered by cool breeze. At
each end of the highway evergreen arches
were erected bearing the word welcome,
which was significant of the reception
that awaited the guests. The house was
beautifully trimmed with flags and bunt-
ing, while large flags at the edge of the
sugar orchard opposite. foated gaily in
the breeze. Most of the crowd arrived
by 12 O'Clock and the first business of the
day was to dispose of the picnic dinner
which each one brought. The dis
tinguished visitors were bounteously en-
tertained at large table spread under
the trees near the house, while huge
sap holder was kept filled with lemonade
for the refreshment of all.
At 1.3O Lawyer w. A. Dutton of Hard
wick announced that the post-prandial
exercises would begin and the vast audi
ence took seats in front of the platform
erected for the speakers. On the plat
form besides the speakers were the fol-
lowing distinguished Vermonters: ex-
Gov. U. A. Woodbury., Collector H. M.
Mansur, Collector Olin Merrill, Gen. F.
6. Butterfeld, ]. K. Curtis of Georgia.
II. N. Turner, George T. Howard, Prot.
T. L. Hills, while Interstate Commerce
Commissioner Prouty and Judge Henry
c. Bates were in the audience.
Senator Proctor was the first speaker
and began by addressing his remarks to
"Fellow republicans of both sexes" He
said the reason we had received no news
from st. Louis today was because the
convention was waiting to hear the re-
suit of this gathering. Vermont has been
the truest barometer of the action of the
nation in presidential election, and
whenever her majority has been less than
20 900 the democrats have won. This
year we have more than the ordinary
labor before us. The democratic party
is united and we must make the majority
10000 for Bell and Stearns. You have
nominated the two s'Charlies." One re-
presents agriculture; the other naanufac-
lures. If I was a poker player should
say it was good pair to draw to.
Mr. Dutton replied very happily that,
while be knew thing about the national
game, he thought he had good pack to
draw from on the platform, and then in
troduced Senator Dillingham;.
The junior senator said this enthusias-
tic audience bespoke a great victory in
September, and then gave in ten minutes
the hest political speech of the day. He
briefly reviewed the history of the repub-
lican party, saying that it stood for the
protection of our industries and the pro-
lection of every race and every kin. The
American people are sensible people,
and we can go before the country on our
record, because our record has been so
consistent. The democratic party can
not be trusted.
Congressman Haskins followed and
spoke of the strength of a two-fold, three
fold and four-fold cord. Between our
friend and ourselves the four-fold cord
exists-the tie of the republican party,
the tie of comradeship in the civil war,
the social tie and the fraternal tie. He
wanted to see the largest republican ma
jority ever given in Vermont.
Senator Henry W. Hill of Buffalo, a
native of Grand Isle county, said be was
glad to address an audience in the ban
ner republican state in the Union. He
the crest of the farms in Caledonia
county and selecting for their standard
bearer the leading agriculturist of this
state and nation. Senator Hill told a
few good stories and closed short ad-
dress with an apt quotation from Scott
on Caledonia.
Congressman Foster opened his ad
dress with a tribute to the women and
said it did not matter whether their hus-
bands were democrats or not the ladies
were all for Roosevelt. Also every wo-
man in Vermont was Charlie Bell and
Charlie Stearns woman. He spoke of
the distinguished record of the .repub
lican party and then gave brief roll
call of the distinguished Vermonters
who had represented the state in Con-
gress and in the governors chair.
c. w. Scarf, of Burlington recited an
original poem after which Hon. Charles