The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-07-28
TRY THE PICNIC METHOD.

TRY THE PICNIC METHOD.
The meeting which was held in
Walden short time ago for the pur-
pose of allowing the friends of the
Republican candidates to congratulate
them on their nomination and to rouse
enthusiasm by the words of various
prominent speakers was great sue
cess according to all reports. The
people from all around in that section
gathered at the appointed meeting
place. They carried their lunch and
made picnic of the affair. The free
and easy ways of the picnic ground
made everybody have a good time,
and the speeches were lively and
vigorous just suited for the occasion
They drove home to the voters who
heard them the good old Republican
doctrines that have been known tor
many years, showed how they were
not yet out Of date, explained the
newer doctrines and the reasons for
their existence, and did it all in
way that at once amused and con-
WINGED. s s.,..,, a. u sznas
Would it not be we'll to try the pic
mic idea in the campaign this year to
a considerable extent? 1t seems that
in no other way could so large pro-
portion of the voters be brought with
in the influence of the platform speak
ers and the Republican leaders. 1t is
easier for the voters from the farms to
get out in the day time and drive
long distance to such gathering than
it to do the same at night. Every
farmer will be glad to knock off one
day to go with his neighbors Tor an
outing, especially when he can be as
sured that he will hear the leaders Of
his party speak. He can take in the
picnic, have good time, soak in
some good Republican ideas, and re-
turn home in season to do the chores
and 90 to bed at an hour that will
not make the labors of the next day
burdensome.
There are several advantages which
the picnic method Of stimulating en-
thuslasm has over the ordinary rally.
The opportunity for the people to talk
and enjoy themselves at will except
during the speeches is good thing.
The chance to talk it over is worth
considerable. Then where great
picnic is arranged for and the people
from large section meet together in
one place it is possible to have the
more notable speakers. They can not
attend every small rally, but at these
large gatherings they could readily be
brought together.
/ It is recorded that in the year 1874
grand picnic rally of the Wing party
! was held in Windham county on the
( top of what is known as Stratton
mountain. People flocked to the ap-
pointed meeting place by thousands
and the mountain top was black with
them. Daniel Webster was the chief
orator of the occasion, and his elo-
|
bound for nearly two hours. Such
are the rallys that count for some-
thing.
At the present day various schemes
are used for stimulating enthusiasm,
for rousing the voters to sense OF
their obligations to vote, for satisfy
ing the dissatisfied, and for convin-
cling the doubters. In some sections
the clam bake is resorted to. Almost
every day now in the New York
papers is reported the annual outing
of some political organization of the
city or the suburbs. There is no cere'
mony about clam bake. No more il
there about picnic. That is one
great reason why both are efficient
means of strengthening party fences
and adding to the party vote.
Those who are to have charge OF
the campaign in this State will dc
we'll it they consider the picnic plar
of political meetings and give it &
good trial. OF course it is not adapted
to all localities and the meeting places
must be chosen with due care. Cen
trail locations should be picked, where
the voters and their families can q
without too much trouble. Thel
speakers should be arranged for who's
names would be drawing cards ant
everybody should be urged to go in TO
good time. The speakers will d.
their part to help on the good feeling
1t will make votes and bring out voter
from the hills and remote places
votes that. have not been counted TO
many years
ENGLAND'S DANDER UP.