Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-11-01
DEMOCRATIC RALLY.

There was large con course of people
at the Opera House last night to hear
the speakers who had been announ ced
to appear. Many ladies were in the
galleries. Pistorio's Band discoursed
enlivening music during the evening,
and the best of order was observed.
The speakers and the gentlemen who
accompanied them entered the hall
shortly after eight o'clock and took seats
on the stage amid considerable applause,
and after enlivening airs from the band,
Mr.. Charles Bendheim, chairman of the
city democratic committee, advanced
and announced the purpose of the
meeting. In doing so he referred 10 an
earnest manner to the issues that cou-
front the country. Mr.. Bendheim subse-
quently announced the following vice
presidents all OF whom were seated on
the stage: Mayor Paff, Mr.. James R.
Cation, Capt. K Kemper, City Attorney
Gardner L. Boothe, Mr. Luther II.
Thompson, Mr.. R. I. Cook, Mr.. John
A. Marshall, Police Commissioner
Thomas A. Fisher, County Clerk George
II. Rucker, Councilman Frank G.
Spinks, State Senator l.. II. Machen,
Councilman Hubert SnOwden, Police
Justice II. b. Cation, Mr.. George Hidden,
and Councilmen Charles B. Marshall
and Julian Y. Williams. The repre-
sentatives OF the press were named as
secretaries. The chairman announced
Mr.. @. G. Carlin, democratic elsctor of
the 9Th district, as the first speaker, and
In doing so he said he referred to HIM as
the pride and promise OF Alexandria,
a young man who has won his spurs by
stern and steadfast determination, and
who carries with him the best wishes OF
all who admire pluck and courage Mr..
Carlin advanced amid much applause, and
after some preliminary remarks mingled
with humor and pathos, the speaker in
a torcibIe and interesting manner por-
trayed the claims of the democratic
party during the present epoch OF the
country's history, in which he contrasted
democratic regimes Of conservatism and
safety to the recklessness OF the present
administration. He took the republican
claims and successfully exposed each,
holding them up to the ridicule of his
hearers. The speaker chased away the
prosperity" spook by calling the at
lention of laboring men to the fact that
Alexandra is now surrounded on the
north and west by Italians and Sici-
lians who cannot speak word of Eng
lish and we're taking the places of
American workingmen. Mr.. Carlin
then went into an examination OF the
present in iniquitous tariff system, and
painted its unjustness so plain that
none could fail to understand,
The present increased cost OF living, an
other fruit of Rooseyeltism, was referred
to, and the speaker proved beyond con.
tradictiOn that this state of affairs WAS
superinduced by the fostering care Of
trusts by the republican party. During
Mr.. Carlin's speech he mentioned the
name of Mr.. William J. Bryan and his
earnest work in the cause of democracy
which brought forth tumultuous and con-
tiuued applause. The speaker closed
with expressions of faith in the ultimate
success of the Parker and Davis ticket.
He took his seat amid much applause,
and after the band had discoursed more
music, Mr.. Bendheim again advanced
and announced that Hon. John F,
Rixey would be the next speaker. Mr.,
Rixey was given the hearty reception
which is ever accorded him in appear
auces in Alexandra, When the applause
had ceased the speaker began his address
by referring to the fact that Alexandria
was now forging ahead fast, and that
there was every reason to believe that
it would eventually become wholesale
centre for this portion of the country.
He said he took an honest pride in the
interest of the city and recounted his ex-
perience in furthering the movement for
the enlarged government building in
Alexandra and in procuring the addition
al appropriation for completing the same.
He also referred TO the efforts which have
been made f[om time to time to deepen
and widen the channel of the Potomac
river in order to enhance the CONNER
cial interests of Alexandria. The speak
er subsequently took up national issues
and handled them in mastery manner.
He coDtrssted the expenses OF the federal
government of today to those of few
years ago when Mr.. Rixey FIRST entered
Congress. The cost TO keep up the present
military systems and the increased pen
sion rolls amounted 10 $3.50, 600, 900 a
year-about one-half OF the sum annual
ly collected from the taxpayers of the
country. Instead OF appropriatiDg some
of this huge sum for Internal i'm
it has to go 10 keep up
militarism and naval displays. Mr..
Rixey then spoke of the oft-repeated
statement to the effect that the United
States had become a world power, and
said foreign nations had no more re-
spect for the country now than during
its infancy, and referred to the fact that
the thirteen colonies defed England in
l776, and again in 1872, aud during
Grover Cleveland administration, when
the navy was inferior to that of today,
had been warned to keep her
hands off Venezuela and had acted ac-
cordingly. Mr.. Rxey then in graphic
manner gave resume of the Panama
incident and the inglorious part played
by the United States in the unjust treat
ment of Colombia, which had been rob-