The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-03-02
GREAT CONC0URSE OF
PEOPLE GREET D|NN|E
Hundreds Of Voters Garry Torches and Hundreds Of People ron Around
Station and Block The Streets Biggest Ovation Given Exmayor
Last Evening on His Return From The West Ever
Given Grand Forks Man

Seldom, if ever, in the short span of
a human life, is man afforded the
welcome to his home, which was ac-
corded ex-Mayor John Dinnie by the
people of Grand Forks last evening on
his arrival from California. 1t was ex-
pected that there would be large
number of people at the Great North
ern station when the Oriental Linn
tied" rolled in. but no one was prepar-
ed for the immense crowd which filled
the station waiting rooms, the entire
platform and blocked DeMers avenue
beyond the Griggs house. While the
train was some 20 minutes late, the
| enthusiastic friends of Mr.. Dinnie did
not allow their ardor to become chilled
and patiently waited in the chilly
blasts of most disagreeable evening.
hundreds of voters wer elm line with
torches, and scores of others could not
carry them for the simple reason that
there were no more torches to be car
ried. The lowest estimate made of the
crowd by anyone with thetsemblance
of a fair mind was 1000, and it ranged
from that up to 5000. A number IF
travelling men who arrived on the
limited went up to the .Dacotah with
the line of march, placed the crowd at
25O0 1t is probable that this estimate
by disinterested parties, is not far
from the truth. When the cold, stormy
evening is taken into consideration,
the fact that Mr.. Dinnies arrival was
uncertain, having been guessed at SO
many times, the lack of any especial
effort or advertising on the part of the
republican organization, the gathering
last evening and manifest enthusiasm,
should make John Dinnie feel that the
| people of Grand Forks have a most
tender regard for him.
Met BY COMMITTEES.
Yesterday afternoon Max Rabont-
witch met Mr.. Dinnie and his party
at Moorhead and acquainted them with
the big demonstration which was to ;,e
given them on their arrival in Grand
Forks. The other two members of the
committee on reception, E. M. Smell
and James Dinnie, met the party at
| the junction. AS the train backed into
the station Mr.. Dinnie was on the
| platform, and as the car plowed lis
| way through hundreds of his friends
and fellow tOwnsmen, he was fairly
overcome and Yves scarcely able to
control himself. AS the train came to
a stand, hundreds of people surged
about the car and 1t was with difficulty
that Mr.. Dinnie made his way through
the surging, cheering crowd. He was
taken to position in the rear of the
Grand Forks band and the big crowd
took up the line Of march up DeMers
avenue. When the head of the line OF
march swung into Third street, the
crowd had not all left the station yet
and the intervening street was one
surging mass of men, women and boys
who filled it from property line 20
property line. No Grand Forks citizen
was ever accorded such a welcome un.
der weather conditions SO unfavorabl.,.
One thing eminently noticeable
about the line of march was that the
torches were carried by substantial
men of the common people. There
were not many dudes nor Goldfish aris-
tocrats in the line, but just plain bust
ness and professional men and work
ing people. The substantial business
men who have made Grand Forks and
the men who toll with their hands
were in line, all men who stand for the
best interests of the city were repre-
scented there. The common people
were the most enthusiastic and the
demonstration revealed most plainly
that Jack" Dinnie is more in favor
with the working people of Grand
Forks than he ever was before. They
can look back from the present hour
and appreciate Mayor Dinnie and his
administrations
Ovation Mt the Dncotah.
The line of march continued to the
Dacotah and what of the crowd that
could get inside, gave Mr.. Dinnie an
enthusiastic ovation. Those who could
not crowd into the spacious lobby,
halls or find perch on the stairway,
gathered in great crowds in front of
the large plate glass windows of the
lobby and saw, although they could
not hear. There were scores of wo-
men who stood for half an hour in the
biting wind of a cold winters evening,
merely peering through the windows.
After the ex-myor had shaken
hands with few of his friends, he
was seized bodily and hoisted upon
the desk of the hotel and speech
was called for
Mr.. Dinnie said that when he saw
the crowd at the station he thought the
people we're looking for President
Roosevelt. there were SO many of them
and they were SO enthusiastic. While
he was just plain Jack" Dlnnie, he
wished that he had Roosevelt's gift Of.
eloquence for short time SO that he
might tell his friends and fellow
townsmen how much he appreciated
their welcome. However, as he was
not Theodore Roosevelt nor gifted
orator. he would have to do the best
he could. He realized that he was
nervous and could not say Just what
he wanted to, but the realization Of
the honor done him, plain man Of
the plain people. had overcome him.
Grand Forks People Out west.
Mr.. Dinnie said that he knew that
the people Of Grand Forks would be
glad to know that their old neighbors
out west were happy and prosperous
He then told OF the, former Grand
Forks people whom he had met while
at Los Angeles and Pasadena and 5uf
Il the VERY nIaa SAINT va IN tom ha l,a1