The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-10-01
THOUSANDS JOIN THE
WELCOME
To Judson Harmon and
J. J. Lentz
At the Auditorium Where
Live State Issues Are
Discussed by These
Fighters Against Graft
and Fraud.

The launching of the Democratic
campaign in Stark county took place
last Wednesday night, by celebration
highly befltting sucn an occasion. A
monster demonstration, almost with.
out parallel in the history Of the city
was made in favor of Organism, and It
was such q one that marks the end or
the dormancy that has been prevalent
among local Democrats for years, and
a revival of the old party spirit, lack.
ing In the recent campaigns.
Without doubt, 1t was the greatest
and most enthusiastic event in the
history Of Democracy in Stark county
for the past twelve years, and by the
spirit that was in evidence everywhere
last night 1t promises to be the turn
ing point whereby a Democratic reg
ime will be established in this county.
In response to the wide publicity CIV
en- the opening of the campaign,
thousands of persons turned out, and
blocking the streets while the parade
was in progress, they made up an au-
dience at the Auditorium, that ex-
ceeded that which attended the Re-
publican opening, Saturday night,
three-fold.
HARMoN's PLEDGES.
Judson Harmon was there, and in a
speech long to be remembered by To-
cal followers of Democracy, he de-
clared against the present corrupt.
bility of the state officials at Colum-
bus, and replied, in forcible terms, to
the recent attacks made upon him by
Governor Andrew Harris.
SWANSON UNABLE TO ATTEND.
Governor Claude e. Swanson, of Vir.
ginia, was unable to be present at the
meeting owing to unforeseen emergen'
cies which had arisen at the last mo-
ment, and In his stead John ]. LentZ,
of Columbus, congressman from that
district, andu an excellent speaker,
was substituted.
THE PARADE
Preceding the grand rally at the Au-
ditorium. parade of the more enthusi,
astic Bryan followers of the city was
held, which trRversed most of the prin-
eipal streets. Perhaps the most mark
ed feature of the parade was the show
ing of the colored voters, who turned
out in numbers exceeding fifty. In the
van of this contingent was carried a
huge banner, ON which was inscribed,
Republican Mortgages Cancelled"
The huge procession was led by the
Grand Army band, which was in turn
followed by the Young Mems Demo
cratic club, clad in their new uniforms
which had been ordered In anticipation
of the event. The Bryan club turned
out strongly, and followed banner of
Equal Rights to All; Special Priv
ileges to None" AS the brilliant
pageant marched through the streets
the entire line of march was illuminat-
ed by a magnificent display Of red
lights. Loud huzzas greeted them on
every side, and cheer after cheer for
Bryan rent to air.
The line of march of the procession
took them to the front of the Court
land hotel, from which place, Judson
Harmon, the central figure of the cele-
bration, was escorted along with 9th
er notables, to the Auditorium.
AUDITORIUM WELL FILLED.
Thousands of persons, knowing of
the rush that would be made for seats,
had already partially filed the Audi
torlum by the time the procession had
ly every seat in the vast edifice had
been taken by the enthusiastic stream
of humanity that kept constantly pour
ing in. While in some of the remote
portions of the house there were a
few vacant seats, it is estimated that
was considerable over three thousand,
or more than three times that which
attended the Republican opening on
last Saturday night, when Leslie M.
Shaw was the principal speaker.
ATLEB PoMERENE, CHAIRMAN.
At s:15, Attorney r. S. Shields
arose and as chairman OF the Stark
County Democratic Executive commit
tee, and on behalf of that committee,
announced that Atlee Pomerene had
been chosen to act as chairman of the
meeting
Mr.. Pomerene in a short introduc-
tory speech, spoke warmly for Har-
mon, "once his rival, but now, hence
forth and forever, his friend" He
stated that what an honor Bryan
would be as president of the nation,
:. such an honor Harmon would be as
=. ,,rnor Of Ohio. Abiding to the
70. hat for years has been in evi-
~. among the Republican oficials
:, state, he said: Can you Inn
tss1e that with Mr.. Harmon In the
Columbus state bouae, that $4,000, 900
could be handled without books?"
Then he declared that the same condi-
tions that are prevalent at the Colum-
bus state house are in evidence in the
stark county court house, and that
both these places need the thorough
cleaning out, which can never be Sc
cured from Republicans. With that he
presented Mr., Harmon.
HARMoNS SPEECH.
Mr. Harmon began hia speech by