The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-10-01
Republican Candidate for Presi-
dent Makes Great Hit With
the Crowd at Racine
KEN0SHA WELL REPRESENTED
Ten Thousand People Wait Two Hours
to Hear the Republican Candidate
Speak for Two Minutes
and Were Satisfied

William H. Taft came, saw and con-
quered in Racine Thursday afternoon
and if there was ever any doubt as to
whether Taft would get Racine and
Kenosha counties at the coming nation
al election it vanished into thin air
when the Republican candidate struck
Racine just after five clock Thursday
afternoon for the greeting that was
given him by the Republicans of Ra-
cine and Kenosha county was one that
had the old time ring and the enthusi-
asm shown at the great gathering
sounded death knell to any Democra-
tic hopes which might have existed
Ten thousand people, many of them
from Kenosha county, crowded into the
great boiler shops of the Case Threshing
Machine Company's plant and waited
Tor two soid hours for the coming Of
Taft. The presidential candidate re-
warded them for their long wait by one
I of his smAes and by a three minute
speech, but the people wanted to see
Taft and the minute they saw him and
saw his contagious smile they were sat
isfed. It didn It matter if the husky
secretary was so hoarse that he could
not be heard beyond the limits Of the
platform, what the people wanted was
to see Taft and when they saw him
they placed their sanction upon him.
The rally was one Of the greatest in
the history of Southern Wisconsin and
man who had been watching the poll
tical situation would hardly believe it
possible for the people of the two coun-
ties to turn cut such an enthusiastic
crowd. There were all sorts and condi-
tions of men in the crowd.
Racine and Kenosha both sent great
crowds Of laboring men to the meeting
and the men who had crossed swords
in factional battles in the two counties
in the past few years, stood shoulder to
Notwithstanding when Secretary Taft
was introduced and the enthusiasm was
of such spontaneous nature that there
was no doubt as to it's being real. Be
fore the special train carrying the Taft
party arrived in Racine and it was lon>
after five O'Clock when it did arrive
the crowd was entertained by a concert
by three bands and in the iangle of
brass the Kenosha italian band won
great laurels for itself and it's conduc-
tor Next to Taft the italian band of
Keno5ha was the great big hit Of the
opening rally of the campaign.
Before. Secretary Taft spoke the
chairman Of the meeting introduced DR..
Hill Of New York and the doctor paved
the way for the speaker by declaring
that Mr.. Taft had talked to some
twenty acres Of Wisconsin Republicans
during the day and that he was so
h0arse that it would be possible for
him to speak but few minutes. DIR.
Hill launched out into a brief arrange
ment of the Democratic party ia re-
gard to labor and spoke of the things
that the Republican party had done
for the laborers. He was repeatedly
interrupted in his speech by calls for
Taft and finally the secretary took the
place at the front Of the platform. lie
told the people that he could "croak "
only a little, but in this little he made
a strong plea for the support of the
Republican party and the Republican
candidates declaring that Bryan had
made many promises, but that he had al
ways shown himself to be the enemy
of the best interests of the laboring
men and of the nation in general
When Taft finished his brief speech
pandemonium broke loose and every
one it seemed, made a break for the
platform. In the great rush to shake
the hand of Taft, the speaker himself
came near being crushed, but he was
finally rescued by foot ball tactics and
escorted to waiting automobile. There
were thousands of people ran after the
automobile all the way to the station
and as the train pulled out for Mil
waukee, cheer after cheer was given
for the next president. The reception
given all along the line was the same
as at Racine.