Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-24
TAFT AND BRYAN
ATTEND Y.W.C.A.
PROMINENT MEN OF NATION
PRESENT AT OPENING RALLY
-RooSEVELT THERE.
UNCLE SAM PRESIDED
Members of Local Gymnasium Depict
Political Characters in Unique
Entertainment Last Night
Big Crowd Attends.

Seldom, if ever, has Ottumwa been
SO thoroughly overwhelmed with prom
inent political personages as at the
occasion last night when Teddy Roos-
evelt, Bill Taft, Bill Bryan and Jo-
uncle Cannon gathered at the gymna-
SUM of the local Young Womens
Christian association and took an &C
tive part in the firing of the opening
gun of the annual campaign for new
members. Uncle Sam himself post
poned engagements of minor import
ance in the east and attended in per-
son to act as presiding officer Of the
evening The very air teemed with
the national spirit and patriotic en-
thusiasm was at it's highest pitch.
The gymnasium was appropriately
decorated for the occasion. The pillars
colors and large pictures of the two
leaders, Taft and Bryan, occupied
places Of prominence and were also
hung with the red, white and blue.
No pressure was brought to bear upon
the members in gaining them over to
the respective sides, excepting the
diplomatic words used by Messrs.
Taft and Bryan in their respective
throughout the evening, one for the
Taft partisans and the other for the
Bryanites and the members register
ed where they pleased. BY registering
they declared the side for which they
would labor during the ensuing month.
The side that wins the most members
within the next thirty days will be
the guest at some function to be Civ
en- to the winners
The Personages.
The whole affair showed careful
preparation and minute study of de-
4 tail. Miss Kate Weirsmith, as Uncle
Sam, presided and made an excellent
chairman. The other characters, Roos-
evelt, Taft, Bryan and Cannon, were
excellently portrayed by Miss ENNIS
Nivling, Miss IIettie Collier Mrs Sum-
ner Siberell and Miss Margaret Peters
respectively. The costumes were real
tstic and showed considerable study
in their preparation. Hon. William
Jennings Bryan created laugh when,
in the midst of his speech he prom.
j ised to make present of his mascot
mule to the side bringing in the most
members. Taft showed his opinion Of
the outcome of the political contest
by promising reception to the triunl-
plant side on the White House lawn.
Joe Cannon was the only speaker
of the evening that dwelt at length on
political lines. True to his cartoons,
he made the tariff the main subject Of
his discourse. One of the most pleas
ing features Of the evening was The
work of the glee club, composed Of
high school girls, directed by Miss
y,{J II
a real, vibrant male leader.
Refreshments were served during
/ the evening The complete success of
teh affair must be credited largely 10
Misses Kate Lester and La Verne
Lane, who have worked untiringly in
the preparation for the rally.
Big Time Thursday.
Another entertainment of unusual
/ interest will be given Thursday even
ing under the direction of the social
and educational departments Of the in
stitution. Each different class sched-
uled for this year will present its
work either in tableaux or moving
pictures, some with an eye to the ar
tistic effect and some with the pur-
pose of creating pure merrimant.
! There will be an exhibition of en-
broidery work by Miss Bertha Morey
of hand painted china by Mrs. Ed
Mather, and of work done with pencil
and brush by Johannes Scheiwe. The
red and white Taft colors and the blue
and white Bryan colors will be
! strongly in evidence in the decora-
! tons and the field will be wide open
/ for the contestants. ALI members and
their friends are cordially invited tc
be present Thursday evening.
Other Meetings.
The Altiora club will meet this even
ing at 4 O'Clock in their room in the
Y. w. G. A. building
The Workers Training Bible class
will meet this evening at GAS o'clock