Middletown transcript., 1908-10-24
ENTHUSIASM
FOR Mr.. TAFT
Republican Presidential Candi-
date Was Given a Royal
Reception
THOUSANDS GREETED HIM

when the TAFT party arrived at the
speakers stand in East Tenth street, and
the several thousand on the lawn of the
county court house were packed like sar'
dimes in box.
Several thousand more we're stretched
from the French street station along the
route taken by the Presidential nominee
and his escort, and in the big throne
it is estimated that practically every town
in Delaware was represented.
Wilmington took on a true holiday as
pect, for Market street was mass oil
flags and bunting, and it was a regular
holiday crowd that appeared upon the
streets early in the afternoon. Tenth
and Market streets was the objective
point for the majority and long before
the hour for the meeting the court house
lawn was mass Of humanity, all trying
to get as near to the stand as possible.
Market and King streets were also lined,
while the windows of the county court
house, the stately DUPONT Building and
other nearby buildings held hundreds of
viewers.
The space in front of the stand had
been roped oil, but as the crowd in
creased, the mass of humanity surged for
ward, and the policemen had their hands
full.
Crowd at Station
The special train bearing Judge Taft
and committee representing the Re-
publican State Central Committee, con.
sistine of United States Senators dupont
and Richardson, Congressman Hiram R.
Burton, Governor Preston Lea, State
Chairman T. Coleman DUPONT, Mayor
Horace Wilson, William II. Heald, the
Congressional nominee; Simeon S. Pen
newilI, candidate for governor; County
Chairman L. Heisler Ball and several
Republican leaders of Philadelphia pulled
into the French street station at 4 q
o'clock, TIE railroad police had been
given orders to admit only those to the
station desiring to board trains, and there
was no demonstration until the party
reached the street.
At the station the committee on ar.
rangements was awaiting the arrival oi
the special with open vehicles and when
Judge Taft and his escort emerged from
the station, there was loud cheer and
a concerted rush to surround the car.
riages. The police kept the crowd back
with difficulty and the start was made
for Tenth and Market streets, the party
being escorted by mounted police under
Chief OF Police Black.
Judge Taft was easily recognized and
along Front street to Market and ul
Market to Tenth he was given ovation
after ovation. With head barred, tia
Presidential nominee bowed to the righi
and left. From the sidewalk throngt
there were cries of "Hello, Billy" and
Mr.. Taft acknowledged each salutatiou
with a smile and bow.
Reaching the Eik's Home in Market
street, above Eighth, where many mem,
bers had assembled, the Presidential nom
inee was given another ovation for as hiG
carriage passed the hall, there arose the
hail of "Hello, Bill" which was given
with vigor and which the Judge ap'
peared to enjoy nightly.
Remarkable Demonstration
But this series of demonstration was
tame compared to the scene enacted
when the party drove up in front of the
gaily bedecked speakers stand.
The members OF the reception commit.
tee, four hundred strong and carrying
flags, had previously marched from the
Young Mems Republican Club in King
street, to Seventh, to Market and thence
to the stand, where they were seated
Thousands had gathered upon the court
house green, along Market and King
streets, in the windows of buildings and
some even had taken to the tree tops.
Many carried flags, and though the sun
was hidden by smoky haze the Stately
court house with its decorations and
crowds formed pretty background. fol-
the thousands gathered upon the lawn.
As the Taft party proceeded up Market
street the court house bell pealed forth
welcome, and cheer after cheer arose
from hundreds of throats. As the
mounted police wheeled into tenth street
and drove the eager throngs back to the
ropes those in the stand arose and waved
flags while mighty yell went up from
the great assemblage.
1t was A. 40 o'clock when Judge Taft and
his escort mounted the stand, and certain
it is bis presence caused the greatest
demonstration ever witnessed in Whining
ton. Flags and hats we're waved, there
were cheers and yells, men; women and
children rushed against the ropes like a
mighty billow and the police were swept
forward and backward like straws.
Walking to the front of the stand,
Judge Taft, surrounded by MEMBER oil
the Baltimore reception committee that
had arrived in the meantime, good mat.
uredIy posed for a newspaper pLotogra-
pher, after which be was introduced by
United States Senator Henry A. tluPont.
The Introductory remarks of the Senator
were drowned by the prolonged applause,
which grew greater when the Presidential
nominee attempted to speak.
Ladies and gentlemen:
This was as far as he got, for bjing ex.
tremely hoarse and the wind blowing
directly against him, his renarss could
not be heard except by those mar him,
and thenit was that the rush began which
for time threatened to assumd serious
proportions.
Those farther back in the crowd surged
forward carrying those In from against
the ropes with crushing fore. The