The daily sentinel., 1908-10-22

meeting. The word went down the
line from the Big Boss of the Big
| Five to all the little tin leaders over
the county to get out the rank and
file, that the Democrats MUST be
outdone. that the Park opera house
must be filled to overflowing.
Congressman Wesley C. Jones' of
Washington, nationally known be-
cause of the stinging defeat he ad-
ministered to Aneky, the Guggen-
helm of the state of Washington. in
race for the Republican nomination
for United States senator. was to be
| the star orator and some fellnw by
the name of Stephen was to come
I here from Colorado Springs to tell
the railroad men how to vote.
Well. to make long story short
yesterday morning the weather clear
ed off. the day was fine, the weather
conditions last night were ideal, in
sharp contrast with the weather the
night before when the Democrats had
their rally. The band came out and
played stirring airs for an hour and
then marched down to the Park
opera house followed by between
eight and thirteen people. Soon the
crowd began to gather in ones and
twos with an occasional four. Ever
and anon some of the leaders would
| look at the appealing faces of their
watchers and murmur, well, the peo-
pie will be here yet. it's little
early
About 500 O'Clock the call for the
first act was made. II was useless to
wait any longer for the crowd. The
tread of the hundreds was not to be
heard in the land.
By actual count there were 174
Cone hundred and seventy-four) in
the opera house when the meeting
was well under way. This was the
maximum, before the meeting ended
there was less than 100 present. Even
the Morning Yellow admits that there
were $50 and that is nearer the truth
than it usually gets. The crowd was
certainly a contrast in size and en-
thusiasm to the great audience that
! braved the storm the night before to
hear the Democratic candidates.
The stage ensemble last night was
remarkable owing to the absence OF
many of the old time leaders. Edwin
Price was the only member of the
big Five" on the stage, one or two
other members were in the rear of
the building to whoop up the APP
plause. n. n. Smith, Alex Seegmiller,
1 Hon. A B. Hoyt with his distinguish
ed frown, oily Johnnie Hines, and
few other candidates were grouped
around the center table.
Another interesting feature was the
| fact that men strange to majority
of the voters and new in the party
councils were in charge of the meet
ing last night Attorney Halderman.
.ocal attorney for the Rio Grande
road, and who has been here less
than year. presided.
Then Attorney Ben Griffith, late OF
Of q
local orator of the occasion. This
gentleman, who knows really but
nttle about Mesa county affairs, had
Cne nerve to insinuate and practically
charge that owing to election frauds
it was necessary to have voting ma
chimes in Mesa county. VIII the gen.
tleman kindly point out just when
election frauds have been committed
here? 1t would have to be a little
careful of hurting the feelings of
some political friends in making in
vestigations of anything that looked
like election frauds in this county.
The people of this county will resent
intimations made by anybody to the
effect that outside of Denver county
Mesa county. worse than any other
county in the state needs election ma
chimes to prevent fraud.
The people know that this is NOT
the reason that the machines are
brought here and many of them
they are brought here. Attorney
Griffith's defense of the voting ma
chimes was very touching. He dem
onstrated a vast knowledge of local
political conditions. But then Bennie
is new and unsophisticated. He may
learn.
In opening his remarks Mr.. Griffith
seemed to regret being there and re-
marked that it looked as if all the
local orators were absent, sick or
out of town.
Congressman Jones spoke for
about two hours on national issues.
His remarks on the bank guaranty
formed most inferior reply to the
great explanation and argument for
the bank guaranty made the night
before by Charles j. Hughes. Mr..
Jones had no tribute to pay to Sen
ator Simon. He's got no use for
Senator Simon and he will tell you if
you ask him.
About 10 O'Clock the benediction
was said.
A quiet investigation is being made
today by the leaders to find out why
the rank and file didn't turn out and
why the enthusiasm froze up. Some
believe that had Senator Horace Tre-
mendous DeLong, the ever present,
ever ready local star orator OF the
G. o. p. been present. that his beam
ing smile and far reaching voice
would have melted many of the icicles
and proven a good substitute for the
missing smudge pots. But the Sen
ator is out in the state trying to tell
how badly Senator Scott didn't chew
him up.
oh, yes, we forgot. the man named
Stephens failed to materialize and
this made a break in the perform