The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-29
Watson Deals With FaIIacies
Of Bryan and Shows Him to
Be No Follower of Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
STATE ISSUES DISCUSSED.
CANDIDATE RElTERATEs HIS
PLEDGE TO STAND BY COUNTY
LOCAL OPTION AND TAKES a
WHAcK At HIS OPPONENT.

II Richmond and Wayne county ever
held any grudge against James e..
Watson, republican candidate for gov
Hrncr, the hatchet has evidently bean
buried SO deep that 1t will be impos-
sible to ever dig it up again. Mr.. Wat
son spoke here last evening at the COLI
scum before a crowd that broke all
records for indoor gatherings in this
city. The big building was, literally
speaking, crowded to overfiowing. At
7:45 o'clock every available seat in the
house was occupied and the isles were
congested with people.
Figuratively speaking the republi-
cans of Wayne county last evening
opened wide their arms and gathered
Jim" into a mighty embrace with
wild whoops of joy. Tears sparkled in
the eyes of Mr.. Watson, and he made
no effort to conceal his emotion. From
reports he had received from this
county he had been led to believe that
there was a strong Marshall sentiment
existing here. consequently he was
stunned with the spontaneous and eff
fusive welcome which was accorded
him.
Prior to the meeting thousands of
people thronged the streets and Wat
sons name was in every mouth. While
red lights cast their glare, bands play
ed Hail the Conquering Hero Comes" /"
and numerous drum, bugle and fife
corps contributed to the clamor Mr..
Watson rode in gaily decorated car
riage from the Westcott hotel to the
coliseum. A smile wreathed his face
and enthusiastic humanity whooped
and howled a greeting. 1t was the
first time this campaign that the old
fashioned rally" spirit was shown.
Democrats and the few republicans al
lies of the saloon gang gazed at the
demonstration in pop-eyed astonish-
ment, then retired to secluded hooks
and lugubriously reflected on the
boasts and bets they had made that
Tom Taggart Crawford Fairbanks and
Marshall would carry old Wayne
county with landslide of votes. But
few attended the meeting as they had
no desire to have their feelings further
mangled.
AS noisy as the street crowds were
that immense throng which was jam
med into the coliseum surpassed them
When the Knightstown Ladies' Glee
stirring campaign songs, they were
greeted with whoops of delight. Then
when the Old Shady Glee club, famous
all over the state. sang the crowd went
into spasms of joy, requiring four en-
cores. When John F. Robbins, for
years attorney for the liquor dealers in
this city, advocated driving the sa-
looms out of the county the crowd
roared like jungle full of lions. but
the supreme effort of the immense
gathering in the noise line was reserv-
ed for the reception of Mr. Watson
when he rose from his seat to make
his address.
Great Demonstration.
It is doubtful If any public man ever
received such a wildly enthusiastic
greeting from Richmond audience
usually sedate and undemonstrative
When MIR. Watson stood up there was
a mighty roar which continued to in
crease In volurnn each second. When
It was physical impossibility for the
crowd to manufacture any more noise
without bursting its lungs and ripping
the slate off the roof. every one in the
house, men, women and children, arose
10 their feet. still yelling like a wal
party Of Sioux Indians. and waved