Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1912-10-24
COLBY TALKS TO
THE PR0GRESS|VEs
Biggest Mass Meeting of the Year
in Bridgeton.
THE HIPPODROME
WAS CROWDED
Attentive Audience Listens to Pro-
gressive Statesmen as They Tell
of the Human Interest in the
Campaign.

Or the mass meetings of the present
campaign held in this city, that of last
night held at the Hippodrome by the
Progressive Party, was the most i'm
portant. 1t was important in it's size,
in its interest, and in the character of
the arguments presented.
Last night there were more than
twice as many people present than
upon any other occasion this fall. and
the audience was thoroughly represen-
tative. A number of interested wo-
men were present
The character of the meeting indi-
Gated the great change in the political
situation and illustrated how the peo-
pie have changed in their attitude on
politics. The Progressives have come
into politics as a new and powerful
force, and the presentation of the pro-
gressive campaign is nothing like the
old time mass meeting when heavy
lung orators talked of the days>of past
achievements and employed all of the
tricks and artifices of professional
speakers to enthuse and carry an au-
dience by storm.
The Progressive campaign is a
thoughtful one. The Progressive poll
cies are presented as proposition
that demands thoughtful and earnest
consideration, appealing to human
heart interest, an innovation into
American political life. There is no
elimination and recrimination upon
the part of the Progressive speaker
He does not dwell upon the past ex-
cept to show that there has grown up
a system that does not work out to
the advantage of all Of the people, and
it is to correct this system, to provide
a proper and adequate distribution of
a nations wealth, that the Progressive
party is making it's effort.
Such an argument, plainly and ear
nestly employed, holds riveted the
closest attention of the people A
mass meeting like that of last night
indicates that the great problem is one
of interest, is appealing, strikes home.
The audience, attentive, silent, eager,
shows that the Progressives have
something in their campaign that de-
mands attention and appeals to
thoughtful people.
The large audience facing Everett
Colby last night gave, him undivided
attention. Following his. speech, Mr..
Colby said to the writer that he had
never talked to an audience that was
so earnest in their desire to get every
word, and he was inspired by this at
tention to talk much longer than he
had first intended to. The applause
came when Roosevelt was mentioned,
and occasionally when a most telling
point had been made by the speaker.
But as a whole, the large thoughtful
audience was rivted upon the intelli-
gent discussion of the Progressive
campaign and the policies of the new
party.
Previous TO the speaking there was
a concert by the City Band which add
ed to the pleasure of the people who
filled the big hall.
On the platform were most of the
local leaders of the new party. E. M.
Fithian presided. others on the plat
form were Clayton Mcpherson, Dr. E.
S. Corson, DR.. Elsmore Sites, Rev.
Geo. H. Neal, w. Frank Woodruff,
John B. Nixon.
The meeting was opened with pray
er by Rev. Mr.. Neal.
Mr.. Fithian introduced Hon. Mr..
Colby, who prefaced his remarks by
a reference to the candidate for con-
gress in this district, Francis D. Pot