Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-09-12
A Great Speech by Raymond Robins.
HELD LITERALLY sPELLBoUND WAS THE
PACKED HOUSE WHICH HEARD HIM.

PACKED HOUSE WHICH HEARD HIM.
Very few times, either in q political
campaign or In any other cause, has 9
south Paris audience had the privilege
OF hearing such an address as that oil
Kay mond Robins Of Chicago, at the Re.
publican rally last Monday evening. Fol-
an hour and twenty five minutes he
spoke, and it Is the general expression OF
opinion in the audience which packed
Grange Hall beyond Its doors, that his
hearers would have liked to have him
talk an hour longer. With an easy
and graceful platform presence, a mag.
nihcent voice, and an almost marvellous
command of language, he delivers q vital
message IN a tremendously earnest way.
1t was piece of rare good fortune to
have him here.
Previous to the meeting there was a
torchlight parade by the combined
Hughes and Fairbanks clubs of South
Paris and Norway. They formed at the
railroad station, and with some more
than hundred men, headed by drum
corps, marched through Western Ave-
nue., Gothic and High Streets to Market
Square. Here large flag, bearing the
names of Hughes and Fairbanks, with
side banners having the names Of MILL
ken and White, had been hung at the
side Of the street.
Frederick r. Dyer of Buckfield. Ok
ford County's member of the Republican
State Committee, spoke briefly but forci-
oily from an automobile in the square.
AS he closed the flag was drawn over
from its position to the middle of the
street, and three cheers were led by Har-
vey E. Powers, the president of the
South Paris club. The parade then pro-
ceeded to Grange Hall, which was pack
ed to the limit, many standing about the
doors outside.
Shaw's Orchestra played several selec-
tons, and Miss Mildred W. Shaw of
Buckfield sang "To Thee, o Country"
and responded to an encore at the open
ing Of the program, and led the audience
in America at the close.
Walter l.. Gray opened the meeting,
and after few words called on Robert
j. HOdgson of Lewiston, Androscoggin
County member of the Republican State
Committee, who staged the big rally
when Roosevelt spoke in Lewiston. Mr..
Hodgson expressed his thanks to the
Oxford Bears for their aid on that occa-
sion, and invited them to meet Governor
Hughes in Lewiston on Friday.
Mr.. Gray then presented Alton C.
Wheeler as chairman of the meeting.
Mr.. Wheeler was given an enthusiastic
greeting by the audience, and with a
brief talk welcomed all who were pres
ent. He then introduced Mr.. Robins.
No abstract could do justice to Mr..
Robins address. 1t covered wide
range, though much of it was devoted to
the change in social conditions from the
old individualistic basis to the present
day basis where each man has share of
responsibility for the welfare of his
brother man. He expressed vigorous
Americsnism, and declared that in the
situation which we shall face after the
European war, we shall need to meet it
with an organized American tariff pro-
lection program, which We can not get
from the enemies of protection. We
need tariff commission with power to
regulate tariffs, such as Germany has
had.
Mr.. Robins frankly stated that he Is
Progressive, and that before he was
Progressive be was sort of independent
Democrat, but he has got far from the
essential doctrines of the Democratic
party. 1t is evident, he says, that the
country will choose between the candi-
date of the Republican party and the
candidate of the Democratic party. He
believes in the Republican candidate,
Charles Evans Hughes, because his rec
ord as governor of New York is that of a
strong, courageous man who refused to
be controlled by the boss; because he be-
lieves in honesty and efficiency in the
public service; because he favors protec-
ton to our American industries; because
he is real friend of labor; because he is
a great jurist; because he was called by
the people; because he Is the one man
who has reached his present position alb
solutely free to do what be thinks is for
the best interests of the country.