The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1920-09-02
(By Col. r. L. Marston)

Who says the day of the old fash
ioned political rally is gone? The
Lakewood meeting on Tuesday shows
that the people still love to gather in
large crowds To hear and see their
heroes of the forensic arena. Old
timers hark back TO the good old days
when James G. Blaine, Daniel Webster
and other political idols addressed
great audiences of Somerset folk be-
meath the historic old pines on the is
land. But there isn't space enough
left on the Island today for standing
room for the mobs that came from all
over the county to Lakewood. In
those days it was impossible for up
river folks to get down to Skowhe-
gan for rally and return home the
same day. Old Dobbin has given
way to six cylinders and Henry Fords
and today enthusiasts think nothing
of motoring hundred miles to hear
a great orator Tuesday there were
any number of cars from Jackman
and Moose River, from Lexington and
the New Portlands, from Ripley, Har-
mony and all over Eastern Somerset
AT II o'clock in the forenoon the
traffic officers had already safely
parked 1926 automobiles on the grounds
at Lakewood, and by noon over 1900
people were enjoying picnic lunches
or Landlords Cahill's famous dinners
Every inch of available parking space
in the park was filled by one o'clock,
and when the hour came for opening
the meeting automobiles were stretch
ed along the state road for a quarter
of a mile. 1t was impossible to count
them after two O'Clock because they
accumulated SO fast, but the traffic Of
ficers estimated all the way from 600
to 1000 cars. 1t is safe To say that
never before in the history of Som
erset, have so many people gathered
together. Sheriff Mooers and the
able forco OF special officers did Yeo-
man service in haudliu4 The traffic
and the crowds WITHOUT serious mis-
hap or inconvenience t. anyone.
Lakewood is an ideal place ior such
a gathering. and all tba elements COM
hinod To make Tuesday 8e ideaI day.
The sun came ont in an lis glory in
the morning and remained pleasant
until the last tired seeker for the
truth had left the park. The arrange
mouts were perfect; great cred is due
to Somerset's two efficient young lead
ers Willard II. Cummings, State Re
publican Committeeman and Hon.
Frank IL. Holley, chairman of the Re
publican County Committee. who had
the meeting in charge. The park
was beautifully decorated with flags
and banners and posters of the can
didates. 1t goes without saying that
ample provision was made for the
comfort and interest of the ladies. a
gayly decorated booth presided over
by Mrs Vivian G. Woodbury.. chair
man of SkoWhegan Republican Women
and the various representatives from
Womens committees in other towns
were kept busy giving information and
literature to the visiting ladies, and
more than incidentally to seeng to it
that they all enrolled as Republicans
Tor the election Sept 18th. The wo-
mems committee with true political
acumen refused to give out for publi-
cation the total number of enrollments
but your reported did find that sever
al towns had already enrolled more
Republican women than there were
men voters. This booth also had a
victrola which cheerfully produced
canned speeches of the great national
leaders. The voices of Harding and
Coolidge and many others sounded
clear and robust whenever there was a
lull in the program at the band stand.