The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-10-27
GIANT BARBECUE
RALLY DWARFS
ALL IN HISTORY
5000 Surge Through
Streets in Mad Rush for
Those Sandwiches.
BY Upton BLISH
Times staff Writer


tons Of the Grover Cleveland era
were recalled, and then quickly for
gotten, by old-timers today as they
declared that Sheriff Charles l.
BUCK Summers mammoth barbe-
cue and rally Thursday night
dWarfed anything in their consider
able memory Of political f1estas
A crowd, ConServatively estimated
at $4,000, damned the street and
sidewalks for more than a block
around the speakers platform,
which had been erected in front of
a garage at 305 North Senate ave-
nue.. a milling mass of humanity,
the $4,000, most Of them Negroes,
sWayed together in cheers as Dem
ocratic orators praised their party
and then surged forward in a mob
when it was time for the beer and
sandwiches.
Women became hysterical and
were lifted to the platform, where
first aid was administered. Elderly
persons almost tainted. Children
were separated from Their parents
and lifted to the platform which
rapidly took on the appearance of
a combined emergency hospital and
clearing house for lost children.
Extra Police Are Rushed
These children, terrified and help
less in the crowd, were lifted above
the heads of the milling thousands
and passed as much as 100 feet
from person to person to the COM
paratiye safety of the platform.
The detail of policemen scattered
through the crowd was helpless in
the onrush for food and calls for
extra police were sent into head
quarters. A squad headed by Cap
tain Louis Johnson responded and
aided Captain Ed Helms detail.
Together, with the help of a fire
truck, run slowly through the crowd,
they managed to stop the rush and
keep the hungry voters in a fairly
orderly line that pressed forward to
the promised pork sandwiches.
Hundreds decided that their ap-
petites could be satisfied better and
moved on, giving rise to a report
that food had run out in the Senate
avenue garage, where what Sheriff
Sumner described as "the greatest
and most stupendous barbecue in
history" was being served.
Chill No Deterrent
Many of the $4,000 assembled at
the scene of the barbecue after
marching and riding through down.
town streets for more than an hour,
but their hunger for Democratic
oratory-and the promised pork and
beer-did not seem to be leSsened by
a decidedly chilly night or the acrid
fumes of red fire.
This parade continued in tri-
umphal din along nearby Indiana
avenue long after many of the can
didateS and other orators had worn
themselves hoarse in the interest of
the party.
Police helped the speakers, who
were numerous and enthusiastic, as
beftted the crowd, and other friends
of Sheriff Sumner to fight their way
to places on the platform.
A few tiInid souls among the Spe-
ciaI guests surveyed the scene from
a distance and departed for their
own f1resides, rejecting that diScre-
ton was the better part of valor
and that the party best could be
served by those who were alive on
election day.
Cheers Greet Speakers
The meeting opened with the GUS
tomary playing of The Star
Spangled Banner" but many did
not bare their heads, unable to raise
their arms from their sides in the
jam.
Speakers, besides Sheriff Sumner,
permanent chairman, included:
Robert L. Vann, Negro, assistant
United States Encouragement and
publisher of the Pittsburgh Courier;
Superior Judge John w. Kern, may
orally candidate; Congressman
Louis Ludlow, Mayor Reginald H.
Sullivan, August Mueller, secretary
of state candidate; Coroner william
E. Arbuckle, Superior Judge Joseph
R. williams, Otto Ray, sheriff can
didate; Walter Boetcher, Marion
county Democratic chairman; Omer
S. Jackson, state chairman; Hum
phrey Harrington and F. B. Ran
som.
Their predictions of victory were
received with cheers, but there was
little applause.
Few people had space to applaud