Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 September 1908 — THE OHIO CAMPAIGN OPENED. [ARTICLE]

THE OHIO CAMPAIGN OPENED.

The republican campaign was opened in Ohio Saturday in an immense.. meeting at Youngstown. Governor Harris of Ohio, Governor Hughes of New York, and Senator Beveridge of Indiana were the spellbinders. The speeches were along the usual republican lines for this campaign and were well received, generally. From the report of the big meeting we clip the following para graphs, which, are In themselves significant as showing the attitude of the corporations and their employes In this campaign. These are clipped from an anti-Bryan paper, too:

The commanding feature of the day was the parade that preceded the speaking In Wick Park. There were a few over 12,000 men in line. Of these more than 10,000 came from the steel mills which form the chief and almost the sole industry of the city and suburbs. They were the employes of the Republic Iron and Steel Company, the/ Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company, and the United States Steel Corporation, better known as the Steel Trust. Supplied with uniforms at the expense of these companies, the toilers presented a striking appearance as they marched past the reviewing stand. Because of the opening a shut-down of the mills was ordered until next Monday and the occasion made a holiday. But few of these workers attended the meeting in Wick Park. This was easily seen by the lack of uniforms in the crowd. Probably not over one tenth of the turnout came to hear the speeches. The Republic Iron and Steel Company contributed 1,850 men, the United Steel Corporation 3,500, and the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company 4,500. Each man wore a khaki suit and carried a cane or flag furnished by his employers. They were divided into brigades, and were organized on military lines, having regimental and brigade officers. There were dozens of bands and drum. corps, drawn from the neighboring cities, each carrying a banner to indicate that it belonged to the union of musicians. Exactly one hour and a- half was required for the procession to pass the reviewing stand, moving at a quick step. One of the unusual incidents occurred when the parade halted at the Elks’ Club. .Some one called for a cheer for Taft. .Out of the uniformed ranks in response came a roaring shout for Bryan and the column moved on.