Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 66, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 November 1916 — BIG BARBECUE AT RENSSELAER [ARTICLE]

BIG BARBECUE AT RENSSELAER

Democrats and Wilson Progressives to Jollify Tomorrow. ROAST OX TO BE SERVED FREE To Everybody, Speaking by Hon. W. D. Headrick, Decorated Automobile Parade, Fireworks, Music. ’tomorrow .and tomorrow evening will be an event in Rensselaer’s history that is not likely to soon be forgotten if all goes well and •the weather man plays us no tricks. The latter has promised fair weather with rising temperature in his weekly forecast, and it is hoped he makes good, for an immense ‘crowd of people will be here if he does so. The occasion for is the re-election of Woodrow Wilson as President of the United States and a desire to properly celebrate the event by his supporters in Jasper county, both Democrats and Progressives. A meeting was held Saturday night and committees appointed to start the ball rolling. These committees met again Monday evening and reported what progress had been made. The Davisson brothers, Harvey, Grant and Amos, donated a big fat three-year-old steer and Jay W. Stockton did likewise. These steers were brought in yesterday morning and butchered and got ready for roasting. A big load of green hickory poles and a load of dry wood, the latter for drying out the pit and cooking the beeves was also got on the ground, and; during the early hours of tomorrow morning the fires will be started under the direction of Free Wood, the colored barber, who has had considerable experience in this line, assisted by J. A. McFarland, and it is to have the animals roasted to a turn by the mid-day jhour, when serving the thousands of people assembled will begin. Green hickory poles are said to impart a peculiar and delicious flavor lamroasted meat, and First Chef Woo' will exert himself to add laurels to his reputation as an expert ox-roaster. The two steers weighed a total of 2450, and were fine fat ones. J. J. Eigelsbach & Son butchered one of the animals and Roth Bros, the other, both free gratis. They will be roasted on the vacant lot just south of the Leek hitch barn. With the roast ox will be served bread, pickles and coffee, and some idea of the preparations made may be had from the fact that the committee on barbecue have ordered 1,500 loaves of bread 1 large barrel of pickles 75 pounds of finest coffee 30 gallons of cream 150 pounds of sugar 3,fi00 pint cups 3p-*0 teaspoons 3-,000 paper plates It is expected that the tin cups J, will be washed and used over again knd all ’who are served will not want plates. With good weather it is probable that 5,000 people will be served, and a dozen or mon? artists with carving knives will slice the meat for the sandwiches while another small army of waiters will preside at the plate, bread, pickle, coffee, cream and sugar stations and serve the people as they pass along in l(ne. At this writing it is Intetfded to do the serving at the Gayety airdome, the people passing in at the front and out at the southwest exit, and the committee wants about fifty young ladies to volunteer their services to wait on the various serving stations. It is expected to have the beeves roasted and begin the serving at noon, instead of 1 o’clock as stated in the bills, and that it will take perhaps two and one-half hours to complete the serving. Immediately after the serving the Hon. William D. Headrick of Indianapolis, one of the foremost Wilson Progressives in the country and also one of Jts very best speakers, will deliver an address at the Gayety airdome. Mr. Headrick has spoken in Rensselaer on two previous occasions, once four years ago and also during the recent cam-

paign. There are no better orators any place, and everyone who can possibly obtain a seat should hear him. In the evening there will be a big parade of decorated automobiles and people on foot, and Col. Fred Phillips, who will have charge of this feature of the day, wants every automobile owner in Jasper and surrounding counties regardless of race, color or previous condition of political servitude, to turn out for this parade. He wants them to assemble over on the west side, about Milroy park, and south on the Remington road, also the side streets and fall in line as the parade led by the Democratic band starts at 7 o’clock through the business streets. There are no regulations as to the method of making up the decorations for the parade, and individual ideas will be accepted. A large size picture of Albert Jeremiah Beveridge or a picture of his Massachusetts residence or the American embassy he expected to occupy in Berlin had Hughes been elected, will be presented to the most dissatisfied visitor (in the parade). Some ten gross of tin horns have been ordered and will be given out free as. long the supply lasts just before the parade. There will also be bonfires and impromptu speeches during the evening and much good-natured sport It is to be a general good-natured ■jollification and everybody is cordially invited to come to town early and remain until late. Nobody is barred, so they conduct themselves as ladies and gentle'men they will be cordially received and well entertained. In a page ad in another part of The Democrat the names of the committees and other information appears. The finance committee expects to raise between S4OO and SSOO to cover the expenses of the celebration.