Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 November 1916 — BIG BARBECUE A GRAND SUCCESS [ARTICLE]

BIG BARBECUE A GRAND SUCCESS

Two Roasted Beeves Attracted Many People Hero. CELEBRATION A LIVELY ONE ■",. ■ - • People Remaining Until Late at Night and Making Merry Over the Re-election of President Wilson. - 1 I Thursday was a big day for Rensselaer and Jasper county, and a big day for the Democracy of this part of the state. People came for miles from every direction and by noon it was estimated that fully 3,000 people were on hand for the big barbecue scheduled for that hour. However, the cold weather and a strong wind retarded the fires under 1 the two mammoth beeves and it was shortly before 1 o’clock when the serving was commenced. At that hour the people were packed about the doors of the Gayety airdome and it took about two hours for the entire number to pass through and receive a generous portion of roast beef, bun, pickle and a cup of delicious coffee. Under the expert supervision of Free Wood the beef was roasted to a turn, and many were the favorable comments heard. Previous to the serving at the airdome the Rensselaer and Wolcott bands played a number of very enjoyable selections. At 2:30 p. m. the band led a parade to the airdome, which was then being cleared of the barbecue tables, and the large crowd once again passed inside for the speaking: The building was soon filled to its capacity with many people standing in the aisles. The meeting was called to order

by Hon. E. P. Honan, who paid a high tribute to the present administration and then introduced the permanent- chairman, James. H. Chapman. Mr. Chapman did not attempt to make a speech, but in a few well chosen words he- lauded the present administration as a progressive one, and then introduced the speaker of the day, Hon. William D. Headrick of Indianapolis. Mr. Headrick is not a stranger to Jasper county, having spoken here upon previous occasions, and was given a most hearty and enthusiastic applause upon coming to the front. At The very beginning of his speech he made it plain that he still believed in the principles of the Progressive party, and believing in those principles as he did he felt it his duty to support the Democratic national administration, which he did, and now he was rejoicing with them. And he further stated that there was ‘cause for rejoicing, for had not the Democratic party defeated “a united and militant Republican party” without the aid of Wall street or any of those domineering Eastern states? Mr. Headrick then recited a few •humorous sketches portraying the defeated Republican party in a jubilant role upon receipt of the early election returns from the East late Tuesday night, and followed them through those trying hours afterward when they saw victory being slowly, but surely, taken from them by a new and patriotic people in the land of the setting sun. “But,” the speaker continued, “it was not the farmers, the the Ger-man-Americans or any other class of people that defeated the Republican party—it was the great mass of sturdy, patriotic, loyal, right-think-ing American citizens’” Mr. Headrick is a true and firm believer In the rights of woman’s suffrage, and closed his speech by paying the highest tribute to the mothers of tbfs nation and an impassioned to all men to support and urge tlje granting of the franchise to the |vomen of our land * —those mothers who go down into the valley of the shadow of death that we might have life; who live for us and with us, and who are always first to extend a helping hand in time of sojtow and need and always last to leave when the world has turned against us. It is a genuine pleasure to hear W. D. Headrick speak, and when he had concluded the vast throng present made the hall fairly ring with —v.

their cheers of appreciation and endorsement.

However, so far as noise and genuine jollifying was concerned, the evening far preceded the afternoon. There were many people in during the afternoon and large numbers of these did not go home, and by 6:30 the streets were thronged by a multitude of happy folk intent on celebrating in any anda every way possible. The parade started from Milroy park shortly before 7 o’clock, and led by the band paraded the principal streets of the city. There were but few decorated autos, but perhaps 100 flivvers were in line and all were packed with lusty-lunged youngsters in possession of tin horns and other noise-making apparatus that gave one no opportunity whatever to forget the occasion. But, amid alb this gaiety, there was a touch of sadness that brought forth many a long, drawn-out sigh, for at the head of the procession the earthly remains of that grand old animal of the jungles that had been the pride of a conquering host for so long, but which dike all other mortals must in time lay down and die and give way to a younger and more virile force. And what a death this animal experienced! Accustomed in times past to some pretty hard knocks and four years ago suffering a most malignant internal disorder, only to revive and again regain its unsteady poise just in time to be caught and

swept down before an onrushing invasion. And when the injuries received then had been pronounced fatal by the attending physician the great beast refused to give up the ghost for more than a week, being constantly assured by one Theodore Hughesvelt that a great Western physician was coming to administer a stumlant and enthuse him with new vigor. But he did not arrive and the animal passed away, as all things and creatures must when their day of usefulness and service is past. Previous to the parade the multitude congregated on and near the river bridge and witnessed a gigantic bonfire as a feature to the . day’s activities. But they did not ' cease here, for the people continued to march the streets and shout for joy far into the night, thus ending one of the biggest political days in the history of Rensselaer and Jasper county. Brook also held a celebration on last Friday night, Morocco and Remington on Tuesday and Kentland blds welcome to all to

come and help her celebrate thia Saturday night. Wlhile the crowd in Rensselaer was quite satisfactory, the cold, raw wind and the fact that many of the farmers were busy husking corn, kept a great many away, and the failure of the colored fire torches to arrive as per schedule somewhat retarded the night program, but it was a great day nevertheless.