Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 October 1891 — BIG DAY IN OHIO. [ARTICLE]

BIG DAY IN OHIO.

McKinley and Campbell Discussing Current Issues. An Immenje Crowd in the Little Town ol Ada, and Mach Enthawlasm Among . < Both Parties. The little town of Ada, Ohio, was the scene of much enthusiasm on the Bth, i being the occasion of the great debate of McKinley and Campbell, Flags and banners and bunting there were withoutnrmber, and so generous was the friendly rivalry of decorations displayed that the very horizon was obscured by the familiar lines of the National colors. Great decorative taste was displayed in the various triumphal arches, the most prominent of these structures being the non-partisan welcome arch, which circled the main street, and bore the words: “Welcome to our leaders.” From the apex were also suspended the portraits —of McKinley and Campbell, and as the various matching clubs marched under the arch, they cheered lustily for their i espectlve leaders. From early morning until the opening of the meeting the music of tho bands resounded through the streets, and occasionally a blast, of a tin horn disturbed the martial melody. There was an~objecT lesson, however, in these tin horns, for tnoy were understood to be and were labeled as the product of American tin. A handy walking cane, displayed with much ostentation by various marching clubs, was also alluded to as having had origin in the tin mines of Dakota, and no occasion was lost to denounce in vigorous language the bete noir of Ohio Republicans—“tho Demociatic tin-plate liar.’» On the other hand, the Democrats retaliated by displaying a paraphernalia of badges bearing allusions to the inconsistency of the McKinley bill. The ladies wore a distinctive badge, which attractedT much attention and received special allusion by Gov. Campbell, and below it were the significant words: “American wool 24 cents, on account of the McKinley bill.” An American tin badge, displayed with equal pride by the Republicans, contained the portrait of Major McKipley and bore the words: “Protection and Honest Money.” Prof. H. S. Lehr, president of tho State Normal University and the projector of the famous meeting of the Governors, was the central figure and entertained McKinley and Campbell at lunch. At 11:15 a special train bearing Mr. McKinley, Senator Humphreys and others rolled into the depot, and cheer after cheer arose from the crowd as tho Napoleonic features of the great exponent of protection were recognized by the multitude. The Major bowed smilingly to the crowd and quickly entering a carriage was driven to the residence of Prof. Lehr, under the escort of the various marching clubs led by an exultant brass band. Promptly at 13:30 a Hocking Valley train, bearing about one thousand cheering Democrats and Republicans, hove In sight, and attached to the rear was the special car Buckeye, containing Governor Campbell, Chairman Norton, of tho State central committee, and a few other prominent Democrats, A repetition of the enthusiastic .ova-, tion extended to Major McKinley was the rcceptiorf tendered to Governor Campbell. As. the. cheering multitude pressed aroundtob carriage in waiting to receive the Goverhor not a, fqvy Insisted on shaking hands, and the proceedings were temporarily interrupted while Governor Campbell extended his hands to a few of tho more demonstrative, The band sti uck up “The Campbells Are Coming,” and more enthusiastic cheering rent the air. Tho Governor was rapidly driven to tho residence of Prof. Lohr, where ho met Major McKinley, and they took lunch with Prof. Lehr and a few personal friends. For a brief (tour politics and the great struggle which is being waged for partisan supremacy in the Buckeye State were forgotten, and these two gentlemen, each acknowledged by his opponents to bp “the prince of good fellows,” met in social friendship in fulfillment of their mutual pledge at the opening of the contest, that there should be a “campaign of measures and not of men, of principle and not of personality.”

Robert Gray, aged 86, of Crawfordsville, Is dead. It was his boast that he hewed logs for Jonathan Jennings, the first Governor of Indiana.