Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 October 1900 — A BIG DEMONSTRATION. [ARTICLE]

A BIG DEMONSTRATION.

Bj Rensselaer Republicans’ Saturday ftlffht. Congressman Crumpacker spoke in Rensselaer last Saturday evening, as per announcement publish* ed several weeks before. Our democratic friends thought it would be a good move to appoint a prominent speaker the same time, and secured Capt. Guthrie, of Monticello. They also thought it would be a shrewd move to organize a torch-light procession, and thus make a demonstration that would discount the Republican meeting. . But the Republicans got wind of the little scheme, and concluded to do a little in the way of a demonstration, themselves. And instead of the Republican’s being discounted, it was the Democrats that were discounted and doubly discounted. Both sides had torchlight processions, but the Repute iicans was far the larger, acd more impressive, in every way. In the Republican line were several hundred torch light bearers, about 100 rough riders in uniforms, and they had music by the Rensselaer Citizens’ band, and the Sheepskin and Blackford martial bands. The Democrats had no music at all. The Republican meeting was held in the east court room, which was far to small too hold the large numbers anxious to obtain admission. Mr. Crumpacker made an able and most logical and comprehensive and fair-minded address* A big overflow meeting was held in the west court room, and was addressed by Judge S. P. Thompson and Jesse E. Wilson. Music was furnished by the Republican Glee Club and the Citizens’ band. The actual count of the two torch-light processions showed that were 280 in the Republican line, nearly all of whom were voters; and in the Democrats’ line there were only 138 torches, mostly carried by boys. The Democrats are thoroughly sick of their discourteous attempt to swamp the Republicans on their own meeting night.