Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1908 — TWENTY THOUSAND ATTEND ADE’S GREAT RALLY [ARTICLE]

TWENTY THOUSAND ATTEND ADE’S GREAT RALLY

Taft, Watson and Others Address the Largest Crowd that Ever Gathered in this Section of the State.

Hazelden, George Ade’s Newton county farm, was the gathering place of the largest and most mavelous crowd of people Wednesday that ever assembled in this part of Indiana, and the meeting is pronounced by all who attended it as the greatest event of th kind they ever particlupated in. Conservative estimates place the crowd at from 15,000 to 20.0Q0, but it is probable that more people say from 20,000 to 25,000 persons attended the j rally. And the man who was probably in the best position to be a judge namely, tbe showman who had charge J of the arranbgement of the clrcuis seats, is quoted as saying that there were from 22,000 to 26,000 people there.* But the crowd was so large that it really does not matter how many were there. It was the most interesting and at the same time enthusiastic meeting ever* held in his part of Indiana, and among the speakers were men of national reputation and among the audience were big guns from Chicago, Cincinnati, Indian apolls, and from practically every dty in Indiana - Of course, William Howard Taft, the republican candidate fOr president, was the chief drawing card, but tbe great array of talent, including every detail of the plans, looked so attractive that republicans felt that they could hardly afford to miss it. There were four bands to furnish music. The Chicago Second Regiment band, the Purdue Military band, the Brook band and tbe Moatlcello Juvenlie band. Tbe Purdue glee club wag also there and the woods and hills! fairly rang out in patriotic muslo. George Ade was the hast and AU-j

the expense of the great rally was borne by him. And all the plans were made by him, and save for the lateness of Mr. Taft’s train, there was not a hitch in the entire chain of events. Pending Mr. Taft’s arrival the Japanese daylight fireworks were set off and these afforded great Amusement The rockets would go high into the air and then explode and set loose the vaious figures contained in them. Mr. Taft made a record breaking trip from Cincinnati to the Ade Btation, which is about six or eight miles from Ade’s farm, and he was taken from there by an automobile and greeted the great crowd that awaited him at about 1 o’clock. He was cheered lustly'and be responded by his broad; happy, unassumed smile, and when the crowd had quieted down he spoke for about half an hour, addressing himself chiefly to tbe farmers, and showing the fallacy of the Bryan hobbles of previous campaign a The meeting was also addressed by James E. Watson, republican candidate for governor, who held the profound attention of the throng, and whose logic sank deep into the breasts of his hearers. Other speakers, including Guriy Brewer, the eloquent colored republican from Indianapolis, addressed the audience. The speeches were none of them long, but they kept the crowd in the best of humor and everything seemed to bear the mark of Ade hospitality, not one thing occurring to mar the happtneas of the occasion. It was truly a big event, with perfect weather and the finest natural surroundings to make it truly enjoyable. -**~z*r