Allegany County MD Archives News.....Grievance Club Meets and Talks October 16, 1908 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/md/mdfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Mary Ellen Chambers maryln61@sbcglobal.net April 19, 2008, 10:13 pm The Evening Times October 16, 1908         CHILDRENS'S PRATTLE EXPOSES "OLD FOLKS TATTLE              ____________________                      REPUBLICANS ARE DOOMED                        _________  They want more Pensions--What the Papers Show--Sugar Trust Touched                --John Cambers Effuses With Effusion                   __________________ Lonoconing, MD.,  Oct 16.       John P. Miller, of Westernport, led off at the last session of the club, and made a very good speech and held the attention of his audience from start to finish.  Even Harris Fazenbaker sat up and took notice.       "When the children prattle we get at what the old folks think," said John P.  Two terms for Taft and then two more terms for Teddy that's what son- in-law Nick says.  The dynastic principle is to be started with Taft.  If he can be elected anybody can be electer, and once within the doors of the White House, having served his eight years, he will gracefully give way and Roosevelt will come in for life.  "Tis as easy as lying or falling off a log.  The Big Stick having done its perfect work once, twice, thrice can do it as ofton as it pleases.  The steam roller will never lose its power to crush.  Yet, is there many a slip twixt the cup and the lip.  Everything, Mr. President and gentlemen depends upon the result of this campaign.  It is to settle the question whether the people without money or discipline---the raw millitia--can successfully go against organized power sucessfully go against orgainzed power hedged round by fortresses and defended by limitless resources.  If they cannot do this now they never will be able to do it.  It is written that to every people is given the government which they deserve and who would be free themselves must strike the blow.              DO WE DESERVE TO BE FREE?       "I will believe that the people of these United States deserve free government till they themsleves order otherwise.  They must decide next month whether they will be free or bond, whether they will sign away rule or whether they will sign away thier liberty and forever more be slaves.  This is the last chance.  They will not have short of some direful cataclysm another chance to make a change of parties by the simple lawful and peaceful ballot box, and I am sure that they will not let it pass them at the command of the Big Stick.                 WAS FEELING FIT       Captain Gordon of Cumberland spoke for a half hour and was listened to attentively.  Evidently the Captain was feeeling fit, and injected a little humor into his speech.  "I believe," said the Captain, "that Bryan will be elected for the following reasons:        "First--Labor is going to suppor him more unitedly than it ever supported any Presidential candiate before.  I believe that 90 per cent of the labor vote will be to Bryan       "Second--Practically all the gold Democrated bolters of "06" are more united than they have been since Cleveland was elected in 1892.       "Third--The Republicans have the biggest lot of quarrels on their hands ever know in a single year, these quarrels threatening disasterous losses in States that are vital to Republican success, such as Ohio, Wisconsin, the two Dakotas, New York and West Virginia.       "Fourth-- Republican "luck" has been broken by a panic; there is still a vast army of unemployed workers.       "Fifth--A great revolution has been going on among the farmers of the Middle West in favor of the popular reforms which the Republicans refused to put in their platform, and which the Democrast adopted, and this, I believe will be shown in the farming states of Kansas, Iowa, Naebraska, Minnesota, the two Dakotas, and Wisconsin       "Sixth--The railroads, having mixed too much in politics, I believe have determined to keep their hands off altogether, and will make no attempt to coerce their employes as they did in 1896 and 1900       "Seventh--The feeling among the President's reforms than does Taft and the feeling that Taft is not a militant aggresive reformer but a good-natured easy going man who will let things remain as they are.       "Eigth--The education that the farmers and workers have been getting of the discrimations of the tariff which is reflected in the decision of the Republincans to revise the tariff.       "Ninth--Hostility to Speaker Cannon, the stand pat ring in the House and the Aldrich domination of the Senate       "Tenth-- The scandals connected with the collection of Republican campaign funds.                  REPUBLICAN PARTY DOOMED       "Mr. President and gentleman of the Grievance Club, I say to you that the Republican party is doomed.  It has betrayed the people into the hands of the trusts.  It must go."       "More power to you, Bob," shouted Ned Brennan , and by the same token its not long since you wor a Raypublican yourself, but shure, It's never too late to be daycint."       "That's a doggone good speech, Captin", said Harris Fazenbaker, as he shook hands with Robert.  "Every dog gone Fazenbaker in Allegany and Garrett counties is going to vote for Bryan and Lewis.                    WANT MORE PENSIONS       "What'll Bryan do for the old sogers?" asked the Pensioner, "we want more pinshun, we're not gettin' half enough.  We should have five dollars a day ivery wan av us."       "Oh, the Colonel 'ill take care of the pensioners," said John Chambers, "He is the great pension producer.  If you want an increase write to the Colonel and be sure to state how many votes you control.  He got me an increase the other day and wrote me a nice letter about it.  I was 62 years old about that tome, and the Colonel's letter didn't reach me until several days after my increase was granted.                 HOW DID HE GET IT          "How did that gentleman get his military title?" asked Peter Wright.       "Riding Kelso's old horse at Militia trainings." replied Frank McMahon.  "He had saddle boils frequently in those days."                    THEIR OWN PAPERS SHOW IT       "One need not read a line of the Democratic papers," said Walter Scott Weaver, "To see that the Republicans are in desperate straits.  Their own papers whow that plainly.  Within the last three weeks they have become alarmed.  Teddy is desperate ail fat man, Friday, pretends to be confident of election.  He's Teddy's candidate and Teddy is king.  That's how he reasons.  If he reasons at all.  The Republicans see their finish.  Their tactics show that.  First, there was the forged Cleveland letter, then t'all abonded his front porch campaign and a hustling to and fro over the country.  For the first time in the history of the country the White House has been converted into headquarters of a political party and the President had entered into a controversay with members of his own and other parties in an effort to boost one candidate at the expense of another.  The old stale lies about Bryan are being revamped and newer ones fabricated and every attempt is being made to distract the attention of the voters from the real issue, but gentlemen, I feel as confident of Bryan's election as I am that justice and truth prevail in the end.       Herr Von Schloss-stein, at Frostburg, made his first speech in the club and was very severe on Teddy, "That spitzboob" said he, "vants to be Katser in this country.  Hitus a dunnervetter ve vant no turdamder Kaiser here.  Dot Roosevelt he's a mowl aisel und dot Tait is a scenwobe Rouse mit'ein!  I vote me for Bryan und der Bliner Lewis".                       SUGAR TRUST TOUCHED       Ed Duffy of Frostburg, also talked politics from the green chest a while, "the sugar trust has just tacked on ten cents per hundred to the price of that commodity, presumably on the belief that it was included among the schedles that need revising upwards.       "Maybe the trust has been touched for a campaign contibution." Interruped Fritz Mayer, " and is trying to reimbuse itself in the usual way-- by robbing the people".                PRESIDENT FOR CANNON       "The time was," went on Ed., "when Roosevelt believed that it was no credit to the Republican party that Joe Cannon was one of its leaders in Congress.  Now Roosevelt to warmly supporting Cannon and Cannon's proxy.       "The panic of 1873 came when a Republican high protective tariff law was in full force and effect and the administration solidly Republican.  Same thing in 1893.  Same thing in 1907.  And no amount of Republican sophistry can remove the facts.                    THE BATTLEFIED OF GETTYSBURG       John Chambers informed the Club that he spent a few days last week on the battlefield of Gettysburg.  "I took part in that engatment," said John, "I've wanted to visit the battlefield again, so I took an old comrade with me and we visited all the points of interest.  I stood on Culp's Hill and in my mind's eye saw again "That matchless infantry, With Pickett leading grandly down To rush against the roaring crown Of those dread heights of destiny. I head above the angry guns A cry across the tumult run The voice that rang thru' Shilo's      woods And Chickamauga's soldiers The fierce South cheering on her sons, Ah, how the withering tempest blew Agains the front of Pettigrew A Khamsin wind that scorched and singed Like that infernal flaame and strangling smoke The remnant thro' the batteries broke And crossed the works with Armisted Once more in Glory's van with me, Virginia cried to Tennesee We two together, come what may, Shall stand upon these works today. The redded day in history In vain the Tennesan set His breast agains the bayonet In vain Virginia charged and taged A tigress in her wrath uncaged. Till all the hill was wet and red The brave went down without disgrace They leaped in ruin's red embrace They only heard Fame's thunder wake And saw the dazzling sunburst break In smiles on Glory's bloody face. Fold up the banners Spike the guns Love rules.  Her gentle purpose pulls A mighty mother turns in tears The pages of her battle years. Lamentating all her fallen sons.       "Yes, gentlemen, I was over the battlefield.  It looks much different today.  The battles are position and I imagined I could hear the captain's shouting, "Number one, ready? Fire!                  "WITH SHRAPNEL LOAD; BY BATTERY FIRE" I stood on Little Round Top and saw again that long grey line in three division on echleon tipped with the flag of the cross of fire, coming thro' the wheatfield with Pickett, the debonaair, riding his white horse and his cap tilted on his right eye as if on parade I could see Garnett, Trimble, Pettigrew and Armistead at the head of their division.  I could hear the shouting of the captains:  "Dress on the colors!  Steady!  Steady!  I could see our artillerymen standing by their guns, the drivers sitting silently on their horses watching that magnificent advance.  "Then hell broke loose; Three hundred guns opened that line--and wel I well gentlemen--I could see it all again."                       AN EXPANSIVE IMAGINATION "you must have a very expansive imagination.  "Tisn't every one that can start a battle of Gettysburg any old time he wants to."       "I was there Squire, I was there, and I helped to repel that charge, " said John.                        GOOD AT CHARGING       "Syou wor," remarked Ned Brennan.  "you wur always good at charging.  You'll charge a poor divil tin dollars and costs for getting full and old day."       "I was at that battle mesell,"  said the Pensioner and"--       "You're a liard, you ould omithaun," shouted Ned Brennan, "you wor not in that battle nor any other battle.  You told that lie so often you believe it yourself.  Shut your gob and give us a rest."       "Mr. Chambers,"  Said Lou Murray, "if you were on  Culp's Hill when Pickett charge you didn't see him advance.  That would have been and physical impossibility.  You must have been in the 12th corps or perhaps you were with the weary 6th corps lying back in reserve.  I was with the 5th corps on Little Round Top and we saw it all.  Oh, yes; Brave Tennessee in reckless way.  Virginia hear her comrade say, "Close round this rent and riddles rag What time she set her battle flag Amid the guns of Doubleday!       At this point the Squire gave Tiger the signal the pipes and tobacco were brought out and the club proceeded to have a little fun.  Butler Carpenter sang and so did Oscar Hadra.  Charley Connelly did some Shakespeare and Peter Wright danced a jig and had to repeat it.  Walter Scott Weaver wanted to recite a canio from "Lady of the Lake" but was persuaded to desist, and instead he gave a song and dance.  Captain Gordon recited Bret Harte's "Aged Stranger" and John Wesley sang "Annie Laurie, Harris Fazenbaker and Joe Arnold sang a duet and Dan Laughlin of Lake, danced an Irish hornpipe.  Ned Brennan sang a com-all-ye called "Whats that to any man whether or no"  The gramaphone helped out the entertainment so did Oscar Hadra who brough a package or two from Cumberland.  When about to adjourn the club sang the doxology standing                          W.A.G.                                              Additional Comments: Some of this is written with the brogue and foreign accents of the members. It also gives one an insight into the politics of 100 years ago. Time passes but does anything ever truly change? More columns from the Grievance Club reported in the Evening Times. This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mdfiles/ File size: 15.9 Kb This file is located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/md/allegany/newspapers/grievanceclub19081016.txt