THE WAUPACA REPUBLICAN POST

October 17, 1912

 

ROOSEVELT SPEAKS HERE

 

Big Crowd Gathered at Soo Depot Friday In Heavy Rain

To Hear Former President Speak.

 

            Though the rain pelted down for more than an hour before the time for the Roosevelt Special car “Mayflower” to reach this city Friday, the crowds began to gather and when train No. 2 came in sight a thousand to twelve hundred persons stood in the rain to get a glimpse of the former president and endeavor to hear him speak.

            The train stopped where the engine might take water and the train being very long, the special car from which Col. Roosevelt spoke was left far west from the platform and on a narrow grade over a marshy spot so that it was difficult for more than a third of the people to get near enough to hear the speaker.

            Col. Roosevelt spoke highly of the progress of Wisconsin in securing progressive legislation and he stated that the National Progressive party hopes to see those policies and principles enacted into federal law which have proven good in Wisconsin.  He spoke of the great work of the progressives of Wisconsin, and expressed regret that one prominent Wisconsin man is now viewing his candidacy with disfavor.

            He defined the desirable citizen as one who adheres to principles of honest and decency. He said it is as bad to be dishonest in seeking a nomination as to defraud an individual or a corporation out of its money.

            Many in the crowd waited at the depot platform hoping that the train would pull up alongside so all could hear him, and when it was learned that the train crew would not do this, the people were disappointed.  Very little enthusiasm was manifested by those present whether from lack of Roosevelt sentiment or due to the weather it would be difficult to say.

            The weather and the circumstances of stopping where the train did had a marked effect on the crowd which was not confined to those living in this immediate vicinity but people were here who had come ten to fifteen miles to see and hear an ex-president, this being the first time that a former president ever graced Waupaca for a visit.

            At Weyauwega a large crowd turned out to hear Col. Roosevelt and it is reported that the crowd was much more enthusiastic there than in this city.  A hot box detained the train about twenty minutes at Weyauwega and the crowd had a more comfortable place to stand to listen and this seemed to be reflected in the attitude of the speaker as is usually the case.

            In the evening Col. Roosevelt spoke at Oshkosh to between ten and eleven thousand people in the big warehouse of the Grass Matting Company.  Those who attended from Waupaca report a big enthusiastic meeting.