Hobart Senior High School - Memories Yearbook (Hobart, IN)

Page 26 text:

THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. Q 0 Q r A J |HEN, in the fall of 1912, there was so much interest and excitement about politics and the new Progressive party seemed to be pushing itself to the front, we pupils of Hobart High wanted to enter right into the fun and help our side to win. So the only way we could do it (because the boys were hardly old enough to vote and the girls could not vote, for it seems they never become old enough) was to have a mimic campaign and election. At the suggestion of Supt. Thompson, we divided into parties and it seems that the Republican principles must have had a strong hold on the Seniors, or probably it was a case of “the tie that binds,” for they all became staunch Republicans but one, and she, sorry to tell, went over to the Democrats. Each part y met in different rooms and had a teacher to preside over the meeting and to start the ball a-rolling, so to say. The Repub- licans had Mr. Haughtelin; the Progressives, Mr. Stoltz, and the Demo- crats, Miss Quinnell. We elected our campaign managers, chairman and platform committees, stump speakers and other dignitaries which, for one who is not a suffragette, are too hard to remember. Here the work of the Stump Speakers began ; for each speaker was supposed to know every plank in his platform and to astonish our all- believing ears, for such they were. Even the members of our own party, when asked why they belonged, were very indignant if the ques- tion carried the insinuation that it was because our fathers did. The speeches were all so good and overwhelming that a few did not know which side to belong to and so were “on the fence.” Finally those “on the fence” went over to the different parties either by the attraction of some pretty girl or by the pushing and pulling of some boy. Bribes! 0, you must not say that. No, we only used such things as, “If you don’t belong to our side I won’t go to the dance with you,” and, “If you come with us I’ll get your German for you.” No, there were not any of us second Lorimers. The Republicans and Democrats were at first about even, but little by little the number of the Democrats increased, so that at the end they had the highest number and the Republicans next. I don’t know how the Democrats got ahead, but you might ask Ethel and Alice about it. The Progressive party had the fewest of all, but even then we did not know how the election would end for some might not be able to mark their tickets properly. And we knew that if the ballots were mis- marked they would be thrown out. 24 0 Q tO Q

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Q 0 Where in jungles, near and far, Man-devouring tigers are, Lying close and giving ear Lest the hunt be drawing near, Gladys and Bertha both are seen Swinging in a palanquin; — Then when Hobart shall have grown To fill the space she now doth own, — When the present girls and boys Have quite outgrown their childish toys, And when kindly falls the night, And the town’s a-blaze with light, We’ll all return from outer gloom, Assemble in the banquet room, Recall the days in Hobart High, Feast and talk and laugh and sigh. RUTH S. THOMPSON. (j Q 6 Q b Q ( J a VIKW OF DEEP RIVER. HOBART. IXD. Q

Page 27 text:

0 0 In the conventions Edna Scheidt was nominated for president on the Progressive ticket, Fred Rose was proclaimed the Republican leader, and Fred Hillman was the Democratic candidate. Then came Registration Day and much fear was expressed by those living out of Hobart Township as to whether they were eligible or not. It was decided that since all were members of the High School they were entitled to vote. So we all went up, one at a time, to the library, where two Republicans and two Democrats sat in control of the machin- ery. There we answered the questions and signed our names. But November fifth was the greatest day of all, for this was to show the fruits of all our campaigning, and bribery, you will perhaps want to say. After the tables had been arranged out in the hall and the little room by the stairway assigned as the booth, it was announced that the ballots were ready. We were told to go and vote one at a time, and a feeling of pride and fear, too, and a swelling from that organ that St. Valentine Day could not do without, came, as we went to cast our first vote. “Our first vote”; what does that mean! Why, it means that in after years (1 don’t say how many) when folks say: “Well boy, how do you feel after your first vote?” (it may be girl, too, then) we can smile and remember that it isn’t our first vote as we think of the good old days in school. Well, the outcome of all this was that the Democrats won and Fred O 0