The convention last week in Chicago
Decided, unanimously, too,
To put up a man for the nation,
The grandson of Tippecanoe.
They balloted lusty and strong,
Won over the enemy, too,
And when they had counted the ballots
They saw 'twas for Tippecanoe.
CHORUS
Then vote for our Tippecanoe,
Hurrah for our Tippecanoe;
We'll pull down the old red bandana,
And stand by the Red, White and Blue.
Cleveland has made them a platform,
And thinks he can win for them, too;
But, boys, it's too weak and too shaky,
Free trade with us never will do.
John Bull tried to rule us before,
He found the Americans true,
And away ran the redcoats before them
And up flashed the Red, White and Blue.
CHORUS
Then vote for our Tippecanoe,
Hurrah for Ben Harrison, too;
We'll pull down the old red bandana,
And run up the Red, White and Blue.

Words cannot describe the scene after this song. The Riverside papers said next morning: "It was certainly a rouser. Nothing like it was ever before seen or thought of in this city. Citrus fairs and all others sink into insignificance. With stirring music and with Harrison and Morton on top and that too without discrimination we must win, and win nobly."

I am not a poet by any means and in writing these verses I was put to my wits' end to have suitable lines for the occasion. I was but three years old when William Henry Harrison was elected president. My father was stationed in Evansville, Indiana. Small as I was I'll never forget the procession of Indians who frightened me so I hid under the bed and could not be found for the day. When I heard the grandson of Tippecanoe was nominated I began at once to sing the old song that was used in his grandfather's time and as I was getting the morning meal my son, William, and I set to work to compose suitable lines. How we succeeded you can see by the verses that took the house and every one on the platform by surprise. The cheering was deafening after each stanza was sung. It is unnecessary to state that the immense audience went perfectly wild with excitement.

One of the papers said:

"At the conclusion of her song, Hon. H.M. Streeter arose and addressed the immense throng and said, 'I thought I was a true American in spirit and a staunch republican all these years, but my patriotism pales this song and the patriotic spirit of this splendid woman. I propose we give three times three cheers to Mrs. Blake-Alverson' which were given with a vim that left no doubts of the sincerity of the enthusiastic people who gathered on this occasion and their appreciation of her efforts in making this demonstration such a stupendous success."

This was the second rally. Already the Opera house in San Bernardino was no longer adequate for the crowds that assembled nightly. Overflow meetings were held in the streets each time. At last we were obliged to have an amphitheater prepared to accommodate the crowds that were increasing with each rally. Never was such political excitement in that county. There was an enclosed stage erected and a piano placed upon it and each night speeches were made (and ringing ones too) and I think all the sleepy mossbacks were wide awake at last and realized that their kind of Democracy was tottering and waiting for the last blow. When Benjamin Harrison was elected the twenty-third president of these United States, San Bernardino county had demonstrations never equaled before or since. Every man, woman and child participated. Men from miles around were in the procession, features and transparencies of all kinds were carried by the marchers. After the procession they adjourned to the amphitheater for the exercises. My voice had been in constant use for two or three months and at the last moment I could not sing. I had written another song to be sung to the same tune, "Old Tippecanoe," and the chairman was obliged to let the people know I could not sing any more—the voice was gone. Such a howl of disappointment went up. I was obliged to stand before them and shake my head. I was not even able to speak to them. At this juncture I asked Mr. Brown to kindly read the verses, which were as follows:

We've voted and won now, my comrades,
The struggle decisive and strong;
The nation's decided the question
For our bold and brave Harrison;
May the nation's protection be blest
To the workingmen's families and homes;
John Bull can decide his own problems
And call his Lord Sackville back home.
CHORUS
Then hurrah for our Red, White and Blue,
Three cheers for our Harrison true;
May peace and prosperity bless us
For voting for Tippecanoe.
We'll veto no more now in Congress
The bills that should long have passed through;
The Mills Bill's a thing of oblivion
And its framer can follow it, too.
Then we'll carefully fold up the rag,
They flaunted so lusty and brave,
And bury it with the old relics,
'Way down in Salt River's deep wave.
CHORUS
Then hurrah for our columns so true,
Three cheers for Ben Harrison, too;
May peace and prosperity bless us
For voting for Tippecanoe.
The American land is a nation
And her people most loyal and true,
And all others take care how they meddle
Or insult her colors of blue.
San Berdoo and the counties around
Come in for their share of the fun
And have rolled up the numbers most nobly
And helped spike the enemy's gun.
CHORUS
Hurrah for the people so true,
Three cheers for Ben Harrison, too;
Secession can float their bandanas,
But the loyal, the Red, White and Blue.

After the excitement had somewhat subsided, Senator Streeter called upon the platform seven veterans who had voted for the first Harrison and in a befitting speech decorated these men with a fine red silk badge and I had the honor to pin these badges upon their coat lapels. As I did so tears fell upon my hands from the eyes of these patriotic old men. I also decorated General Vandevere and in return he decorated me as the historical and patriotic singer of California.