noon
All partisans of Federation sported a red ribbon ; all Anti-Federationists sported a blue ribbon . The schools were closed and the Federationists displayed their characteristic lack of scruple in appropriating the children . The Federationists , with devilish skill , had hired the Bursley Town Silver Prize Band , an organization of terrific respectability , and had set it to march playing through the town followed by wagonettes crammed with children , who sang : Vote , vote , vote for Federation , Do n't be stupid , old and slow , We are sure that it will be Good for the communitie , So vote , vote , vote , and make it go . How this performance could affect the decision of grave burgesses at the polls was not apparent ; but the Anti-Federationists feared that it might , and before noon was come they had engaged two bands and had composed in committee , the following lyric in reply to the first one : Down , down , down , with Federation , As we are we 'd rather stay ; When the vote on Saturday 's read Federation will be dead , Good old Bursley 's sure to win the day . They had also composed another song , entitled `` Dear old Bursley , '' which , however , they made the fatal error of setting to the music of `` Auld Lang Syne . '' The effect was that of a dirge , and it perhaps influenced many voters in favour of the more cheerful party . The Anti-Federationists , indeed , never regained the mean advantage filched by unscrupulous Federationists with the help of the Silver Prize Band and a few hundred infants .