Decatur Democrat, Volume 42, Number 10, Decatur, Adams County, 19 May 1898 — Page 1

aIL the news all the time.

VOLUME XLII.

congressional CONVENTION. Biographical flention of the Candidates, and a Web come to Their Host of Rooters.

The approaching republican continual convention WjH soon be a enough reality, and the enterpns- ® citizens of Decatur be he repub“°n or democrat, are alike interested iu ‘ ina king it a rousing success. Ever Jaee the announcement was made nublie that Decatur was selected for she meeting of this very important convention, there has been displayed a unanimous sentiment to show ourselves off with credit, regardless of nolitical affiliation. We are proud of the honor bestowed upon the name of our fair city, and will do honor to the occasion, and make every visitor glorify over magnitude and the beauties that surround us. Appreciation can be better enjoyed when it is known that Decatur was selected as the convention citv, in the face of such opposition as Anderson, Muncie, Elwood, Hartford City, and several other important and’ convenient places of meeting. At any rate we rejoice that the privilege of 'extending entertainment to so distinguished an occasion has been entrusted to us, so the political bearing will Im> scratched off the slate for one day. and a glad hand extended to one and all. Once before during our connection with the old eleventh district, we entertained a con sessional convention. It was in 1894, at which time the Hon. A. N. Martin was renominated without opposition. In 1895 the state legislature redistricted the state for congressional purposes, and as now composed embraces the counties of Adams, Blackford. Delaware. Jay. Madison. Randolph and Wells. Statistical figures credits the district as being the second largest in the United States. In 1896 the combined votes of Henry and Brunt were 57,458. The dense population comes from the manufacturing cities of Muncie. Anderson. Elwood, Alexandria and Hartford City. The basis of representation at next Tuesday’s convention is based upon one delegate for every 150 votes east for W. D. Owen, the republican nominee for secretary of state. This division of delegates gives Adams 11 Blackford 14 Delaware 49 Jay 23 Madison 56 Randolph 31 Wells 15 Total 199 Necessary to choice 100. Five candidates are seeking the necessary one hundred votes in the coining convention, and in the order of counties named are the Hon. G. W. Cromer of Delaware, Hons. Horace C. Stilwell and Isiah P. Watts of Madison, Hon. Albert O. Marsh of Randolph, and Hon A. L. Sharpe of Mells. Each one of the candidates with the exception of Watts has his home county pledged to his support. This leaves the battle ground between Adams, Jay and Blackford who have a total of forty-eight votes and if united on any one of these candates would give Cromer ninetyseven, Stilwell one hundred and four, Marsh seventy-nine, and Sharpe sixtythree. Each woidd then be short of the nomination with the exception of Stilwell, who would have four in excess of the required number. There is no danger of these counties uniting, and the probability seems flattering for a long stubborn convention fight, resulting in the withdrawal of one of the candidates or the nomination of a dark horse. These political points are "ell known over the district, and will * the means of bringing delegations trom every county in the district, who "th whoop ’er up for their favorites. “ ts estimated that at least 1500 strangers will visit our city upon this d a . T ' and it will stand every one in itand to put on their best behavior

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HON. GEORGE W. CROMER. «ome SS *A*i n exten ding a hearty welrooni T '' niwt ' n g held in the court weru iu *; s u a y evening committees as follows: S. Pete jrson, C. P i Erwin, A. Holthouse, B. W. Sholty. Dr , R - K. Allis.,u, J. W. Vail, 3e ’ Chas ' Murra - V ’ C ' E -

Dbcatilß

Decoration W. A. Kuebler, D. W. Sprang. C. P. Ehinger, Albert Brittson, C. K. Bell. Printing C. M. Kenyon, L. G. Ellingham. Reception B. W. Quinn. Dell Locke, French Quinn, C. M. Kenyon, J. S. Peterson, L. G. Ellingham, Bert Lower, Shaffer Peterson, Enos Peoples, G. W. Woodward, R. K. Erwin, H. T. Gregg, C. A. Dugan. J. T. France, J. T. Merryman, A. J. Smith, P. G. Hooper, R. B. Allison, J. L. Gay, David Studabaker, J. F. Snow, Ervin Brandyberry, Dan Yager, A. P. Beatty, John Yager, Dr. P. B. Thomas, D. W. Meyers, Jeff Bryson, Jerry Coffee, Dick Townsend, Godfrey Christen, F. M. Schirmeyer, Sam Shamp, H. A. Fristoe, Jacob Martin, J. W. Teeple, J. W. Tyndall, P. J. Hyland, C. F. True. W. H. Niblick. John Lose, D. M. Hensley. D. E. Smith. Henry Krick. D. N. Erwin, Norval Blackburn. J. H. Lenhart, E. Fritzinger and Mat Kirsch. The committee on arrangments met at R. S. Peterson's office yesterday morning and agreed to procure a tent for the holding of the convention. Since then arrangements have been made for an eighty foot tent with a seating capacity of 1500 people, thus affording ample room for the candidates and others to swell themselves. The committee also arranged headquarters for the county delegations and convention committees, and as decided upon they will be located as follows: COUNTY DELEGATES. Adams -Law office, Lutz & Snow. Blackford Law office France & Merryman. Delaware—Armory. Jay Law office, Sholty & Quinn. Madison Court room. Randolph G. A. R. Hall. Wells Law office, R. K. Erwin. The delegations meet at 10 o'clock. COMMITTEES. Permanent Organization Office of R. S. Peterson. Credentials Office of Dr. P. B. Thomas. Resolutions Office of Mann & Beatty. The committees meet at 11 o’clock. In order to acquaint our people with the different candidates we present with this a biography of each one, and the “cuts” of three, being unable to secure the other two. The biographies were prepared by the newspapers of the several localities and to them we delegate the liability of correctness. HON. GEORGE W. CROMER. The Labor Union of Indianapolis, says of the Delaware county candidate: George W. Cromer, present Mayor of Muncie, Ind., is conspicuous among the many distinguished sons of Indi ana who started in life with no capital save a fund of native ability and a will. Mr. Cromer is in every respect a self-made man, he having begun his existence on the farm, where he worked and attended the public schools in Delaware county, where his father, Josiah Cromer, resided. His native talent began to develop at an early age and his ambition was to fit himself for usefulness in a larger sphere. With that end in view he took a collegiate course in Wittenberg College at Springfield. Ohio. He afterwards graduated from the State University at Bloominerton, Ind., with adegreeof A. B. With this preparation Mr. Cromer began his active career, since which time his advancement has been rapid. Mr, Cromer located in Muncie in 1882 and tegau reading law. His ability become so recognized by the voters of Delaware county, in the year 1886. that they honored him with the office of prosecuting attorney. He was re-elected in 1888. He was made chairman of the Delaware county republican committee in 1892 and he was twice made a member of the state committee. In May, 1894 he was elected Mayor of Muncie, which office he now holds. The secret of Mr. Cromer's popularity is largely due to the fact that he is in close touch with the masses in their struggle and ambition for better conditions. M hen natural gas was discovered in this district it presented wonderful opportunities for labor and capital to work together. In the devlopment of the new wealth Mr. Cromer being of a practical businesss turn of mind, immediately allied himself with the workingmen and business men m making Muncie an industrial center. Mr. Cromer’s keen insight into practical affairs made him see that wellpaid labor was essential to real prosperity. hence he always favored the organization of workingmen. His sympathy and influence have ever been exerted in the encouragement of unionism. This fact is so well recog nized in Muncie that there is no one who can doubt his position on tl a matter. When President Samuel Gompcrs had his large meeting in■ Muncie last year he was the gue. Mayor Cromer while in that citv. - •, Cremer's statesmanship is of that,

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, MAY 19. 1898.

kind that believes that this pushing business age needs men of affairs and business tact to guide the ship of state. He is making a canvass for the I nomination for congress to represent the eighth district and those who want an able and practical man to fill that office can not do better than to give their support to him. Workingmen have always found in him a friend. He is a splendid example of that type of statesman of which this country is justly proud. Those who have come up from the field and the workshop, those who have won their spurs through merit—are the men who have made the pages of American history glorious with the triumphs of peaceful progress and development, and so long as such men guide the ship of state it will not strand upon the rocks of monarchial tendencies or decayed statesmanship. Mr. Cromer is a man of the people, who can be approached by the lowliest citizen with confidence. In addition to his ability as a speaker, he has tact and energy, that would make him a useful member on the floor of congress. HON. HORACE C. STILWELL. Madison county will present the name of Horace C. Stilwell as hercandidate for congress at the Decatur convention to be held May 24, next. He will have a solid delegation from this county, having been unanimously endorsed by the county convention of January 22. Mr. Stilwell is essentially a home product, claiming Madison county his birth-place, His father, Col. Thos. N. Stilwell, was elected to congress from this county and served with honor and distinction the term immediately following the civil war, and during his lifetime was one of the leading men of the state. His maternal grandfather was the Hon. James Conwell, who repesented Fayette county, Ind., two terms in the state legislature. Mr. Stilwell was educated in the common schools of Anderson,

I HON. ALBERT O. MARSH.

followed by a course at the Upper I lowa University, Fayette, lowa, finally | graduating at the University of Michigan atAnn Arbor. After graduating Mr. Stilwell was admitted to the bar of the supreme court of Minnesota and ( commenced the pratice of his chosen profession in the office of Murry & Woodruff, one of the leading law, firms of the northwest. Upon the retirement of Air. Woodruff from the > firm Mr. Stilwell was accepted as a! full partner. He rapidly took a high rank as an attorney and especi-, ally as a pleader, as it afforded an. opportunity to display the fine oratorical abilities with which nature had : so generously endowed him. He was ' closely identified with the republican ’ party in Minnesota and did much good work for the cause. Early, in , 1891 Mr. Stilwell returned to his, native city to take charge of Major Doxey’s large and varied interests which he has managed with signal success. Mr. Stilwell is a young man and stands for no class creed or faction. The following clipped from the Union, published at Indianapolis, and the official organ ot the Feder-! ation of labor indicates his standing . with the artisan. Mr Stilwell’s sur-1 roundings have made him by nature j a friend of the trade unions. He is universally popular with all classes, I and speaks in unmeasured praise for the cause of trade unions as he understands it. He is a man with an open countenance that is inviting in its effect upon the modesty of those seekin<r an approach in conversation. He is everything but vain, and has such a higher consideration for the artisan , as to acknowledge the superiority of t those'who in the most humble oceu- i pations of life he would have them enjoy the same prerogative as the congressional aspirant. He has never ' been a candidate for any political office before the indorsement for con-

gress which he recieved from his own county. His business experience has been such as to bring him in the way of national legislation, and his friendliness to organized labor would make him watchful of its interests.” Mr. Stilwell is a graceful and forceful speaker and since the casting of his first vote has used his talents in, advancing the cause of the party with j which he has affiliated. He was one of the ablest exponents of sound money iu the memorable campaign of '96. He was untiring in his work during that campaign making many speeches in different parts of the state. His meetings were not only numerous but largely attended and he recieved high praise from the state central committee for his effective work. Madison county stands second to no county in the state as to matters which need especial attention in the halls of congress. Her varied interests, her large population, and her political importance is such as to make her claims I for the congressional nomination second to no county in the district. The agricultural districts of the state are largely represented in congress and it is incumbent that the eighth district semi a representative who comes from the great manufacturing center and who is in touch with the needs and wants of those who have made the eighth district what it is the second largest congressional district in the United States. Anderson Herald. HON. ISIAH P. WATTS. The tollowing is taken from the Alexandria Tribune. “The name of Hon. I. P. Watts, of Alexandria, Madison county, Indiana, will be presented by his republican friends as a candidate for congress from the Bth congressional district. Mr. Watts has lived in this district from early childhood, his father settled in Wells county as a pioneer in the year 1847, and he helped to clear up a farm out

lof the green woods, and became well I acquainted with hard labor and has ! teen a friend of the laborer ever since. Being determined to have an education he worked his way through Labor i College, Jay county, became a teachl er and taught school in Wells, Adams and Blackford counties. When the the war came on, at the age of twentytwo, he enlisted in Co. H, Indiana , Volunteer infantry, at Winchester, 1 Ind., and carried a musket as a private 1 soldier for three years, and was as I good a soldier as any in his regiment. After the war he read law with ChenI ney & Watson, and was admitted to the bar in 1866 and practiced his profession until 1876, when he was nom--1 mated by his party for Secretary of State. He made a valiant fight and ' received many compliments for his work on the stump, but was with Gen. Harrison and the rest of the ticket defeated at the polls. In 1880 he was elected clerk of the circuit court of Randolph county, and served one ; term. In 1892 he represented the ! Sixth congressional district in the i national republican convention at I Minneapolis. In 1895 he was chosen ■as a delegate to the national republican league convention at Cleveland. ■ Ohio, and was at that convention 1 chosen vice-president for the State of : Indiana. He has twice represented I his comrades of this district in the National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, and stands; high in the estimation of his comrades i l of war, and no man in the district ' could tetter represent them than he. ■ ' Mr. Watts is a man with a character I above reproach, and lias teen all his ! life. He has taken a lively interest in ■ ’ all public measuresand moral reforms, I ' and is as near in touch with the people as any man in the district. He ‘ has been benevolent, and his big-heart-edness has kept him from becoming rich. He is a man of fine intellectual.

power, a fluent and ready talker on almost any subject. He is active and energetic in everything he undertakes, and never admits defeat. He has taken part in every campaign of his party since 1866, and on the stump has made more speeches than any! other man in the district. H<> is now ’ fifty-seven years old, yet in full vigor | of a ripe manhood, and would make a ! magnificent canvass if nominated, i Two years ago he was endorsed by his county and made a gallant fight for the nomination in Delaware county, and had it not been for the resolution j passed in Delaware county, 'allowing. Hon. Charles L. Henry to choose all the delegates, Mr. Watts would have been nominated. He gracefully withdrew from the field and was made chairman of the convention at Hartford City, and Air. Henry was nominated by acclamation. Mr. Watts made a fine impression on that convention and received the congratulations of all the delegates present, an many promises of support in this race he now’ seeks to realizes on these promises, and hopes that his hopes are not in vain. In 1891 Mr. Watts organized the Phillips Land and Gas Company and became identified with the interests of Alexandria, and all of his financial interests have been in this county ever since, and no one is more interested in the development of Madison county or will work harder for her success, politically or in the line of industry.” HON. ALBERT O. MARSH. From the Winchester Journal of December 27, we re publish the following glowing tribute to the Randolph county statesman and candidate: He began life and spent the days of his boyhood on a farm in Northern Ohio, and enjoyed such educational advantages as the ordinary schools, and a partial course at Hiram College, where he recited to James A. Garfield, the Statesman when the latter was a teacher in that institution, now celebrated because of his connection with it. Judge Marsh enlisted as a private soldier on the 18th day of April 1862, in the 15th Ohio Regiment for three months, and served this term in West Virginia, having participated in the engagements at Phillippi. Laurel, Hill and Barracks Ford. In September, 1862, he enlisted in the 46th Ohio Infanry, as a private, was soon made a sergeant, and in June, 1863, was commissioned by the President Captain of Co. F. in the 59th L . S. colored infantry. He was for some time aide-de-camp on the staff of Gen. R. P. Buckland, then in command at Alemphis, Tenn.; he also served as Assistant Inspector-General on staff of Gen. A. L. Chetlin, holding that position until the last of July, 1865, at which time he was appointed Superintendent of the Millitary Secret Service Corps, by Gen. JolmS.Smith; with headquarters at Memphis; in Februrary, 1866, this Corps was disbanded, and he resumed civil life, coming directly to this state with the purpose of mailing it his future home. Having commenced the study of law’ before entering the service of his country he determined iqxm the adoption of the legal profession, and resumed the study of law, which he prosecuted while teaching; he was admitted to pratice in the circuit court of Jackson county, by the late Judge Bicknell, in February, 1867. He came to Winchester in 1869 and has resided here every since, except a brief sojourn as a Federal official in Washington Terriitory. In 1878 he was elected Prose- ! euting Attorney for the 25th Judicial I Circuit then composed of the counties j of Randolph and Deleware, a position I which he filled with distinguished ability. In 1878, during his incumbency of the office of Prosecutor, he was nominated by the republicans of his county for the Legislature, but some doubt being expressed as to his eligibility, in view of the fact that he then held the office of Prosecuting Attorney, he withdrew from the ticket. In 1880 he was elected to the State Senate, on a contingency, which did not arise, and he made no claim to the place. In 1883 he was appointed Receiver of the public moneys and Disbursing Agent at Vancouver, Washington Territory; in the campaign of 1884 he canvassed the State of Oregon and Territory of Washington for the republican candidates, and on the election and inauguration of Mr Cleveland as President, immediately tendered his resignation of the office, and upon its acceptance, some months afterwards, returned to this place and resumed the practice of law. At the general election in 1894 he was elected Judge of this circuit, and is now in the active discharge of the duties of this office. Judge Alarsh is a member of the Presbyterian church, belongs to many of the fraternal societies, the Loyal Legion, and was the first Commander of the Post of the G. A. R. at this place. He was Department Commander of the Department of Indiana from 1894 to 1995. he is now chair man of the committee of the National Encampment G. A. R. on school histories. He has always been an active republican, giving his services to that party at all times. Has perhaps made more speeches is his various canvasses j than any republican speaker in the, district. His services in this capacity , being in constant demand and always gratuitously and unselfishly rendered.

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and he has not onlj’ rendered party service upon the stump but has accepted and discharged with great ability and success the more exacting and laborious though less inviting duties of chairman of the republican committee, which position he occupied in the campaigns of 1890 and 1892. It can be truly said of him that lie never dishonored a draft made upon by his party in any political campaign. It has been his aim and l. i OHB WWj If effort to do well whatever he has undertaken in life whether as an official, in his professional and business capacity or in discharge of his duty as a citizen, and as a result his life has been eminently a successful one, and he commands the respect and confidence of all who know him. He is by nature fitted for leadership, his figure is commanding and his presence dignified, and upon the stump he has few’ equals; with a magnificent voice and easy delivery he impresses himself upon his audiences most strongly by his earnestness and evident sincerity and honesty. He is the opposite of the demagogue and always appeals to that which is best in his auditors, having faith in the honesty and patriotism of the masses. He is a good politician, not a trickster nor a schemer but has eminent practical judgment and foresight in all political affairs, is a courageous fighter and never permits himself to be carried off his feet by the two opposites, over confidence or useless fright, If the republicans of this congressional district shall (as we believe they will) place him at the head of their ticket this campaign will be actively, intelligently and aggressively fought out on national issues and a glorious victory achieved. He is in the prime of life, in vigorous health, and surrounded by hosts of active and influential friends who have confidence in his future, and who will give him inspiration and encouragement. His candidacy presages, and is an earnest indication of victory. Without intending disparagement to any of the able and eloquent republicans in the district who are or may become, aspirants for the congressional nomination, we beg to present the name of Judge Marsh as combining more of the elements of success and possessing more of the attributes of leadership and of availability than of any other in the district. He is a good, clean, strongman with an unassailable public record and a spotless private life. We shall take pleasure in supporting him, not alone because he is Randolph county's candidate, but because he possesses all the characteristics of ability, honesty and uprightness which commands our confidence and impels our support for the exalted place to which he aspires, HON. A. L. SHARPE, From the Bluffton Chronicle we take the following complimentry notice of our distinguished neighbor: A. L. Sharpe is a native of Ohio, educated in the common schools except one year at Delaware Ohio. He was a soldier in the late war entering the ranks as a private and quit the O.fir > 'Vv W HON. R. S. PETERSON, PROBABLE CHAIRMAN. service of his country as a captain, with the record of a lighter to theend. which is made clear by an honorable discharge. After his service in the army he began the study of medicine and graduated with high honors from the Ohio medical college, and engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery. Although successful, this however. did not seem suited to his taste,