Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1892 — GEOVER, THEN GRAY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GEOVER, THEN GRAY.

HOOSIER DEMOCRATS DECLARE THEIR CHOICE. ■ Lively Convention-at Indianapolis—Cleveland Is Indorsed and Matthews Selected for the Governorship—The Ex-Governor 'Faros Well—Favor Honest Money. The Ticket. Governor Claude Matthews I Jeu tenant Governor Mobtimeb Nyk Secretary ot State.. .Captain W. R. Myebs Treasurer Albkbt Gali. AuditorJ. 0. Hkndehson Attorney General Greek Smith Supt. of InstructionHibvby D. White The above is the head of the'ticket—a ticket as long as a comet’s tail—that was placed in nomination by the representatives' of the Democracy of the Hoosier State in convention assembled. It was one'of the most orderly, well-be-haved, business-like and enthusiastic State conventions that ever met in Indianapolis, and the ticket nominated is confessedly one of the strongest that the Democrats of Indiana have ever submitted for the suffrages of the people.. Every county in the State was represented by a full delegation and 3,000

enthusiastic Democrats from throughout the State crowded the galleries and aisles. The convention was held in Tomlinson Hall, a magnificently decorated structure, in which the stars and stripes played a prominent part in the elaborate adornments. 3 On the stage were

seated 150 of the prominent Democratic leaders of the State, and overhanging the Chairman’s desk were half a dozen mammoth American flags, bearing the portraits of Cleveland, Gray and Hendricks. Among the Democratic leaders seated on the stage were: Senators Turpie and Voorhees, William English, Vice Presidential candidate on the Hancock ticket; Chairman Taggart, of the State Central Committee; 8. P. Sheerin, Secretary of the National Democratic Committee; Congressmen Jason Brown, George W. Cooper and W. D. Bynum, a dozen ex-Congressmen and all the State Delegates to the National Convention. Senator Turpie Presided. The convention was called to order by Chairman Taggart. Ex-Senator Smith invoked divine blessing. There were loud cheers when the Committee on Permanent Organization reported United States Senator Turpie as chairman of the convention and Senator Voorhees, Hugh Dougherty, Charles L. Jewett and Samuel E. Morse as dele-gates-at-large to the Naticnal Convention. Senator Turpie made a forcible speech in support of Democratic principles and attacked the billion-dollar Congress and the administration of Mr. Harrison. Among other things he said: This convention means much more than the selection of the different candidates for the State offices to be filled next November. ItiscomEised of the constituent elements of the emocracy of Indiana, assembled to take measures for the advancement of their cause and for the public welfare. It means absolute freedom and equality of elections in the several States. It means the defeat and overthrow of all force bills and Federal returning boards. It means the perpetual establishment of elections by the people and for the people as *he chief art and part of political liberty. And we may note now, since the deieat ot that nefarious measure, what a cessation there has been of mere sectional strife and racial hatred The “Southern outrage,” formerly manufactured daily, has ceased to be a commodity on the market. Quiet and tranquillity have followed the defeat of sectional fanaticism. Peace—domestic peace—has Bowed in on us like a river and has visited all our borders with its most gracious benediction. This convention means reduction of the rates of taxation, the readjustment of those rates so 1 hat i the public burdens shall not be placed merely upon man’s daily necessities, but in some degree upon their wealth and ability to bear and pay them. The proposition that all land and labor of the country must be specially taxed for the benefit of a comparatively small portion of the community—what are called the protected industries—this small portion being in corrupt alliance with certain portical agencies of the Republican party, and being vested wih the taxing power of the Government to enricn themselves by a forced levy and daily pillage of all the men and women engaged in oth< r trades and vocation —this proposition is one from which reason and justice alike recoil. T his is a policy which the voters if the United. States nave, as long ago as November, 1890, by a firm and immutable decree, determined to erase and expunge from national legislation. Our presence here also implies the Immediate reduction of public expenditures; it signifies the political death and burial ot all the supporters and advocates of that mammoth extravaganza, the billion appropriation bill, and especially it indicates the early political obsequies ot that very demure and reticent billionist who has his lodgings at present in the White House, who signed and approved that bill, without whose name and signature this enormous draft upon the moneys of the people could neither have been made, paid nor presented.

A return of the administration of the government to the ancient line of wise and strict economy and the highest Integrity in public expenditures ■will give us the more abundant funds for the purpose of meeting the just and necessary demands upon the National Treasury. And this assembly, therefore, means that the pensions due to the soldiers and sailors in the service of the United States, their personal representatives during the war for the Union, shall be punctually and promptly paid, as provided by law. The army pensions shall be generously sustained and approved. The tariff pensions, the tariff bounties, subsidies and monopolies must all go upon the list of rejected claims must be totally abolished and finally repealed. The most complete personification, the veritable flesh and blood embodiment of the fallacies, falsehoods and follies of Republicanism is found in the present occupant of the presidential chair. At the commencement of the present session of congress the President s nt a message to the people, through their representatives nt that time assembled. The period when the message was sent was one of much depression. There were thousands of laborers, miners, mechanics, waiting and waiting in vain for the increase in wages promised by the McKinley bill There were other thousands waiting for work, for employment at any wages, promised after the pas sage of the same measure The great agricultural products-cotton, corn, wheat—were depressed in prices and sustained nothing like the values which they had before the adoption of what is called the protective policy. But in this message so delivered not a word was said about the increase of wages; no suggestion was made with reference to additional chances for work and employment. There was a dead silence as to the depression in the price of farm products. There were very voluminous utterances concerning Behring Sea end Balmaceda. There were some very misty predictions and mysterious prophecies about the benefit* to be conferred upon this portion of mankind following from that very attenuated and shadowy hull of reciprocity. One would think from reading the President's message and making a fair and full interpretation of it—and of course I would make no other —that the people es the United States actually had no other means of redress, of escape, from the restrictions and exactions of McKinleyism than be the special grace and favor of some ambassador of the treaty-making foreign powers; the minister from Brazil, the Spanish cortes, the Captain General of Cuba, the Governor of Porto ftico—these can change, alter and amend the tariff rates in the McKinley bill, but it is claimed that ths people of the United States have no such power. It will be shown in November next by many Infallible proofs that the voters of this country have that power in their own hands. They will make and find a morp excellent way than any that has been dreamed of in the riddles or bubbles of diplomacy. Yes. the President sent to the people a message last December, and in November next the people trill send a message to the President. It Will be the same message that was sent to another ruler in another age: •You have been weighed-you have been weighed in the balance and you are found want{ng.* The Platform Adopted. The Committee on Resolutions reported the following platform, which wae read amid cheers and adopted by acclamation: We, tbe Democracy of Indiana, in delegate convention assembled, reaffirm our devotdo i to tbe lime-honored principles of our historic party. We believe that the powers delegated by the peopls shpuld be strictly construed; that the autonomy of the States and the rights of local self-government and home rule should be zealously guarded; that no money should be taken from tbe people under any pretext for other than public purposes : that the strictest economy should be exercised In all governmental expenditures, whether local. State. 1 or notional; that legislation should be confined to the legi (mate objects of government; that public offio. is a solemn public trust. we are uncompromisingly opposed to tbe enlargement and oon<entration of Federal powers; to tbe usurpation by the Central Government of the functions of the States* to bounties mid subeidiae.ip every form; to every species of class legislation and Government

•partnership with private ■enterprise to the whole theory and practioe of paternalism. A e believe that m a free country toe curtailment of absolute rights of the individual should onty be wuch as is .essential to the peace and :good order of the community, and we regard all legislation 'looking to the infringement of liberty of person or conscience not absolutely necessary to the maintenance us public order as vicious in principle and demoralizing tn practice. We arraign the administra ion of Benjamin Harrison for its subserviency te the interest of themoney .power which created it and its Indifference to the ■welfare ot the people; for its brazen violation of its solemn pledges to the country to elevate and purify the public service ; for its shameless prostitution of the public patronage to the vilest partisan purposes, as illustrated by the-sale o: a Cabinet office to John Wanamaker; by the employment of the Pension Bureau as a party machine, ana by the promotion of William A. Woods to a higher poet iu the Federal judiciary as a reward for hie services iu saving the “blocks of five" conspirators from the penitentiary; Tor its contemptuous repudiation of its promises to the veteran soldiers of the Union; for its wicked attempt to fasten upon tbs country the odious and un-Ameriean fores bill, intended, to deprive the people ot the right to regulate their own elections; for its weak and demagogical foreign lollcy, which has exhibited the American government te the world as a bully toward the feeble and a truckler to the powerful. We favor such a radical and comprehensive measure of tariff reform .as shall relieve the necessities Of the people and crude material of our manufactures from federal taxation. We condemn the so-called reciprocity policy as a transparent attempt te impose upon American people the shadow of 'commercial freedom for its'iubstanoe, in order 1 o perpetuate the existing system of licensed spojfatioa for the benefit of trusts and monopolies, which are the chief support of the Republican party. We believe that there should be kept in constant circulation a full and sufficient volume of money, consisting of gold, silver and legal tender paper currency, at par with each other. Weiavor the el’eotion of United States Senators directlyby the people, and oommend Senator Turpie for his efforts in Congress to secure this great reform. We indorse the course of our distinguished Senators, Daniel W. Voorhees and David Turpie, and we favor the re-election of Turpie to the position he has filled with such ability. We.most heartily applaud the action of our two last legislatures in passing the school-book laws, thereby giving the people of Indiana a complete series of school text-books equal to those formerly used at one-half the trust prices. We pledge ourselves to resist every attempt of the school-book combineto regain their control of Indiana and by that means bring about the frequent and expensive'Changes in books of which the people justly complained in former years. We approve the Australian election system introduced in Indiana by the Democratic party. It has stood the test of experience, and we aie in favor of maintaining it intact Ti ls convention hereby renews the expression of appreciation of the patriotism of the soldiers of Indiana in the war for the preservation of the Union and we favor just and liberal pensions for all disabled soldi-rs, their widows and dependents, but we demand that the work of the pension offices hall bedone industriously, Impartially and honestly. We denounce the administration of that office by the present commissioner. Green B. Raum, as incompetent, corrupt, disgraceful, and dishonest, and we demand his immediate removal from office. We heartily indorse the new tax law as a wise and beneficent act by which the increased revenues necessary for the support of the State Government are raised entirely from the corporations of the State that had heretofore unjustly escaped their fair proportion of taxation. We commend the Legislature fffr refusing to adopt Gov. Hovey’s recommendation to increase the State levy from 12 cents to 2> cents on SIOO, and for meeting the necessary expenses of the State’s benevolent institutions by a levy of 0 cents on the 8100. We denounce the in'amous conspiracy of the Republican county commissioners, township trustees, and other officials of Indiana who for the purpose of creating unfair prejudice against the new law tax have wantonly and needlessly increased the local taxes in the lorty-six counties controlled by them more than $1,210,000, a sum greater than the total increase of State taxes in the entire State. Vi e call on the taxpayers of those counties to rebuke at the polls those local officials who have put this needless and oppressive burden upon them. The Democratic party stands by its record as the triend of the masses as against the classes, and calls the attention of the laboring men of Indiana to the fact that it has given to them the eight-hour law, the law to prevent blacklisting, the law prohibiting truck stores, the law lor the protection of miners, and laws which make it impossible for Pinkerton detectives to arrest and slay laboring men in Indiana because ot their efforts toward self-protection. For thirty-five years the Republican party has legislated for the rich and powerful and in the interests of corporate wealth. The Democratic party pledges itself to remedy the evils growing out of such class legislation, and in future contests stand by the great producing masses, whose toil and self-sacrifices are the foundation ot all national wealth. We commend the organization of the industrial classes for self-protect ion against trusts, combines, and monopolies, and call attention of tbe farmers and laborers to the fact that every evil complained of by them is the result of Republican legislation.' ' Resolved, That this convention indorse’ the wise ancL patriotic administration of Grover Cleveland; that tbe Presidential campaign of 1191 should be conducted on the issue of tariff retorm as defined by the Presidential message of 1887; that, upon this issue, Mr. i leveland is the logical canoidate of the Democratic party. Resolved, That the Democratic party of Indiana expresses its unalterable confidence and attachment to its gallant leader, Isaac P. Grav; that it holds him to be worthy of any honor In the government of the American people, and that his name be presented to the convention by tbe delegation this day appointed, and in the event that the national convention deems the nomination of Mr. Cleveland inexpedient, the delegat on is instructed to use every honorable effort to secure the nomination of Gov. Isaac P. Gray for the Presidency . Named for the Supreme Court.

Jeptha D. New, of Jennings, and William R. Johqson, of Dearborn, were placed in nomination for Supreme <>udge of the Second District. Before the roll-call/was half over Judge New had been nominated. Judge Johnson withdrew, and New’s nomination was made unanimous. For Supreme Judge of the Third District, Judge C. F. McNutt, of Vigo, and James McCabe, of Warren, were placed before the convention. The contest was very close, but near the end of the call McCabe began to forge ahead, and at the close was nominated by a vote of 7‘29 Jto 5734. On motion of McNutt, the defeated candidate, the nomination of McCabe was made unanimous. For Supreme Judge of the Fifth District Timothy E. Howard, of St. Joseph, was nominated on the first ballot. Appellate Court Nominations. George L. Reihhardt of Spencer County was nominated for Judge of the Appellate Court for the First District, Frank E. Gavin of Decatur County nominated for Judge of the Appellate Court for the Second District, and Theodore P. Davis of Hamilton County was nominated for Appellate Judge of the Third District. For Appellate Judge of the Fourth District O. J. Loty of Delaware was nominated on the second ballot, and for the Fifth District G. E. Ross of Cass County on the third ballot. Turned His Face to the Walt. At this juncture one of the most amusing incidents of the day occurred. Large-sized portraits of Gray, Cleveland, and Hendricks had been suspended in a row above the stage during the proceedings. Suddenly the portrait of Gray begun to swing", probably impelled by slight draughts of air, and finally tinned with the face to the wall, resting in that position. Instantly there was a wild yell of applause from the Cleveland men, who regarded this as an omen of the retirement of Isaac Pusey Gray from the Presidential arena. Frantic attempts were made by the Gray men on the stage to restore the picture to its original position, but it persisted repeatedly in swinging back with the face to the wall, and each unsuccessful attempt to readjust it was only the signal for jeers of hilarity from the Clevelend men and cries of “They turned his picture to the wall!” The Gray men finally desisted and the exGovernor’s portrait remained for an hour with his face to the wall, until some thoughtful genius inserted guy cords to keep it steady. While these wild attempts were being made to preserve the Gray portrait in a dignified position, another draught of air caught Cleveland’s portrait and it, too, began to swing to one side. Immediately there were deafening cheers of delight from the Gray men, but their enthusiasm was short-lived. The portrait only swung half way round, and when it stopped, facing the ladies’ gallery, and the fair admirers of the exPresident applauded his unconscious deference to their sex, the Cleveland men caught it up and the late mishap was made the occasion for another <nthusiastio Cleveland demonstration. Content for Gov.->rnor« The greatest contest of the day began

when the nomination of a candidate foi Governor was in order. John G. lin of Evansville, Mason J. Niblaek ot Vincennes, and Mortimer Nye of Laporte were each placed in nomination with the usual manifestations of enthusiasm, but the wildest demonstration of the day took place when Claude Matthews of Clinton was presented as “the farmer candidate.” His followers leaped to their feet en masse when his name was presented, and, tossing their hats and handkerchiefs in the air, gave cheer after cheer for their candidate, until the galleries caught the infection, and for three minutes it looked as though Mr. Matthews must be nominated by acclamation. When the roll-call began Mr. Matthews forged ahead from the very beginning. The conclusion of the ballot showed Mathews within a few votes of the nomination, the result being: Matthews, 618; Shanklin, 360; Niblack, 173; and Nye, 160. Immediately St. Joseph Count? changed her 26 votes to Matthews, and when Tippecanoe followed by giving her 21 votes his nomination was assured, snd as the band struck up “Auld Lang Syne” cheer after cheer was given fol

the successful candidate. On the motion of the friends of Shanklin, Nye and Niblaek the nomination of Mr. Mathews was made unanimous. Prolonged applause greeted the appearance of Mr. Matthews, who made a brief speech, concluding: I will have the pleasure before the campaign is over of meeting you, fellow-Democrats, ir. each county of the State, so I will no longer take up your time. I will only thank you for the honor you have conferred upon me to-day—-for it is a divine privilege to be a Democrat. It is a glorious privilege to be the standard-bearer of Democracy, and while your standard is in my keeping it shall mot be trailed in the dust. Then were loud cries for Shanklin, and that gentleman finally .responded in a felicitous little speech. “I had prepared," said he, “a wholly different speech from the one which you are about to hear. I had pictured myself the possessor of the nomination of the party to which I have always belonged—the great object and ambition of my life. But I am here now as a Democrat, and although this convention has presented the cup of disappointment to my lips and I turn from its tasting with a little tinge of sadness, perhaps, yet that disappointment is notone which will rankle in my heart." Messrs. Niblack aud Nye also made brief speeches, and pledged their cordial support to the nominee of the party in the coming campaign. Mr. Matthews Is a Farmer. Claude Matthews, the nominee, was born Dec. 14, 1845, at Bethel, Bath County, Ky. He graduated at Center College, Danville, Ky., in June, 1867. He married Jan. 1, 1868, Martha R. Whitcomb, only child of the late James Whitcomb, who was Governor of Indiana in 1843 and 1846. Mr. Matthews moved to Vermillion County in 1869 and located on a farm three miles west of Clinton, where he has resided ever since, engaging in farming and stock breeding. In 1876 he was elected to the Legislature. In 1890 he was elected Secretary of State by a plurality of nearly 20,000. He has always been a Democrat and never engaged in any other business than that of farming. He is a member of the Farmers’ Mutual Benefit Association and is expected to receive great support from the agricultural organizations. Other Nominations. For Lieutenant Governor the following candidates were proposed: Mason J. Niblack, Mortimer Nye, Samuel W. Axtell,, John G. Shanklin, and I. B. McDonald. Marion County nominated Shanklin, and the nomination was immediately withdrawn by Shanklin’s own county. When Knox County was reached Mason J. Niblack’s name was withdrawn, but not upon his authority, it was alleged. Other counties continued to vote for him. The first ballot resulted in no choice, but on the second ballot Mortimer Nye, of La Porte, was nominated. The following candidates were then nominated by acclamation, and the convention adjourned: Secretary of State, William B. Myers; Auditor of State, John Oscar Henderson; Treasurer of State, Albert Gall; Attorney General, Alonzo Greensmith; Reporter Supreme Court, Sidney R. Moon; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Hervey D. Voreis: State Statistician, William A. Peelle.

CLAUDE MATTHEWS

GHOVER CLEVELAND.