Indiana State Sentinel, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 February 1894 — Page 9

'-- PAGES 9 TO 12. SV1W-V-VV(V-&' ESTABLISHED 1822. INDIANAPOLIS, WEDNESDAY 3IÖUX1NO, FElU5UARY.il, 1891-TWELVE PAGES. ONE DOLLAR A YE AIL

I SECOND PART.

s

GAS'SDEAD

YWORK

The Residence of Lewis KLuechler Demolished And One of His Children, a Girl. Instantly Killed. Five More Members of the Family in the Wreck. WAS A NIGHT OF HORROR. It Is a Miracle That All Wero Not InstantLy Killed, As tha Brick Building Wa3 Almost Torn, to Pieces. Th Work of Rescue Was Prompt and Effective. Tbc u!oon nd Residence of LcttIs Kucchlrr on MadUon-.Vtr. I AVrerked ty nn Ksploslnn of ntarl tins and the Kniire Family of Six Is Hurled In the Itulns One of Ihr Children. Is TaVrn Oat Dend The Other Members of Ihe Family Alll To Oonht nri1vr-Tbp Work of Ileseae Wan Prompt Cause of the Explosion Description of the Scfnc, Natural Ras is an invaluable servant, but a terrible master. A family of six persons, consisting of a father, mother and four young children, hurled into space in the dead of night is the earful horror for which it is responsible. One child lies cold in death and that the rest of the family escaped Is a miracle. At 12:ö:. o'clock p. m. "Wednesday the and dwelling hous of Louis Keuhler, situated at 4S5 Madison-ave., was totally destroyed by the explosion of natural gas and the entire family buried in the ruins. Without a word of warning came the catastrophe and without a moment of forewarning death and destruction wero hurled into the sleeping family and they were crushed beneath a mass of debris that was all that was left to locate the spot where but a moment before had stood a home. The explosion was heard throughout the city, but none dreamed of its frightful nxrigin. Various causes were assigned, but even the wildest imagination could not conceive of such a disaster. The family retired to their beds at 10 o'clock, the usual precautions haing been taken in the way of attending to the fires, never dreaming that there would be such a terrible awakening with death and desolation on all sides. The soene of the disaster was the center toward which hundreds rushed when the news became known and a terrible sight was presented. Where had stood the heute was a mass of ruin and debris that beggared description. The building had been a two-story structure, the front part of which had been of brick and the rear portion of wood. Instead of the front part there wa3 nothing left but a confused pile of brick and splintered wood, while the yard and street was .almost blockaded with the ruin. The walls had been blown in every direction and the roof, with the partitions and floors, had fallen below, filling the cellar and making a tangled wreck below which was buried the family. The force of the explosion had been toward the front and bricks and pi'fes of th' building wer? strewn for a distance of 20J yards in every direction, but the street and the front received most cf the wreckage. Öffners Crannon and Shafer were tho. first to reach the scone and heard pitiable groans and cries for help from be-pea-th the debris. Behind the pile of brick end wood stood the jagged remains of the wooden part of the hous.?, which- was almost totally destroyed, but the walls were still standing and the roof had nut fallen in. although threatening to do so at any nvmietit. "Within the space of five minutes more than a hundred persons were assembled on tin. scone, among the crowd being a .logen jxtlicnien, who took charge of the work, of rescue and exerted their best efforts to get the buried family out a soon as pssiblo, as every nioDTMit probably meant a human life. The cries bad ceased and there was a fearful dread that the destruction of the family j;id been complete. i'nr an hour willing hands tore at the wreckage In desperate haste, th? rescuers i.ever stopping, although there was momentary danger that the upturned rof and floors would fall over and add to the confusion and disaster. After a half-hour of he hardest kind of work a littlo arm wa.s uncovered and the, work of rescue was increased In energy. Then a little white and curly head whs seen rid in a minute a little boy. s-arcoly r-orrdzarle beneath the planter and dust, was dragged out. lie was alive. The jiet was a corpse and so th work proceeded, it was a terrible sight and hearts of strong rnn quailed at the spectacle. How the .thr members of the family escaped with their lives is a wonder. Tons of brick, mortar, heavy beams and flooring, as well as the remains of th furniture, were hurled together In the wildest confusion and made a heterogeneous mass of wrekage that seemed to; preclude all possibility that human life cild survive beneath It. It wa due solely to th way In which it had fallen and the cushion made by the

bed clothes that one of the family escaped a fearful death. As it is. there is a homo in ruins a family deprived of all Its posessslons, one ef th' children a corpse ami tlio injuries of the others not yet determine!. ftrn or tiii: Accmnvr.

ins Ksenped from the Ser lee Pipes Arrangement of the llonse. The accident was caused by natural gas escaping from the service pipes and tilling up the cellar, from which sufficient escaped sifter it bad accumulated to catch from tho stove which was burning in the saloon, thus causing tho explosion. The cellar was a large one, and from the force of the explosion it ; must have completely tilled before the gas found its way above into the saloon j and to the tire. In the house at the time the accident occurred wf re eight persons: luis Keuhler, aged fifty-six. his wife, Emma, about lift y years old, their four children, Julius, Roa, Iouis und Charles, aged respectively about seventeen, fifteen, twelve and nine; Hugo Zweicker, a printer who works at the Baker & Randolph establishment, and Theodore Schreiber, a bookkeeper formerly cmployed at the South Side foundry. The two latter wero sleeping in the rear of the house in the frame part an I wero only shaken up by the shock and disturbed from their night's plumber. The rest of the. family occupied rooms immediately over the saloon. The rooms ef the house are peculiarly arranged. The second story was cut up into a number ef small rooms, but there was no hallway or corridor to serve as a passage between the different rooms and to reach the front rooms, one of which was oecupiec' by the husband and wife and the other by the daughter Rota and the son, Charles, it was necessary to go through all the rooms from the head of the stairway. One of these partitions was the cause of much delay and suspense in the work of rescue. When the explosion occurred all the persons in the front part of the house were stunned and fell beneath the roof and debris. Mr. and Mrs. Keuhler were hemmed in between the south wall of the foundation and one of the falling partitions, and it was some time before the rescuing party could ascertain their fate. The two sons, Julius and Louis occupied a room in the brick part of the house In the rear of the room in which the daughter slept. They were more fortunate than the other members of the family. The floor seemed to have parted and the front half was torn to atoms almost by the force of the explosion, while that part which formed the floor of the boy's room fell Intact with the ruin, the wall3 forming a shield which protected the Inmates from danger. They were slightly stunned, but did not lose consciousness and were able to find parts of their clothing and escape unaided. The more danger attended those in the two front rooms. Rosa was taken out, after a short search, with life extinct. She was crushed and bruised badly, a number of bones being broken. It was at first thought that Charles was dead when the big fireman tarried him Into the neighbor's house, but It was soon seen that he was only rendered unconscious by the hock--He - was bleeding at the mouth from a slight blow. In a short time Dr. C. It. Schaefer had him up and in a bath-tub, reveling in the comforts of a good, hot bath. It was some time before the pare. Us of the children were brought cut to open air. Mrs. Kuechler was first to make her appearance, walking and crawling unaided from the wreck. Her husband was soon after carried out, and soon revived in the pure air. They were taken into a barber's shop, which was next door to the saloon, and in a short time recovered their senses enough to realize what had happened. Only one of their children, Julius, was there to console a::d comfort them, and with true parental Instinct . they knew that some of them were dead. They asked for their children In pitious tones, while friends attempted to pacify them by telling them that the children were safe in the house of a neighbor. But the story was incredible to the parents, and the scene was a pathetic one. At this time Lottie, another daughter, who lives with a married sister, the wlfa of Fred Fessler, a saloonkeeper opposite Schmidt's brewery, on McCarty-st., tame running frantically into the room and. throwing her arms around her mother's neck, wept bitterly, crying "Thank (Jod for mother." But she suddenly remembered her brothers and her sister and wildly demanded to know of them. She was told the same story as had been totd her parents, but she paid no attention to the friends who tried to console her and. breaking from their arms, ran across the broken bricks and timbers of the wrecked building and into the house of Ieonard Mueller, where she had been told her sister Rusa was. She was met on the porch and told the truth. She had expected It, but almost swooned. She was then conducted to ner t.rother, lying in the rear room of tho Mueller house. He was just getting the kinks out of his intellect and was washing the lime ana briekdustout of his eyes. She kissed him through a half-inch of dust. She was not satisfied until she had seen each member of the family and was rishtly informed of the situation, then she became; herself ami set alout looking after the comfort of the living. Her parents were snt in a carriage to the home of hr brother-in-law. The children were provided for by Mrs. Mueller. The building, which was almost a total wreck, was owned by a man named Schwenge, a saloonkeeper further out on Madison-ave. to th ii HKsai:. Itrinm Iiik the Kuechler front the Wrecked Itiilldiii. The sound of the explosion could b: heard for miles and in the center of the city it caused a great deal of excitement. Th" policemen at fust supposed that safe-crackers were at work and made a hurried search through a number of buildings before they received Information concerning the explosion. As soon ay the truth was known the officers and five lire companies hurried to ihe scene. The front of the building facing on Madion-ave. was silently raised and It was here the work of rescue was bepnn. The firemen and policemen worked their way under the de molished building, which threatened to fall every minute. Nearly all ihe people were found close together in the, front part of Id", building. Th first ierson taken out was the right-year-old boy. Charlie. He was held down by a number of heavy timbers, and It was some little time before the searchers could reach him. He was covered with dust and at first glaive appeared to be badly Injured. Such was not the cape, however, and In a short time he was able to nit up. The nst person replied was the In ejve-year-o'.d girl. Annie. , heavy piece of limber lay across her neck, which was removed with difficulty, and a large number of bricks were plied about her. As r"on as her lody muH be pulled from the torn and twisted timber? it r.a t found that she was dead. The herole band of searchers carried the lifeless form from the wreck and took

it to the residence of Leonard Miller, next door. The girl's neck was broken, and it Is believed that the died without realizing what had happened. Mrs. Kuechler was the next person found. Like the others, she was pinioned down by the mas of brick and mortar. Some difficulty was experienced It reaching her on account of being hi another room. The firemen had to cut through a partition to reach her. She is a largo woman, and as she was in a fainting condition It was with tho utmost difficulty that, she could be taken from tho demolished building. Her first words were, "Where are my children?" Sho was hysterical, but her friends finally managed to quiet her by saying that everybtw-fy was pafe. "Is everybody accounted for?" exclaimed some one in tho crowd. "Yes, overylody is out," answered one of the policemen. Presently there came a shout from the interior of the building. "They have found not her ene!" exclaimed somebody. In a few moments a number of lirepen, carrying the form of a man. made their appearance. He was dressed in bis night clothing and was covered with dust. IJe was dazed and was unable to comprehend what had happened. He was carried into the bar 1 er shop next door and stimulants administered. In a short time he came to himself and when the dust was brushed from his face and eyes it was discovered that ho was the head of the household. Louis Kuechler. H$ was not badly injured and was able to sit up and drink from a bottle which :onio one gave him.

THE STATE INSTITUTIONS. si:ciu:tahv hkkmoij. i:tiiis ntOH A TOt it. He Visited the Aorfhrrn I'enitrnliary and the Northern Insnne Hospital Tilth n. Commit tee More 1'onvlrts Thun Hvrr Ilefore In the Stute lmpruvemrnli Meinte Mnde Peculiarities of the Insane. There are now more convicts confined In tho Indiana penitentiaries than ever before in the history of the Institutions. Secretary Bicknell of the state bevird of charities has just returned with a committee of the board from a visit to the northern prison. F.lght hundred and eighty-six prisoners are now confined there and the number Is on the increase. The southern prison has about fi."0. The secretary was puzzled to account for this increase. The hard times may have bad some effect, but it is a fact that the ma jority of the commitments are old-timers men whose faces are familiar to the officers of the prison, having served previous terms. Still the hard times may have figured in their return. Men who have always been above suspicion find it a hard matter now to t-eeure employment and thousands in this and other states are idle. Under these conditions it is doubly difficult for an ex-convict, no matter what his intentions regarding his future life may be, to obtain work of any kind. This may have been a reason for many returning to Uheir old habits and mode of living who.wpuld, under better conditions have". become. good citizens. The natural increase in the population also causes a proportionate Increase in crime. The committee of the board of charities was much pleased with the progress of the improvements in the northern prison. The new dining-room has been completed and is a substantial and well-constructed building. It is two stories in hight, the upper story being designed, as was the old structure, for the chapel. Work, on this part is still on that is, in the interior. The external part is completed, but the inside is just being finished and furnished. The new hospital is also about completed. The prison now has an ample water supply and an excellent protection against fire. Heretofore there was practically no safeguard against fire and the fires which the prison has had have proved destructive. A water-works plant, such as would be used In a small town, has been put in. It has a stand-pipe 122 feet high, two large pumps and a thorough system of mains and hydrants w ith equipments for fire protection. The water comes from driven wells and is pure. Mr. Bicknell talked with a number of Indianapolis prisoners, among them Lemon E. Reinhold, a man who was at one time eiuite well known In this city as Constable Relnhold. He was at one time employed on the People and afterward practiced law among the justices of the peace. He was sent up for seven years for burglary, for entering the residence of Hilton 17. Brown of tho News. He Is employe I in the woolen mill, is a good prisoner and will get the benefit of ill his good time. He is in excellent health and has Increased twenty-five pounds since his confinement. He talked cheerfully of his condition. The committee also visited the northern hospital for the insane at Logansport. Here improvements are also noted. The J9.t legislature appropriated J20.000 for the erection of a new assembly hall in the institution and this ha been completed. The state is divided into four districts for the care of the insane. It was the intention at the time the districts were made that they should be in sire proportionate to the capacity of the four institutions, but it soon became evident that the northern hospital had more territory than it could accommodate, and this appropriation was made, not because the assembly hall was particularly needed, but in order to increase the capacity of the hospital. The institution Is erected on the cottage plan, there being a number of buildings, each of which has its dining room. One large building contains the kitchen and . the assembly room above it. This old assembly room will now ie used as a dining room and the old Iining rooms will be turned into dormitories, thus increasing the capacity of the asylum by about one hundred, making the capacity all told about five hundred and twenty-live. This places this institution on an equal comparative ba.is with tho others in the state. While there the secretary was attracted by the peculiar mania of the man Collins, who was recently adjudged insane at Mciphi on account of some threatening letters which he wrote to Crovernor Matthews. He is apparently Intelligent and well-balanced upon all subjects but the one which caused his commitment he says there is an Invisible but all-iowerfnl electrical Influence which people in high authority are able to exercise over any one they may see fit. He thinks Governor Matthews Is exercising this power over him. and that be is unable to resist it. It is his controlling pow?r and he cannot escape it. "Why." he paid. "Didn't it compel me to mortgage my farm a short time ago? I did not want to mortgage it. but this Influence, wielded by the governor, commanded m" and I could do nothing else." The secretary told him that mny physicians have studied the very Kubject and all had com to the conclusion that there was no such power as he claimed w as being . exercised upon him. "Well, young man." he replied, "the physicians don't know. I have studied this thing for four years and I know more about it than any ether living man." On either subjects the man seemed perfectly rational. The members of the committee re turned to th" it y Wednesday well pleased with the condition of tbc two tnstltu tions vi-ltcd.

ARE FEELING GOOD

Tho Democratic Editorial Association Meets And Ofticers Are Elected for the Ensuing Year. THERE IS PERFECT UNITY, Prospects for Democratic Suecess Never Belter. Resolutions Are Adopted Covering Many Points. The Kourf ornth Annual Mldvilntcr .lieellnK of the Democratic Cdltorlul Association Occurs In This City The Leading Editors of the Mute prcss Thenisrli rs Address of Welcome h.v oeruor Matthew Reso-. Jutlonn Adopted It Was n lluslncsa Meeting. The fourteenth annual midwinter meeting of the Indiana democratic edi torial association,-although one for busi ness only, was productive of grand re sults. From all parts of tho state came the brilliant vexponems of democratic principles, each and every one of them prouder of their party, more confident of uccrss In the coming struggle and more enthusiastic, over the record of the past and the prospect for tho future than ever before. ; . : 1 -.1 :-rr.i'Hi r PRESIDENT C. V. "WELMAN. These are tho-'men who are in direct touch with the;masses throughout the state and are therefore in a position to know the felling of the people upon state and national questions, If there is disaffection, discouragement or restlessness, they are 'acquainted, with it, for it is first of all brought to their direct notice; if there is any- tendency to separate from the lines. Jaid down and pursued by the national administration, they know it; on the other hand, if there is throughout the state the most gratify ing unanimity and desire' to co-operate with the national and state governments they are in a position to .know it, for it is largely to their united as well as individual efforts that this Is true. Fifty editors of fifty, of the leading papers In the state assembled Friday as a body in the rooms of the Hendricks club. Among t.hese men there was absolute unity of interest and perfect harmony. They are all lorking along the same line with the same object in view, advocate, the same principles and regard. 1 fie future of the democratic party with;. the same degree of hopefulness. Thj know that the state of Indiana is . today solidly democratic; that the p?cple' are with the national congress in Its 'efforts to aid the masses, by tha ppeedy passage of th Wilson tariff bill arid the income tax measure; that the people know that this Is for their interest-and thelr's solely, and that they are going to vote this way at the coming election. This was the unanimous expression, of the visiting editors yesterday and .grander news than this could not have ben brought to the capital by the moulders of public opinion throughout the state. It wa-s the largest' and most successful meeting ever held;by the association, and thl3 was gratifying. The reports from all over the state were most satisfying. In no locality 13 there the least defection. The democrats of Indiana are united as neyrv before, for they realize that now is tho time to stand by the party standard, when the enemy lias been put to flight and for the first time In thirty years there is a clear field for the practical demonstration that tho principles of the democratic party are identical with the Interests of the people. The following editors were present at the meeting which was called to order at 10 o'clock by the president: J. J. Gorrell, Pulakl County Democrat; C. W. YVelman. Sullivan Times; S. I?. Bovd, "Washington Democrat; Isaac 11. Strouse, Hockville Tribune; J. M. Keeney. jr.. Crawfordsville Star: S. S. Boots, Greenfield Herald; A. J. Dlpboye. Colvmbus Herald: John W. Harnes. Logansport Pharos; Marlon C. Waiden, Vevay Tinvs: J- M. Hltfg. Connersville Examiner: H. V. Louthain. Loganpport Pharos; R. H. Hartford. Portland Sun; C. A. Korblev. jr., Madison Herald; J. C. Gorman. Owensvllle Cllennor; Louis Holtman, Frazil Democrat; J. O. P.ehymr, Tipton Times: .1. O. Henderson. Kokonio Dispatch: Allen W. Clark. Greensburg New Era; L. G. Kllingham. Winchester Democrat; F. D. Hatmbaugh, Muncie Herald; It. 10. Bragg. Ratesville Herald: F. A. Arnold. Star-Press, Greenoastle; V A Halrubaugh. Peru Sentinel; J. K. McDonald. Llgonler Panner; W. Pent Wilson. Lafayette Journal: A. A. Sparks. Mt. Vernon Democrat; F. F. MrKy. Lebanon Pioneer: S. G. Swain. Hammond News; W. H- Poswell, Nnhlesvlllo Democrat;'.!. A. Rathmok, Monticello Democrat; Peter Waltrath. Logansport; H. K. Henderson. Kokomo Dispatch: P. A. Allen Bluffton Banner; G. H. Hazcn. Boöneville Enquirer; J. V. Mitchell, Greenfield Democrat; G. H. Puutenny. Rushvlll Jaksonlan: II. A. Barn hart, Rochester Sentinel; William I. H. Hunter. Lawrenceburg Register; J. T. St oil. South Bend Times. . nrtB Mr.nmt;. Resolutions Adopted und Omcrrs Kiectrd President's Address. The visitors were welcomed tu the hospitality of the city and tho Hendricks club by Mr. Myron D. King, president, and the business of the meeting bean. At the outset the following letter was

Hm um

read from the Hon. John G. Shanklin of Evansvillc. and was received with loud applause. Mr. Shanklin said: "1 rcoive and read daily most of the democratic papers of the state, and from them it is gratifying to see that there is no division of opinion on those vital measures to which our beloved party I3 sacredly pledged. As If by one impulse, the democratic press of Indiana has stood by the administration, and the party leaders In congress in their work of economic, reform, as illustrated so grandly by the action of the hous- of representatives on Thursday last. The Wilson bill does not embody the highest democratic aspiration", but it Is a long strldo away from the vicious system of prostituting the taxing powar to. personal uses, and marks the beginning of an era of enlarged liberties in which the sacred principles of tho revolutionary fathers, let us hope, will agin become our guide and shield. The class legislation of the last quarter century has resulted In an oligarchy which must bo overthrown if the fundamental principles f equity among men is to survive tho mercenary spirit which enters the hour. Democracy alone can subdue this tendency toward plutocracy and reawaken In the hearts of the peopb? that devotion to country which kindled the fires of tho revolution and has animated our American soldiery- on every battlefield and on every occasion where the flag of the republic has been unfurled. Nothing shnll ever divert me from laboring with my democratic brethren of tho press for the restoration of the democracy to . its inheritance, which is tlu control of every department of the national government.'' Another letter was read from Mr. G. W. Shanklin of the same city, after which a proposition was read ami considered from the managers of Spring Fountain park at Warsaw, offering to donate a lot to the association if it would build upon It a club house and hold its midsummer meetings there. Tho proposition was declined.. Tiiis brought up the question of deciding where the coming midsummer meeting should be held, and West Baden secured it without opposition, the time being fixed at June 8 and P. The Resolutions. Upon motion the following committee on resolutions was appointed: Messrs. J. Gwinn, A. S. Chapman and M. H. Ingraim. Several resolutions had been referred to the committee without reading. It reported later in the session as follows: "Resolved, That we earnestly commend the spirit manifested by Senator Voorhees as chairman of the senate finance committee in bringing about speedy action on the pending bill for the revision of the tariff in accordance with the demands of the people, emphasized at the ballot box. "Resolved, That we hereby commend the action of the democratic state central committee in unanimously re-electing the Hon. Thomaä Taggart as its chairman. "Resolved. That we deem the action of the committee in setting a late day for the state convention wise and conservative to the best interests of the party in the state. "Resolved, That it is the sense of the association that there should be a close and confidential relationship existing between the state central committee and the association during the coming campaign, and with this end in view we recommend that the president of the association be empowered to appoint at any time a committee to act in conjunction with the central committee. "Resolved, That we approve the action of the eleven democratic representatives in congress from Indiana in casting their unanimous vote in favor of the "Wilson tariff bill." In regard to the libel law the meeting passed the following resolution as recommended by the committee: "Whereas, One year ago this association prayed the general assembly for re

lief from the iniquitious libel law that now disgraces the statute books of the state; and. "Whereas. When a measure was up for consideration touching this matter so Important to the press of the state, sev eral members of the house as well as the senate took occasion to impugn the dignity of the press; therefore, be it "Resolved, That this association emphatically condemn such conduct as uncalled for and inexcusable; and that we rerent such utterances as unbecoming members of the general assembly and as indicative of a want of apnrecition of the power that made it possible for them to sit in the legislative halls of Indiana," All these resolutions were recommended by the committee with the most hearty unanimity as expressive of the united sentiment of the assembled eultors. Governor MatthfMTN's Address. At this point Governor Matthews entered the ball and was loudly welcomed. He was called upon for a few remarks and responded as follows: "Gentlemen of the Association I came to your meting for the pleasure of seeing and hearing you and not to be heard. But I shall take my friend's call for a few words and literally construe it. I liardly know what to say to you who daily are considering and discussing events as they occur and surely better posted upon these than am I. "It is gratifying to meet so many of you, representatives of a power that has accomplished more for the great reforms in public affairs and public service- and the success of democratic principles than all tho canvasses and campaigns of speakers could oss'b'.y secure. Wo feel, and justly feel. a. priue In the democratic press of the state and are glad at r.U times to acknowledge the obligations due you from our party. In so far as our state affairs are concerned and its democratic administration we are in the position to not only go before the people and ask. but in justice demand their eupport and indorsement. The pledges made are being carried out, we are paying and will pay the state's debt, and never before has there been a more complete and equitable assessment of all tho property of the Ftate for taxation purposes. "As to our national administration tho outlook is bright and hoieful, and the pledges and promises mad the people, are being redeemed. We promised the repeal of the infamously unjust federal election law, and this has betn done. We promised the repeal of tho Sherman bill purchasing clause and this was done. We promised tariff reform and In the Wilson bill this will conic. It may not have been all that many of you' would desire, but it is a tep in the right direction and may be all that could be secured under present conditions. "1 yield to no one in the administration of President Cleveland, but be has always been greatest when enunciating pure democratic do-trino or performing true 'democratic acts. We want to keep hint In this line and true to the faith that is In us. I am a belivr in the force and truth of the old saying of 'trust in the Iord and keep your towder dry. T you, gentlemen, belongs the duty of seeing that our president, our senators and our congressmen shall be loyal to the democratic creed. Our hopes are with you. and with this fwoui. we have nothing to fear. I am carrying on this hasty and unexpected talk to greater length than 1 Intended. I thank you for your most cordi.il reception." The 'eT Officers. The address was enthusiastically received. The committee on nominations, consisting of Messrs. J. E. McDonald and J. J. Gorrell. who h.-"d been appointed by the chair as soon as the meeting was called to order, made its report a soon as Governor Matthews had concluded and

the report resulted in the election of the following ofticers for the ensuing

year: President C. Y . clinan, Sullivan Times. First Vice-President S. P. Royd. "Washington Democrat. Second Vice-President A. A. Sparks, Mt. Vernon Democrat. Recording Secretary-- F. D. Ilaimbaugh. Muncie Herald. Corresponding Secretary J. W, Keeney. Crawfordsville ptar. Treasurer W. Bent Wilson, Lafayette Journal. Executive Committee Louis Holt man, Brazil Democrat; A. S. Chapman. Madison Democrat; J. B. Stoll. South Rend Times; J. Rothrock. Whito County Democrat; Ben A. Eaton, Indianapolis Sentinel. Delegates to the National Convention J. E. McDonald. Ligonler Banner; F. A. Arnold. Green -as tie Star-Press; D. A. Jennings. Salem Democrat: J. J. Gorrell, Pulaski Democrat; L. S. Ellingham, Winchester Democrat. Alternates to the National Convention J. W. Barnes. Logansport Pharos: Josiah Gwinn, New Albany Public Press; F. A. Haimbaugh. Peru Sentinel; .1. V. Higgs, ConiH-rsvill Examiner; J. W. Adams. Columbia City Post. In accordance with the resolution passed tho chair then ap'K'inted ihe following committee t act in conjunction with the state central committee: S. B. Boyd, Washington Democrat; J. R. St rouse. Rockvillo Tribune; G. II. Puntenny, Rushville Ja ksonian; H. A. Barnhart, Rochester Sentinel; J. O. Henderson, KoRomo J.Mspatch. President AVeliaau's Address. The new officers were then duly Installed and C. W. Wclman of the Sullivan Times, the new president of the association, made the following address: "Gentlemen of the Association: I thank you sincerely for the honor you hao conferred upon m- by making me your president, and for the consideration I have received at your hamls in the past. I assure you that I fuly appreciate this e-vidence of a. continuance of your good will and confidence. We meet at the beginning of a great political campaign under circumstances that are encouraging. The democratic, party in Indiana is united, harmonious and detemined. The republican party is sailing under false colors and 'hiding behind a refuge of lies' trading upon the misery of the people caused by their treachery and mal-administration of public affairs. To believe they will be successful in the coming campaign is to question the intelligence of the people. "Let us examine the grounds upon which we stand. The democratic partyhas been in complete control of the state government in Indiana for some time, and is theref"re responsible for recent legislation and the administration of state affairs. How have we acquitted ourselves? Well, we have to thank a democratic legislature for giving us our splendid educational, benevolent and penal institutions, the pride and glory of the West, and democrats for their successful management; we point with pride to the enactment of the Australian ballot law, insuring to every elector a right to vote unquestioned, untrammeled and uncoerced; to the enactment of the school book law, protecting the people against iniquitious extortion and increasing the effectiveness of our superb school system, itself of deimxratie. origin; to the enactment of the new tax law, by which rich corporations and accumulated wealth is made to bear a portion of public burdens; and last, to the statesmanlike business administration of Governor Matthews andyr- other-, etat officials. We have no Michigan scandals in Indiana, Our chosen servants have been faithful and efficient, and we go to the people with clean hands, feeling assured that the judgment will be, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servants.' "How is it in national affairs? We are making history now, and notwithstanding the fact that a remark of this sort, the other day when in conversation with Mr. Russell Harrison, brought the pointed rejoinder. 'If you are making history now, 1 wish you would stop it,' I repeat, we are making history now and the history we are making seals the fate of the republican party. The high protective policy of that party, that has brought this government into bankruptcy and the people to the verge of ruin, was fastened upon the country in time of rebellion and internal strife and has been perpetuated by an appeal to sectional hatred and the animosities engendered by the war. The republicans have traded upon the patriotic sentiment of .the people, as they now appeal to the Jingo sentiment In regard to Hawaiian affairs. "The election of Grover Cleveland In 1S92 and the passing under democratic control of all branches of the federal government marked a new era in the history of this country. The party is pledged to certain reforms and is going about the fulfillment 'of its pledges, in good faith. The Sherman law, a cowardly makeshift and a delusion, has been repealed; the federal election lav, has been wiped out; the Wilson bill, more democratic than we dared to hope for, has passed the house by a large majority, and in less than two months will become a law. With it the whole tariff system is revolutionized. The necessaries of life and the materials of industry are left untaxed, the sugar bounty robbery is wiped out and a tax is laid on incomes, thus lifting at one stroke the burdens of federal taxation from the shoulders of the poor to those of the rich. 'Oh, yes,' but our republican parrot says, 'Secretary Carlisle is compelled to issue bonds in time of profound leace.' Yes. be it said to the eternal infamy of the republican party, he is, but only on account of the criminal extravagance of a corrupt republican ad ministration ani the enactment of the iniquitious McKinley law that di cited the streams of revenue from the public treasury to private 'öfters. -"'Oh, but why didn't Mr. Carlisle coin the seigniorage Instead of issuing bonds?' our parrot is ready to say. For the very good reason that there is in, law permitting him to do so, and pending the passage of some such law. h must have money to carry on the gjvcrnment. There is no doubt of the early passage of the Wilson bill, and n't doubt that congress in its wisdom will enact a law for the coinage of silver in accordance with the declarations of tho Chicago platform. "With all these facts in our favor and such leaders as Daniel W. Voorhees in congress and Thomas Taggart at the helm here, dops anybody doubt that we will carry Indiana this year? Gentlemen. I thank you." This concluded the regular business of the meeting and an adjournment was taken. repressions of Opinion. The afternoon was spent by tho members of the association in discussing the situation In all parts of the Mate in an informal manner. All the congressional districts were well represented ami full reports were made. In the adjacent Ninth iislrict iuo"t fluttering conditions are repotted. Said Editor W. Bent Wilson of the lifayette Journal: "We have been in the minority heretofore, but that day has now passed. 1 thipk. j The republican party In the Nlntlu distrh t Is divided as never before, and tho bitter factional fight now being waged there cannot be patched. The party which fondly embraces the A. P. A. has now found out that It has a dangerous ally, and is trying to let lose. It is a good deal like (he man who caught the tartar. They can't let go, alttvmgh the better element of the party Is in open rebellion. The Courier at Lafayette is raging at the state committee and refuses to recognize its actions, loudly calling upon the counMes lo work co-ordinately and independently of the state

organization. They neyer before were to badly torn up. The people all over the district realize that the republican central committee is but a. tvd to advance the interests of the salary-grabber, and are Justly Indignant. The democrats ar with the administration to a man and there is no thought of the least def)eti'Mi. Congress will have the Wilson bill parsed within a short time nw and Then the people throughout the state will appreciate the glorious benefits which will accrue to them. There is no dinger of their ever again voting upon themselves the iniquitous burdens of war taxes." Editor John B. Stoll of the sith Bend Tribune was down from the Thirteenth district. "Our district is all right and is with the t--tat committee, state d-mlnisti-atkm and tho national administration to a man. Thrt panic is now fast fading into a memory, and tho cry that it was preriritatei upon the country by the dem-x-ratie party is now looked i:port a- ridiculous. There an be no political capital made out of that now. Factorie are starting up all over the country even before the action of congress upon th Wilson bill, and a sxu as this mcasuro has been passed the business of the country will ho regulated a "cording to th new conditions and commerce and trade will go 011 as before with tho improvement that the jieople will not as In the past be bürdend by the weight of wae taxation. No p-ver in the world can ever make the people of Indiana vn this upon themselves again. Tue incontax measure is one th.it seems to have been framed expressly f r the people of this state as 1W men cut of every 1.0c1) will be directly lenef td in being freed from a large share of taxation, which, they have been wrongfully barlrg f r years. The Thirteenth district is all right." Frcm over in the Fixth came reports that were most flattering. Said F. D. Haimbaugh of the Muncie Herald: "Ws are in the minority in our listrict but the complexion of the Sixth is changing very rapidly. Every factory in Muneis is now running at nearly its full capacity with but one exception, and this on is now stopjed for reasons that hav nothing whatever to do with general conditions. The proprietor of th largest window glass factory in the city is now out in an enthusiastic manner for the Wilson, tariff bill and is advising all his workmen to vote for it ar.d sup, ort it. Two large factories ate now rearing completion and will be i.perating in a few weeks and everything looks bright. With the passage of the Wilson bill the result will put tho republicans n the defensive in our district, and Its benefits, together with tho?e that will accrue from the income tax feature, will give th3 people such a lemonstration of the benefits of the bill that democratic victory i3 assured." And so said all the rest. There was not a complaint. Wheat looks well and the prospects for good crops this year were never better. The inoonv tax: measure and the near protqect of the passage of the Wilson bill havo put farmers in the best of spirits. The panic is past, reconstruction has advanced, tha factories are starting up all over the state, tho suspended work jii the new ones has been resumed, th dem:erati-i ara everywhere rejoicing, the result of the meeting of the state central committee has met with the heartiest approval, all are working in harmony, there is not a sign of any dissatisfaction to be seen anywhere and democratic victory all over the state this year is as nearly ar assured thing as anything In the futura can be. It is no wonder that the democratic editors of the state left Friday afternoon for their homes feeling good, juidia ,a humor to congratulate everybody.

REPORT ON STATE BANKS V IS 1 In 11Y TIIU lVMv DEPART MEAT OF THE A I DITOR'S OFFICE. It Shows the umbcr of State Hank Organized During the Year, tha umber of Failures Tito Trust Companies. Iloth of This City, Have Hern Incorporated. The annual reiort of the bank department of the state auditor's office... has been printed. It is for the fiscal year ending Oct. SI. 1S91. and shows that during the year the following state banks have been incorporated, making a total of eighty-scrven in the state: Monroe county state bank of Eloomington, Citizens' bank of Clinton, Garrett banking company of Garrett. State bank of Indiana at Indianapolis, Citizens stata bank of Knox, Logansport state bans. State bank of Lowell. Union loan and trust company of Richmond, Parke bank of Rockville, State bank of Vecdersburg, Willlamsp-.rt 'state bank of Williamsport. The financial parle of last spring compelled the following banks to close their doors and their afairs are being wound up: State bank of Churubusco, Clay county bank of Clay City. Farmers' and Merchants' ban" of Covington, Farmers' and Merchants' bank of Fairmount, Farmers' and Merchants bank of Geneva, Farmers' bank of Otterbcin, Commercial hank of Oxford. Bank of Russ!avill Rank of Spicelaiid. The Delaware county bank at Mumi reorganized as a national bank and the Citizens' bank at Knox f -ld its business, to a private bank. These changes have lft eighty-seven banks operating under state law at tho date of this rcort. These failures are the first that hava occurred since the enactment of the present stale bank law in 1873. and wer birgcly owing to alliances with financial schemes, the practicability of which wer-. always doubtd by this department, an 1 which has made all the effort that It could to prevent theirt. The law. however, docs not give the auditor of tat sufficient authority to stop practices by banks which seem to him unsafe. Thfailure of these banks, with two or three exceptions, will not cause loss to depositors. The report shows that Ui- savings banks, of which there were five at th close of the year, are in a perfectly solvent condition, but suffered, like hl I other banks, in the withdrawal of deposits during tho spring and summer. Whenever necessary, the provisions of the law under which they are oj-eratlrg and their by-laws, requiring notice of withdrawals, were taken advantage of. thus preventing a sacrifice cf their securities. Two trust companies hav e leen organized under the law passed by the lt general assembly providing for thir inorporation. They are the Indiana trust company and the Fnion trust company, both of Indianapolis. Statements of theicondition are submitted, showing their exact assets and liabilities at the closa of the fiscal year. Threatening Workmen. A flue condition Indeed we havs reached when the law makers of tl land are threatened that if the demand. of selfish greed are not met that the innocent workmen of the land will r3 made to suffer. Munrio Herald. Taggart't IJe-KIrr t ln. The re-election of Mr. Tapgart us chairman of tho state democratic 0071mlttee is a tribute to his superior ability atid It may be said bns raised the hcpfi of the party la this tUte. Kckcn:o , limes.