Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1900 — HON. JOHN ROSS [ARTICLE]

HON. JOHN ROSS

Nominated For Congress, L. Strong for Senator, and Joseph A. Clark for Joint-Representative. The big convention at Monon on Wednesday last was a most enjoyable affair and the feast of oratory was such as is seldom heard in this section of the state. The three conventions were held in the opera house and, notwithstanding the house was packed from auditorium to gallery during the afternoon, it was not uncomfortably warm. The house is w’ell ventilated and is larger than any similar hall in this locality. The Monticello band, one of the best musical organizations in northern Indiana, furnished music for the occasion* The senatorial convention was held immediately before noon, with C. C. Spencer of Monticello, chairman, and C. D. Nowels of Rensselaer, secretary. To facilitate matters the usual committees were dispensed with. D. H. Yeoman of Jasper county, presented the name of Lucius Strong of Rensselaer. The nomination was seconded by Lee E, Glazebrook in a brief speech which was applauded to the echo. Patrick Keefe of Newton county, presented the name of Hugh L. Sammons of Kentland, in a neatspeech. White county had no candidates. The vote cast was as follows-: Strong. Sammons Jasper County 6 Newton County 4 White County s!i 5% 11 >4 9% On motion of Mr. Keefe, Mr. Strong’s nomination was made unanimous, Mr. Strong was called for and responded in a few well chosen words, thanking the convention for the nomination and pledging his best efforts for success. Then the meeting adjourned for dinner. At 1 p. m., the convention reassembled and Hon. Patrick Keefe of Kentland, was chosen chairman of the congressional convention. Mr, Keefe accepted • the honor in a rousing and eloquent address. H. Schooler was selected secretary and committees on credentials and resolutions were selected. Frank Welsh and Dr. Schwier representing Jasper on these committees. Hon. John W. Kern, candidate for governor of Indiana, was next introduced and made a brief bnt masterly address, after which the committees reported No contests were found and the resolutions endorsed the state and national platform and pledged loyal support to the candidates. On roll of counties being called Tippecanoe presented the name of Hon. John Ross, who made the race two years ago, and White county that of Dr. M. T. Didlake of Monticello. Dr. Didlake withdrew his name and Mr. Ross was nominated by acclamation. Mr. Ross was called for and responded in a few well chosen words thanking the convention for the unsought honor and assuring it that ' he would put forth his best efforts ! and make a thorough campaign of the district. He had hoped the [convention would nominate some I younger man, and thought that 1 there were others more fitted for making an active canvas than hiniI self. However, he had never stood back when his party called him to act, and he thought that he had no right to do so now. The next on the program was the address of George Fred Williams of Massachusetts, the principal speaker of the day, and those who went expecting to hear a good speech were not disappointed. The noted orator held his big audi ience for more than an hour and was frequently interrupted with round after round of applause. During the closing part of his address, after he had stated that our duty to the Filipinos from a democratic standpoint was the same as that of the alleged policy of the republicans regarding Cuba, —assist them in forming a staple government and then getting out, say- ; ing to all nations of the earth after such retirement, “hands off”— some one in the audience inter rupted with: ' “What will you do with the flag?’

Quick as a flash the speaker replied: “Bring it back to ita own aoil where It belongs. what do you suppose? Do you want it to hang over the Sultan of Sulu where it rests now? Do you want the three hundred wives of that worthy gentleman to peep out of their windows every morning and see the ensign of American freedom there? Are you proud that you have agreed with the Sultan that every slave may buy his freedom for S2O and look at the American flag and thank. God for the opportunity? No! no! The only place where the American flag floats now in peace is over the lair of the Sultan of Sulu, and it is the Christians who are observing the laws of God, and who have liberty enough in their hearts to fight for their love of the United States; these ure the men that are biting the dust. What is the flag doing? Why, the flag of this country has floated all over the earth, and been brought back where it belongs, It floated over Algiers and came back because it did not belong there. The flag of the United States floated over the city of Mexico, and it came back because it did not belong there, and now that it is floating over slavery and paganism, for God’s sake let it come back, and you, my friend, learn what the flag of the United State* means.” ; ■

When the speaker sat down the house echoed and re-echoed with the applause of the large audience, and it was some time before Chairman Keefe could be heard. He then introduced Capt. J. C. Lawler, candidate for lieut-governor, who spoke a few moments in a pleasing strain and brought forth much applause. He closed by introducing Senator Drummond, candidate for attorney-general, who spoke for about fifteen minutes on trusts and their formation, injury to the public, etc., and made a number of hits that brought down the house. The convention then adjourned, after thanking the distinguished speakers for their attendance, and the joint-representative delegates for the counties of Jasper and Lake got together and nominated by acclamation Joseph A. Clark, a prominent farmer and ex-soldier of the civil war, residing near Lowell. Mr. Clark is an intelligent, well posted farmer and would make a valuable legislator. No better team could be sent to the legislature from northwestern Indiana than Strong and Clark. The people of Monon, had made preparations for entertaining the big crowd Wednesday and no one had to go hungry. As for drinkables, coffee, lemonade or pop had to answer, for Monon is a “dry” town. This, however, did not appear to effect the spirits of the hosts of democrats in attendance, and no one was hunting about for “something to drink.” While this absence of intoxicants would no doubt have created all kinds of trouble in a republican gathering, no complaint was heard anywhere. We will venture to say that the people of Monon will unanimously agree that no more intelligent or better behaved body of men ever came to their town than those who invaded it last Wednesday. Arrangements were made for an address by George Fred Williams at the opera house again at night, which we understand was also lamely attended; this time principally by people of Monon and immediate vicinity.

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