Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 May 1902 — REPUBLICANS MEET [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

REPUBLICANS MEET

Nominating Convention at Indianapolis Calls Out a Great Gathering. CHEERS AND GOOD FEELING The Address of Senator Beveridge Sounded the Keynote of the Coming Campaign—Other Incidents of the Opening Hours. Indianapolis, April 24.—Never in the history of state nominating conventions has there been noted so admirable an arrangement for the expedition of the business of the convention as was that which marked the physical arrangement of Tomlinson hall yesterday when the Republican state convention met for the transaction of the important matters under its consideration. The rigid exclusion of the “mere Spectators” from the body of the hall with its consequent relief afforded the ■delegates from the pressure which has often marred the proceedings of previ-

ous conventions, had much to do wjth the promptness and dispatch which marked the proceedings. To this con dltion Secretary Whittaker of the state central committee and his efficient corps of assistants had contributed oi their foresight and energy, and there Were many compliments bestowed upon them from all sides. The ar i rangements for the press were never more adequate, while a strict observ ance of the ticket system insured the' seating ot the hall With the minimum 1 of confusion. Never before was there ■ such a large representation of the ! press of the state, and never before | were the editors so well taken care oi, in the arrangements provided for; them. The great hall was tastefully and beautifully draped with the national' colors, while overhanging the stage portraits of the president and the departed heroes of the Republican party, both in state and nation, together with portraits of Indiana’s two senators, and Governor Durbin. In the great audience which faced

State Chairman Goodrich when he called the convention to order were many ladles, the brilliant colors of whose spring bonnets lent a beautiful variety to the scheme of decoration of the hall. The blaring music of an excellent brass band entertained the crowd during the time the delegates were gathering. The crowd was observant of the entrance of the convention “dignitaries,” and ripples of applause greeted the entrance of Governor Durbin, Chairman Goodrich and Senator Fairbanks and the several congressmen who were in attendance. •It was shortly after 2 o’clock when Chairman Goodrich called the convention to order and announced the Rev. Worth M. Tippy of the Broadway M.

E. church, who in eloquent terms in voked Divine guidance in the affairs of the convention. The report of the committee on rules and permanent or ganlzationwas then read and adopted The convention was then organized by the selection of the Hon. Albert J. Beveridge, permanent chairman; Wm H. Hoff of Hancock county, secretary, and Will H. Whittaker assistant sec retary. Congressman Hemenway was delegated to escort the permanent chairman to the stage, and upon the entrance of Senator Beveridge a roai of applause swept the great hall. The

senator’s address was given the closest attention, and frequent and hearty i applause attested the favor with which his utterances were received by his' auditors. Senatoi' Beveridge’s reference to In diana affairs and to the Indiana dele gation in congress elicited the most: enthusiastic plaudits of the crowd. ! Particularly did his reference to his colleague, Senator Fairbanks, call foi “hats off for cheers,” which were repeated with fervor when a call came from the body of the hall for cheers ■ and a tiger for the junior senator. I.j is not often that a political convention, I warm as such a body’s emotions are 1 likely to be, arises to a higher degree of fervor than was noted in this convention during that notable salvo of cheers for the state’s representatives'

at the national capital. Senator Beveridge never spoke in easier vein than on this occasion, his well-known eloquence apparently finding new inspiration in the notable audience before him. There were points in the greaj

speech of Senator Beveridge upon which the audience hung with breathless interest. His beautiful and singularly eloquent eulogy of the late President McKinley affected the convention most deeply, and down many a furrowed cheek In the audience among gray-headed delegates the sympathetic tears coursed in silent grief for the memory of the martyred president. Following immediately upon this came that most enthusiastic and fitting comment upon the life, career and qualities of President Roosevelt. As the emotions of the audience were aroused by reference to the late martyred president, so was the enthusiasm of the delegates aroused by this reference to his successor. The senator’s peroration, emphasizing the duty of the party in the coming campaign, sounding as it did the keynote of the campaign upon which Indiana Republicans are entering, was a fitting conclusion to a notable speech, and left a distinct impression upon the convention. Senator Beveridge spoke for an hour and a half. He was followed by calls from the convention for Senator Fairbanks. The latter responded In his ijisual dignified and impressive way, speaking in a general way concerning the past accomplishments and the future duties of the Republican party,

and inciting the convention to further efforts in behalf of good government and sound patriotisjn. With a humorous anecdote Senator Fairbanks set his audience in a roar of laughter, and claimed their instant and close attention. The references Senator Fairbanks made to the departed heroes of the Republican party, Lincoln, Grant, Morton, Harrison, McKinley, furnished eulogies fitting to arouse the further patriotism of the convention and were received with unbounded enthusiasm. In referring to the manner of President McKinley’s taking off he spoke of the work that is now being done toward securing legislation against anarchy, which evoked cheers. “There are orators in the United States, said Senator Fairbanks, “speaking, not with human voice, but proclaiming the virtue of Republican politics and Republican administration with more eloquence than I or any other Republican can command. That orator is speaking upon the farms of Indiana and throughout the republic, speaking from the mines, speaking from the factories, speaking from all the great avenues of human endeavor, all in favor of the virtue of Republican policies and in favor of the continuance of the Republican administration.

Our achievements in commerce have been great, and never so great as they are today. But we have made advance not only in commerce—we have made advance in the school, in the college and in the university. The church was never doing more for the uplifting and ennobling of humanity than it is today. All of the activities of the American people in commerce, in the ways of intelligence and philanthropy were never more active than they are today. Great as has been our commercial achievements, as much splendor as we have earned and won in the way of commerce we have given to the country, and that is why we will continue an uplifting force throughout the unnumbered years before us.” The report of the committee on credentials was then received and adopted as read. Contests were reported in Clark and Orange counties and in the Seventh ward in Indianapolis, which had been adjusted by the committee in an amicable manner. Several of the Indiana representatives in congress being present in the audience, calls were made by the audience, not yet sated with oratory, for further speech-making, and brief and characteristic addresses were made by Congressmen Watson and Hemenway, and in response to repeated calls from the Frederick Landis of Logansport was introduced, in his introduction Chairman Beveridge referring to him as “the silver-tongued young orator*” Mr. Landis’ scintillating periods took the audience by storm. The first session of one of the most notable nominating conventions in the history of Indiana Republicanism was then adjourned.

JAMES P. GOODRICH. Chairman Republican State Com. of Indiana

GOVERNOR DURBIN.

SENATOR BEVERIDGE.

W. H. WHITTAKER, Sec, Republican State Committee of Indiana.

SENATOR FAIRBANKS.