Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1894 — INDIANA REPUBLICANS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

INDIANA REPUBLICANS.

MEETING OF THE STATE CONVENTION AT INDIANAPOLIS. Seventeen Hundred Enthusiastic Delegates Wake the Echoes. ■“Uncle Dlek” Thompson Presides ExPresident Harrison Speaks—The Platform—The Ticket—Notes. - REPUBLICAN'STATE TICKET. Secretary of State—W. D. Owen. Auditor of State—-A. C. Dailey. Treasurer of State—F. J. Scholz. Attorney-General—W. A. Ketcham. Supreme Court Reporter—Alexander Hess. Superintendent of Public Instruction— D. M. Geeting. State Statistician —S. J. Thompson. State Geologist—W. S. Blatchley. Judge Supreme Court, First District— J. H. Jordan. Judge Supreme Court, Fourth District —L. J. Monks. The Republicans of Indlaua assembled at Tomlinson Hall, Indianapolis, Wednesday. April 85. to nominate candidates for iState offices. Richard W. Thompson, the chairman-elect, appeared on the stage at 9:50 accompanied by Hon. Chas. W. Fairbanks, and was given an enthusiastic greeting. John K. Gowdy, chairman of the State central committee, called the convention to order. Rev. Dr. Coultas offered the opening prayer, The committee on organization submitted its report, which was agreed to. The committee designated Hon. Richard W. Thompson, of Vigo county, as permanent chairman, and Charles E. Wilson, of Tippecanoe, as Secretary, Mr. Thompson, on taking the chair, spoke briefly with all his old-time fire and eloquence,

and was given almost breathless attention. The cheers for Mr. Thompson’s speech had barely died out when ExPresident Harrison appeared on the stage. The demonstration that ensued has seldom been equaled in the history of such occasions. When quiet had been restored Chairman Thompson presented the exPresident to the audience. Mr. Harrison spoke in a voice that reached every nook in the hall. He said: Mr. President—My venerable and honored friend, I congratulate you. I congratulate the Republicans of Indiana that you are permitted again, on this hopeful day, to preside over a gathering of the Republicans of this great State, [Applause;}- You have battled for the prtnci - pies of the party for many years; you nave been the able, dauntless champion of those great principles which called the party into existence, and which have won for it so often and through a scries of such brilliant administration the confidence of the people of the United States. [Applause.] As yon have been faithful to the party in the hours of weakness and darkness. we are glad that you are here this morning, when the country is awakened to the fact that a restoration of Republican principles in administration is essential to the prosperity and happiness of the people. [Great applause.] Our people became so prosperous, so rich, labor was so universally employed at good wages, that men ceased to appreciate the danger and the disaster that was involved in an abandonment of the protection principle. [Applause.] No orator was equal to the task of maintaining their Interest. But events have stirred that interest to the nrofoundost depths of our society. [Applause.] What the orator and the pamphleteer could not do, a bitterexperience that has intruded itself into every home and into many brought starvation, has done and is doing to-day. Our friends may endeavor to persuade the American people that this period of depression is only one of those periodic panics that they say at intervals more or less certain necessarily fall upon us. Some may endeavor to persuade you that the Influences that have brought it about were climatic or seismic. But .1 believe I do not state it too strongly when I say that the common mind—the close observation of those who are educated and instructed by facts rather than given to refined theories has settled upon the cause of this present disastrous depression. They And that cause in the attempt to wipe out protective legislation and to substitute for it the doctrines of a revenue tariff. They find it in that uncertainty which has introduced itself into every man’s business enterprises, which has paralyzed his energy and which has compelled the wheels to stop while this great issue was being concluded. The American workman is realizing to-day that it is not possible for him to separate himself in interests from the manufacturer who employs him; that he cannot, listening to the wild and vicious appeals which have been made to him, strike at the men who give employment to labor without bringing the blow back in recoil upon himself and upon his family. [Applause.] The times are full of unrest, disaster and apprehension. I believe to-day that all the tumult of this sea would be stilled as by a voice of omnipotence if the great industrial and commercial classes of this country could know to-day that there would be no attempt to strike down protection In American legislation. [Applause.] My Republican friends, I congratulate you upon the hopeful and auspicious incidents that surround your meeting today. Wo enter upon this campaign with better heart and higher courage than upon any for many years. So-great is the confidence that I hear expressed that I would drop a word of caution; for there is danger in overconfidence. I beg to say to you that, in my opinion, as a citizen, having absolutely no Interest, except those that you have, that every one of you hero and all those whom you represent have never had an opportunity in their lives to servo their country more efficiently than by devoting themselves industriously from now until November to the support of that ticket which will herg be nominated, [Applause.] But now your kindness has betrayed me Into further speech that ' I had contemplated. There Is here active competition for office. That is wholesome; not to be deprecated. Every man, J have always contended, had a right honorably to seek office, and that a President had no right to complain that his time was somewhat

occupied in attending to them. [Laughter and applause.] I thank you, gentlemen, for your kind welcome. I hope you may succeed today tn announcing a platform that will win the approbation, that will satisfy the intelligence and the conscience of our people, and that you may nominate a ticket worthily representative of the great principies that you will deciare. [Applause.] The committee on credentials then submitted its report which was approved. Ex-State Senator O. Z. Hubbell, of Elkhart, read the report of the committee on resolutions, as follows: We, the Republicans of Indiana, in delegate convention assembled, reaffirm our faith in the progressive principles of the Republican party We believe its policies, past and present, best calculated to promote the happiness and prosperity of the people. The administration of President Harrison and the Congressional legislation of that period were wise, pure and patriotic, and we point to the marked contrast between the home and foreign policies of that administration and the present travesty on government inflicted upon the American people. We believe in the Republican doctrine of protection and reciprocity, which furnishes a home market for the products of our factories and our farms and protects the American laborer against the competition of the pauper labor of Europe. We denounce the unwise and unpatriotic action of tha Democratic party in attempting to eliminate the reciprocity principle from our tariff system, thereby closing a large foreign market to the products of American farms and depressing agricultural interests. We denounce the present attempt of a Democratic Congress to overthrow and destroy the American industrial system, a course that, with a general fear of a violent readjustment of the country’s business to a free trade basis, has increased the National debt, has plunged the country into the most disastrous business depression of its history, has closed large numbers of banks and factories throughout the country, has thrown., an unprecedented number of American citizens out of employment, has compelled thousands of able-bodied and industrious men to humiliate themselves by asking for charity and has filled our broad land with free soup houses and food markets. We believe in a currency composed of gold, stiver and paper, readily convertible at a fixed standard of value and entirely under national control; and we favor the imposition of increased tariff duties upon the imports from all foreign countries which oppose the coinage of silver on a basis to be determined by an international congress for such purpose. We denounce the avowed purpose of the Democratic party to restore the era of “wild-cat” money. We believe in a liberal construction of the pension laws, and we condemn the unjust policy of the present administration in depriving ex-soldiers of their pensions without a hearing, a policy intended to cast odium upon loyalty and patriotism. We believe it to be the duty of the State, as well as the Nation, to make suitable provision for the care and maintenance of all indigent soldiers, their wives and widows; we therefore favor the establishment by the State of a suitable soldiers’ home for the reception of such soldiers, their wives and widows, as may be overtaken by adversity, We demand a rigid enforcement of all existing immigration laws by the National Government, and demand such further legislation as will protect our people and institutions against the influx of the criminal and vicious classes. We denounce the unpatriotic action of the Cleveland administration in hauling down the American flag at Hawaii, ana condemn the arrogant assumption of power displayed in the effort to restore a tyrannical qiieen over a free people who had thrown off the yoke of despotism. We condemn the outrageous bargain and sale of federal patronage by the Cleveland administration in its unblushing efforts to usurp the prerogatives of the legislative branch of the Government, to enforce favorite measures through Congress and compel the confirmation of Presidential appointments by the Senate. Wo condemn the reckless and extravagrant administration of the financial affairs of this. State, whereby the people are subjected to unjust and unnecessary burdens of taxation, by an increased assessment of property and an increased rate of taxation, and by a multiplication of offices to be supported by the tax-payers of the State.

We believe that the benevolent, educational and correctional institutions of the, State should be placed under nonpartisan control. We believe in such legislation, State and National, as will protect the lives and limbs of employes of railroads, mines and factories. We condemn the policy steadily pursued by Democratic Legislatures of Indiana, in so gerrymandering the State as to deny the people a fair representation of their views In the State Legislature and National Congress, thus Imperiling the foundations of our institutions. The platform was adopted by a rising vote. Without delay the convention proceeded to the nomination of a candidate for Secretary of State. The candidates announced were: Aaron Jones, of South Bend; William D. Owen, of Logansport; J. E. Watson, of Rushville; M. R. Sulzer, of Madison, and Jasper Packard, of New

Albany. Mr. Owen was nominated on the fourth ballot, receiving 886 X votes out of of 1,705 cast. Mr, Watson received 68JX; Packard, CO; Jones, 69. Mr. Sulzqr’s name was withdrawn on the third ballott The convention passed quickly to the contest for Auditor. Tho following candidates wore announced: Webster S. Richey, Muncie; John W. Coons, Indianapolis; A. C. Daily, Lebanon; W. W. Hauck, Terre Haute; W. H. Liggett, Columbia City; George W. Wilson, Ft. Wayne. Mr. Daily received 878t<j votes on the fourth ballot, and his nomination was made unanimous. The nomination of a candidate for Treasurer of State was next in order. The following names were announced: F. 8. Scholz, Vanderburg; Leonard Wild, Hamilton, and Leopold Levy. Huntington. Mr % Scholz received 865 X votes on tho first ballot and was declared the nominee. For Attorney-General tho candidates were: Robert J. Loveland, of Peru; John W. Lovett, of Anderson; William M. Taylor, of Indianapolis; Thomas Hanna, of Indianapolis, and W. A. Ketcham, of Indianapolis. Mr. Ketcham received 859 votes on the third ballot, and the usual court' of maktnr the nomination unan-

imous was extended to him on motion of Mr. Lovett. For Supreme Court reporter the following names went before the convention: Robert A. Brown, of Franklin; W. R. McClelland, of Danville; O. M. Tichenor, of Princeton; H. B. Tuthill, of Michigan Hess, of Wabash; R, A. Black, of Greenfield. Six ballots were necessary to settle the contest. The other candidates having been withdrawn, on the sixth inning Mr. Hess received 873 X votes to 832 X for Brown. Mr. Hess was declared the party’s candidate for Clerk of the Supreme Court. ... - . The contest for Superintendent of Public Instruction lay between D. M. Geeting, of Madisoq, and J. H. Henry, of Warsaw. When Pulaski couty was reached on the roll call Mr. Geeting had received several hundred more votes than were necessary to a choice. Henry secured the floor and withdrawing his name moved to make the nomination of Geeting unanimous. The motion carried with a hurrah. John Worrell, Hendricks county, W. F. Axtell, Daviess; S. J. Thompson, Shelby, and Hiram Hines, Hamilton, were the candidates for State Statistician, J. W. Agnew’s’name being withdrawn before the balloting begun. On the second ballot Mr. Axtell moved that the nomination of Mr. Thompson be made unanimous. The motion carried, it being evident that no one else was “in it.” Four names were before the convention for State Geologist They were M. L. Elrod, of Hartsville, W. S. Blatchley, of Terre Haute, A. H. Purdue, of Yankeetown, and John Andrews, of Woodside. Mr. Blatchley was declared the nominee before the second ballot was completed. The candidates for Judge of the Supreme Court, First district were S. D. Coffey, of Clay, and J. H. Jordan, of Morgan. Mr. Jordan received 859 X votes on the first ballot and was declared nominated after an excited debate over alleged fraudulent voting. The candidates for Judge of the Supreme Court, Fourth District, were: M. E. Forkner, of New Castle; L. L. Monks, of Winchester, and D. W. Comstock, of Richmond. Mr. Monks was nominated on the second ballot, receiving 926 votes.

NOTES. The speech of the ex-Presldent was punctuated at one point by some one calling out, “O, Lord!” This was at a time when the speaker had made a point, showing the bad effects of Democratic control. When the hard work-of the convention began the venerable, silver-haired and silver-tongued Thompson retired, handing the gavel to Warren G. Sayre, of Wabash. He has a stern face in time of duty, and a penetrating voice. The convention proceeded with unusual expedition through the first ballot. Mr. Thompson remained in attendance, but a quiet listener. An incident of Chairman Thompson’s remarks caused a sympathetic emotion. When he said, “I come not here to do battle, for the day of battle with me is wellnigh ended,” the tears streamed slowly down either cheek. It was evident that the old political war-horse experienced a thrill of sorrow that age would soon obstruct effectually the force of habit to which he referred in his speech. At the conclusion of the prayer by Dr. Coultas, some one in the right gallery raised a smile that was audible by crying out “Hurrah for Ben Harrison.” Judge Monks was nominated at 3:25 a. m., Thursday. The convention then adjourned, after being in session 17X hours. Governor Matthews was an interested on-looker. He occupied a shat on the stage. A resolution adopting the eagle as the emblem of the party, was passed. Along toward morning an old farmer from the first district said he thought he heard the roosters crowing. He was hissed, down for his ignorance in supposing that a rooster would crow within hearing of that eon ven tion.

BICHARD W. THOMPSON.

W. D. OWEN.