Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 33, Number 143, 7 July 1908 — Page 1

HMOND XABJXJM AND SUN-TELEGRAM. VOL. XXXIII. NO. 143. RICIDIOXD, IND., TUESDAY EVENING, JULY T, 1908. SINGLE COPY, 2 CENTS.

BIG

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DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IS OPENED IN DENVER

fefG CONVENTION IS CALLED TO ORDER AT TWELVE O'CLOCK SHARP BY THOMAS TAGGART, OF INDIANA, CHAIRMAN OF DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE.

CITY IS T

HROWN

Residents of Denver Turn the Place Over to the Democratic Delegations and Entertain Them With the Sight of Snow-drifts in Mid-summer.

SMALL DEMONSTRATION

(Nebraska Campaign Boosters Come Into Auditorium With Placard Bearing Face of the "Peerless Leader" and for A Shor.t Time, Cheering Interrupts Convention Routine.

Denver, Colo., July 7. The demo fcratic national convention was called i k.o order at noon today amid great jenthuslasm. At 12 o'clock sharp, IChainvin Taggart moved to the front kf t: pwas . tnany and. The hall at this time . much more than half full. In state reservations there were p.o delegates at all. Taggart stood for a while talking to different members bf the committee and other distinguished democrats, apparently waiting jfor the delegates to come. Then (Michigan marched in with a great white and gold banner at the head of the delegation. There was a salvo of icheers as the Marylanders came in Wblle the band played "My Maryland." Just then Chairman Taggarfs gavel ell and the convention was ready for uslness. Several minutes passed beore the confusion subsided. Taggart hen instructed that the Michigan anner be taken from the hall. He snwaited patiently for the delegates to settle. "Give them little time," he icaid jokingly. The galleries were fillipd and all the delegates in their seats ,wben order was restored. Finally a Siew and loud-sounding gavel was passed to him and it became cuiet enough to begin reading the call. Doors Opened Early. The doors of the convention hall Hvere thrown open at eleven o'clock tone hour before the fall of the gavel. The weather was all that could be deteired. The bright sunshine and cool ttnountain breeze was decidedly to the diking of the crowd. Mayor Speer had (personal charge of the police at the Iconvention hall. The crowd commencLed gathering leisurely about an hour htefore the time for the convention to 5pen. Every body was good natured. Hand perfect order prevailed. In order !to prevent a confusion about the entrances, the police had roped off all ?the thoroughfares leading to the structure. The signs over the door ways indicated the direction each holder of the much prized cards of admission hould take. During assembling and seating of delegates and spectators 'the famous "Cowboy Band" of Pueblo and Alamosa, perched up next to the '.roof in the rear of the hall played pa triotic, classical and "ragtime" music. ! tAs the audience edged its way into the building it was greeted with kaleidoscopic panorama of color. The decorations probably were the most elaborate as well as the most artistic ver attempted for a similar function. Cleveland Picture Hung. Above the stage, dropped from a steel rafter was a magnificent oil painting of George Washington. Draped behind it were two huge American flags, -while festooned about it were yards upon yards of tri-colored buntins. To the right was similarly draped a picture of Andrew Jackson and to (the left one of Thomas Jefferson. On "the opposite vail was a portrait of Jthe last democratic president of the 'Vailed States, Grover Cleveland, bordered vith black, mute evidence of hs prevailing feeling of sorrow of !fstn the parry and the nation, over Jb!s recent death. i Oa the back of the platform upon wbici were seated the members of b national committee was a row of CaMfemis palms. Twenty stuffed iAiiwrica eagles carrying 1n their :iea3 long streamers of red. white toad Wue vere suspended from the at-fllics immediately over the stage. 'Attwnd the front of the balconies and g&!fc?rJes vgre strung 55.000 yards of ItottOiisg, while at intervals of ten feet VW placed American shields. Studjjjujg the ceiling were tri-colored stars es1 .feet In diameter, representf3 various states, territories, inrtJJsr ssessions. In the corners and fc&sttt tbs sides and main floor were jst&rtt palms The total number of teats is i?,00.. The space immediately ftf rst jand at the sides of the platfartB tuad fceen equipped for the use of 499 j&ewspaper correspondents, WPmfn .as Delegates, 1 & center of he hall were 1,002 S8fertsple opera chairs occupied by 4$fe3S&e$ sd tack of these seats of nHernntes in each of these sections vers tv& women, frpm Colorado and

OPEN TO THE VISITORS

CAUSED BY BRYAN BANNER gate and an alternate. Mrs. Marv C. C. Bradford is Denver's voting re pre sentative in the convention and Mrs. II. J. Havward. of Salt Lake is the delegate from Ut?.h. It was the first time that the "suffragettes" of the west had been given opportunity of seeing real women politicians partici gating in national affairs. Great Snow-Banks. On the way to the convention hall the delegates and spectators encoun tered a novelty in the shape of snow banks in July. Great quantities of it had been brought down from the mountains and banked along the streets leading to the hall. A band concert preceded the calling of the convention to order. Bryan Is Cheered. Just as the reading clerk started in, a banner of the Bryan volunteers of Nebraska, was brought into the hall, and it set the crowd to cheering wild ly. The banner was slowly carried to the Nebraska delegation at the very front of the hall, the band playing "Dixie." As aoon as the cheering ceased, the banner was removed by order of Chairman Taggart. Then came another rather weary wait, as it became necessary to clear the aisle. It took Secretary Woodson and a num ber of serjeants-at-arms and police men to get order. They had just about accomplished this when the California delegation, headed by a gor geous blue and gold banner, marched in, upsetting all of Woodson's work. It was half past twelve when Tag gart made a final effort to get the con vention in order and succeeded. In calling the convention to order, Mr Taggart said: "As chairman of the democratic na tional committee, it becomes my pleas ing duty to call this convention to or der. and in so doing, I cannot refrain from the suggestion that in numbers. in personnel of delegates, in enthusi asm and in determination of victory. It is the greatest political convention ever assembled in the United States. It is certainly appropriate that such a convention should meet in this west ern city, whose citizens have shown their generous hospitality on every hand and whose enterprise and energy are attested by the erecteion of this magnificent auditorium. In this connection I desire to express the thanks of the national committee to the peo ple of Denver and especially to the members of the Denver League, whose unselfish and untiring work has con tributed so much to this successful and happy opening of the campaign of J 90S." The formal call tor the convention was then read. Kight Kev. James A. Keane was then introduced to lead the convention in prayer. The entire convention rose as the prayer was made. Flash-Light of Prayer. The tick of telegraph instruments which were sending out the reverend prelate's words as they were spoken made a curious and unique accompa niment to the petition for God's bless ing on the deliberations of the convention. An irreverent flash-light artist exploded his flash in the midst of the prayer. After an invitation from the women of Denver to the visiting women had been read, the list of temporary officers was announced. The names of "Billy" Woodson and others were cheered by their friends as they were read out. Theodore E. Bell's speech made etrong impression on the thousands of people in the convention hall. Following Bell's speech the nomin ations by states of delegates selected as members of committees on permanent organization, credentials, resolutions and order of business will take place. Then an introduction of resolution of sorrow at death of former President Grover Cleveland will be read after which adjournment for the day will be taken. BELL GETS IN ON TIME, Temporary Chairman Laughs at Nebraska Floods. Denver, Colo., July 7. All is in readiness for the first session of the XCaaUBiied oja Pa 2YS2j

TAMMANY BOSSTIGURES IN CONVENTION LIMELIGHT

I,

' : ' ' J-

CHAS. F. M URPHY. Murphy could not stay away from Denver as he has not missed national convention in years.

THEODORE A. BELL G. O. P. OPENING SPEECH Republicans Have Accomplished Nothing Good He Seems To Think, But a Lot That Is Bad. PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY IN CAMPAIGN SET FORTH. It Is to the Jeffersonian Party, He Claims, the People Should Look for the Truly Great Ideals. Denver, July 7. Theodore A. Bell, temporary chairman of the convention and the man selected to deliver the "key-note" speech of the Democratic campaign, thrilled the vast assemblage with his flowery eulogy of the Democratic party and his denunciation of Republicans. His address was as follows: Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Convention: We have assembled at a time when the public conscience is demanding honesty of purpose in the men who undertake to direct the affairs of state. The public eye is keenly sensitive of every political movement, and our proceedings here will be approved according to the degree of sincerity appearing in the work of this convention. There is a widespread belief, founded upon evidence of a convincing character, that the party in power has not been true in trust, that it has betrayed the common interest into the hands of the enemies of good government, thereby forfeiting its right and destroying its ability to rule in the name of the people. Apparent to everyone is the fact that way down deep in the heart of the Republican convention at Chicago there was a feeling of anger and resentment over the popular clamor for reforms; and it is very patent that there is no bona fide intention on the part of the Republican party of grnt Vug any reforms IS tbe aMUMgjg

ARRAIGNS

that party can be retained in present

hands. Its paper platform, divided like ancient Gaul, into three parts barren promises, makeshifts and evas ions, it is hoped will make a good campaign transparency; but no one seriously believes that the Republican party really indorses that neutral man uscript which held the convention together until it could ratify the nomi nation of a presidential candidate Considering the present state of the public mind, is it any wonder that ou conduct is being closely scrutinized and is it not incumbent upon us to see that the intent and action of this magnificent gathering of a nation's Democracy shall clearly reflect the people's will? There are three things that this con vention should do. It ought to pre sent, in a plain and intelligible man ner, the serious industrial and politi cal conditions that are disturbing the peace and happiness of our country We should then proceed to a courageous exposure of the Republican policies that are now co-operating with private greed in the general oppression of the people. And, lastly, and most important of all, we must exhibit a readiness and an ability to grasp the problems of the hour and to effect their solution in a manner that will satisfy the sober, common sense of the multitudes whose interests are at stake. Corporate Power. Among the great evils that afflict the country at the present time is the abuse of corporate power. At first, the advancing aggressions of the corporations are not discernible to the common eye, for every move is carefully covered up until sufficient political strength is attained to defy the protests of the people. Thus the constant and insidious invasion of the people's rights finally results in a species of arrogance and defiance so formidable in its appearance that the body of the people, in fear of even worse aggressions, hesitates to assert and exercise their rightful authority over these colossal enemies of the commonwealth. And so we behold a subversion of our free institutions, a government voluntarily subordinating itself to selfish, private ends, special privilege resorting to cunning, bribery and intimidation to maintain its un - holy power. The Democratic party is not the enemy of property; bnt on the contrary it has always stood and will continue to stand firmly against every species of aggression that would destroy or weaken the right of any man to enjoy the rewards to which his patience, his skill, his industry and his economy entitle him. Our party approves that feeling of pride which always accompanies the possession of property, and it commends an individual ownership in the soil that will bring to the homes

COUNCIL AND BOARD

OF WORKS TO ACT JOINTLYJH MATTER Dayton & Western Franchise Proposition Will Be Discussed Wednesday Night At Conference. STUDY PLAYING POLITICAL "GAME. Desires to Shoulder Part of The Mistakes of Democratic Administration on Republican Council. Wednesday night the council will meet with the board of public works for the purpose of discussing the Dayton & Western traction franchise question. The discussion will revolve about the point as to whether or not the traction company shall pay the city for the franchise. Council agreed to meet with the board to consider the matter, after City Attorney Study had made a successful political move to shoulder on to council the responsibility of preparing the terms of the franchise. Mr. Study fears that no matter the kind of franchise the city would offer the D. & W. there would be some people who would object to it. He realizes that the present administration is in the bad graces of the majority of business men and to avoid having the board serve as a target for any more criticism he now desires council to shoulder the responsibility in the fran chise case. He told council this last evening and council agreed to his pro posal. Shpers Denounced. In the course of his remarks last evening, Mr. Study denied that the board had been shirking its responsibilities in the D. & W. matter. He said that the criticisms showered upon the board were most unjust as the board had been and was anxious to take the matter up. He denounced the local shippers because of the activity they showed in effecting a settlement of the T. H. I. & E. matter, after the board had allowed it to drag along for over a year, and he resented the action of the shippers in bringing the D. & W. franchise question to a focus. Hy so doing, he said, they were "hur rying" the board and giving the companythe same weapon furnished the T. H. I. & E. a club to swing over the head of the board. Study "Turns Turtle." Mr. Study took occasion to remark that he did not approve of the franchise recently given the T. H. m E. This statement he made notwithstanding the fact that he had previously stated that he fully approved of the franchise. His statement that the shippers were "hurrying" the board, caused everybody to smile. This absurd statement was made in the face of the fact that the shippers have for two years patiently awaited a settlement of the D. & .W. question, and in the face of the fact that Secretary Haas of the Commercial club had the D. & W. prepared the franchise which the board now has under consideration, because Mr. Study had asked him to pursue this course In an effort to effect a settlement. The city attorney told council that the D. & W. was a part of an immense blood-sucking corporation The Ohio Electric Railway system and that if a a satisfactory franchise was not now obtained from it, one never would be secured and Richmond would grovel in the dust under the heel of a brutal oppressor. He said that the shippers could afford to wait until a satisfactory agreement could be made, for such an agreement would be of inestimable value to the unborn generation of business men. Mr. Study stated that the D. & W. operated into this city over the tracks of the T. H. I. & E company. Not a cent's worth of property, he said did the D. & W. own In this city. Such being the case, he asked, why should they be given a franchise unless they paid the city a round sum for it? He stated that he thought inducements should be offered to traction and railroad lines to come to Richmond, but he did not think citizens should be forced to take to the outskirts and let these companies monopolize the town. At the meeting Wednesday evening, local shippers will be invited to attend to work with the councilmen in assisting the board members to perform one of the duties conferred upon them by their office. It is quite probable that at this meeting the board will be told to get busy and do something. Officers of the D. & W. 6tand ready to ! meet with the board at any time and the board will probably be reminded that the quickest way to effect a settlement of the question is to drop politics and meet with the D. & W. people. THE WEATHER PROPHET. INDIANA Showers Tuesday night, followed by fair and cooler Wednesday; fresh northwest winds. nuici -

vrt w a aim touicr iuckii"

night; Wednesday fair; fresh to

AGAIN THE HUNT CASEISJOSTPONED Wife of Defendant Cannot Now Appear in Court.

Upon the presentation of an affidav it signed by the defendant the case of the State vs Alva J. Hunt, charged with petit larceny, has t?en continu ed. It was set for trial in the Wayne circuit court today. Hunt made alfidavit to the fact his wife Lulu is an imiortant witness in t ie case and c-n not attend court at this time aj three children are ill with the whooping cough and need her attention and ser vices. This case has established a record for continuances. The last time the court declared no more would be granted except upon affidavit, so the necessary instrument was presented this morning. W. A. Bond, attorney for Hunt, asked for a continuance until September. Judge Fox informed him the docket is well filled for that month and some other dispositioa may have to be made. VICE-PRESIDENCY NOT CONSIDERED HY JOHN MITCHELL He Has Taken All Mention of His Name in Connection With This High Place in a Light Manner. HE MAY YET SPEAK OF HIS POSITION. He Has Said Nothing Up to Date, But Is Expected to Do the Same as He Did in The State of Illinois. Special Correspondence. Indianapolis, July 7. The talk at Denver in favor of nominating John Mitchell for the vice presidency on the democratic national ticket, is being closely followed by his former co-workers at miners' headquarters in this city. The belief is expressed that if Mitchell could be brought to the belief that there is anything substantial in the frisky little boom for him in the Colorado city, he would quickly speak out, as he did when his friends were trying to push him into the governorship race in Illinois. There are. among the miners' leaders, those who believe that the great labor leader really yearns for political preferment, but these are few. Mitchell is taken at his word by the rank and file of the miners and their leaders. His touching speech is recalled at the last miners' convention, when he declared, in a voice trembling with emotion, that his one great aim would be to uplift the working conditions of the great Industrial army of the country, and fi-ct f f hi invaitv rame' t.- . tl , ship plans of his Illinois friends. Once more he is being pressed, and the prediction is freely made that he will speak when the proper time comes, should there be the least possibility of his name going before the Denver convention. A few days ago, while in Indianapolis, he asserted that there was nothing but harmless tala In the i cept the opinion that a word will be necessary from him, as he does not look UDon himself as logical timber j nor Jn any way 8uitabie for the great honor, in view of the ract that his attitude is so well known. Mitchell has never been accused of missing "the main chance," and this he considers to be the field of labor. He has had bis training; here he obtains his fame as an organizer, and it is here that he proposes to plant himself, and the glitter of political honors does not attract him for a moment. Mitchell's poise is well known. Never yet has he been carried off his feet, and the Denver convention is not going to be the medium by which he is to be turned aside from his one ambition, so often expressed that it should not be misunderstood. There has never, at any time been any effort to get In touch with Mitchell in regard to the Denver talk of his nomlnatron, as his position is too well known to make that necessary. If he should be put forward, it will be without his consent. Program Causes Surprise. The harmony program followed at Denver by the Indiana delegation was something of a surprise here at home. The antl-Taggart faction wa3 well represented in the meeting that resulted in the organization of the Indiana convention outfit, but there was never a whisper when Taggart was chosen national committeeman, nor when Kern was made chairman of the delegation. There were signs of a storm when the leaders left Indianapolis, and it is known that one of the antis was feel Ing bitter over the old state chairman fight, which was landed by the Tag- ' trart faction In the nerson of Stokes jLCouUiiued, on.Pae-ElsliLi ;

OTHER CITIES GIVE FRANCHISES TO TRACTION LINES

They Do Not Ask Them to Pay City Any Money for Street Rights as Would the Local Administration. TOWNS ANXIOUS TO GET MORE LINES. In Many Cities Traction Lines Run Into Town Without Franchises of Any Character Whatsoever. . On learning that City Attorney T. J. Study in an effort to embarrass local shippers and to build a fence about the city, had informed the city council that Mayor Schillinger and his "business" administration favored compelling the Dayton & Western traction company to pay for the franchise it has applied for. Secretary E. M. Haas of the Commercial Club today wired to officials In several cities in this section of the country asking them if it was customary in their respective tc-vns to compel traction lines to buy their franchises, even though they entered the city over lineg of other companies. He received several replies and learned that in no instance is a plan similar to the one proposed by Mr. Study and his henchmen pursued. In several cases he learned that companies operating over lines of another company are not even compelled to secure franchises. "I have discovered that nowhere is a traction company compelled to pay a city a bonus for a franchise. Is it natural to believe that the Dayton & Western would establish such a precedent in a town the size of Richmond?" asks Mr. Haas. He has found by his investigation that every city is too glad to have traction lines to compel them to pay for their franchises. Here are some of the replies received to the queries sent out by Mr. Haas: J. A. Jackson, city cleVk of Muncie "All traction companies are given free franchises. The only revenue Muncie receives from traction lines is through taxes. Traction lines pave streets only between tracks." L. C. Morris, city clerk of Anderson "We have three traction lines and all of them received their franchises free. Taxes are the only revetine derived from these lines. They are not compelled to pave any part of any street." Want More Lines. W. H. Russell, deputy city cleric of Dayton "Eight traction companies operate in Dayton. Only three hold franchises because these three are the only ones which have tracks within the city. They received their franchises without pay. The other five traction lines operate over the tracks of the three which hold franchises and do nt Pay the city one cent, even in I taxes. Dayton would like to have more traction linoB enter the city. J. B. Byers, city clerk of Columbus, Ohio "All traction lines operating within the city hold free franchises. Those operating over tracks of the ones which have lines In the city do so without franchise but with the consent of council. These companies pay the city nothing not even taxes and Columbus wants more traction lines." Controller Guffin, Terre Haute "Traction companies have been operating over city lines without franchises. Their right to do so is now being contested in the courts." Eli Coates, city clerk of Marion, Ind. "Three traction companies operate into Marion. They received franchises free and the city only receives taxes from them." City Auditor, Hamilton, Ohio "All j traction Companies operating in Ham ilton own their own tracks and received their franchises free. The only revenue the city receives from these lines is in taxes'." City Clerk, Ft. Wayne "All traction lines entering the city operate under free franchises and on the city lines. The only taxes these companies pay the city is on freight terminal property. Traction lines are a srood thing for a city and Ft. Wayne will never compel a company to pay a bonus for a franchise. We want all the traction lines we can geL" City Clerk, Indianapolis "Twelve companies operate in the city over the Indianapolis Traction Terminal lines. These companies pay no taxes but pay five cents for each car which makes a round trip. Franchises are given traction lines absolutely free." LECTURE AT EARLHAM. J. B. Dunn, of Indianapolis will deliver a public lecture at the Earlhaxs College chapel tomorrow morning at 8:30 o'clock- The lecture will be In connection with the library course ow being offered at the college. "The of English Literature to the BiOS is tne suoject or me lecture, air. i Dunn is an editorial writer oa an In.J dianapoli newspaper.