Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 72, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1904 — THE STATE CONVENTION [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE STATE CONVENTION

Republicans Meet to Shape f Issues and Name 1 _ Ticket THE FIRST DAY’S DOINGS ——————————— , Electors at Large and Delegates at Large Were Named as First Formal Action. C Chairman Watson’s Notable Speech t Was Received With the Closest Attention of Great Audience. Other Leaders of the Party Contributed to the Enthusiasm of the Assembled Delegates. Some Passing Notes on the First Day’s Proceedings of a Big Delef gate Body. Electors at Large— -'JJ GEORGE A. CUNNINGHAM JOSEPH B. OLIVER Delegated at Large—- . CHARLES W. FAIRBANKS jd P ALBERT J. BEVERIDGE fr;WINFIELD T. DURBIN r JAMES P. GOODRICH Alternates — ! ERASTUS P. McCLURE EPHRAIM MARSH HOWARD MAXWELL 4 J. L. C. McADAMS gates to the Indiana Republican state convention which met yesterday afternoon in Tomlinson hall found many points looking to their comfort and convenience never noted In previous conventions. The great hall had, during the past year, undergone certain •Iterations, the work of the remodeler having added much not only to the general appearance of the hall, but contributed greatly to the seating facilities of the same. The balconies •were thronged by an interested crowd.

[Chairman Republican State Committee.] the proceedings of the great convention being watched with the closest interest throughout, while the cheers of the mere spectators arose with those of the delegates In fervent ■trains at all proper moments, for the party in Indiana Ihis year, as Chairman Watson jn his great speech said, "courageously faces the future," and Jt was this feeling that lent a spontaneity and enthusiasm to the whole proceedings which furnished inspiration to the representatives of the party gathered here this week which will be carried out throughout the state to be Influential in all the campaign thus hopefully opened. The new arrangement of the hall lent itself admirably to decoration fitting to the occasion and the decorative scheme was carried out to a nicety. Festoons of trl-color draped the balconies, while overhanging the stage were portraits of party leaders in the state and nation; the heroes of the party’s strife in the past and those who are foremost in the fray at present. Secretary of the State Committee Fred Sims and Sergeant-at-Arms Adams had made careful arrangements for the seating of the delegates and audience and despite the apparently somewhat restricted space of the hall, never were.the seating arrangements 1n a state convention more perfect The out-of-town newspaper men were provided with particularly favorable ■eats in the first balcony, just overlooking the stage, where every move of the convention was under their observation. While the convention crowd was gathering the delegates found pleasure is watching for the entrance of the

political and civic favorites of the state. Among the first of these to enter was Governor Durbin, who bowed and smiled to the delegates in response to the warm greeting he received at their hands. Presently Senators Fairbanks and Beveridge appeared on the stage, coming in together. The storm of applause which greeted these notable leaders cf the party in Indiana attested the close place they hold in the hearts of the people of this state and the people's hearty appreciation of the services of the senators in this state and to the nation. It was a few minutes after 2 o’clock when Hon. James P. Goodrich, chairman of the Indiana State Republican committee, called the convention to order and introduced the Rev. C. I. Truby of the First Presbyterian church at Winchester, who in an eloquent prayer invoked the divine blessing upon the convention and its proceedings.

Captain William E. English, chairman of the committee on rules and permanent organization, then read the committee’s report. By this report the Hon. James E. Watson, representative in congress from the Sixth Indiana district, was named as the permanent chairman and Mr. Harry A. Strohm, a well-known newspaper man of Kentland, was named as secretary. Chairman Goodrich appointed Judge A. O. Marsh and Major George W. Steele as a committee to escort Permanent Chairman Watson to the chair. The entrance of the chairman was the signal for loud, prolonged and enthusiastic applause. Mr. Watson's wide reputation as an orator in Indiana had prepared his great audience for what was coming, and the greeting which he received was as warm as It could ■well be made. Mr. Watson spoke for two hours, and it is sure that no signs of weariness were apparent in the audience, which held upon his every

utterance with the very closest attention, his frequent forceful periods being applauded to the echo. One phrase in reference to Bryan which caught the particular fancy of the crowd was the speaker’s reference to "the beatific vision of the will writer of the Platte.” When the speaker, after referring to the Democratic confusion as to the coming Candidate of that party for president, said, "We know whom we will nominate,” the audience went into a perfect fervor of enthusiasm, which was accentuated if possible when the speaker a little later uttered for the first time the name of Theodore Roosevelt. This applause was repeated upon the speaker’s reference to the distinguished services of Indiana’s senators, Fairbanks and Beveridge, and at the close of his speech received a storm of, applause. Following the chairman’s address Senator Fairbanks was called upon and he delivered an impressive, though brief, address upon the needs of the hour and the hopes of the future of the party, closing with warm words of praise for the coming candidate of the Republican party for president—Theodore Roosevelt. Senator Fairbanks referred to Chairman Watson’s address as one of the "greatest, best and most eloquent speeches ever made in this convention hall," which statement the audience warmly applauded. The senior senator paid the tribute of his admiration to the patriotism and enthusiasm of the Republicans of Indiana, who, he declared, had thought rightly on the great questions affecting national honor and progress. The great and paramount Issue of ths campaign was, he said, prosperity—and It was to the continuance of this that the party was pledged, he declared, through and by the maintenance of

that cardinal principle of the Republican party—a protective tariff. If the people this fall should unfortunately reverse existing conditions, who can foretell the distress that would come back upon the people? he asked. We cannot, therefore, afford to make any mistake in this campaign, he concluded. Senator Beveridge was then called upon,- He said in part: “The last eight years will be known in history as ‘the beginning of the American area,’ ' How shall the standard be maintained? So far as government goes, our record and that of the opposition answers that question. The test of statesmanship is results. Let others exploit theories —We stand upon the facts. “We have upheld the historic tariff system which Henry Clay named ‘the American policy.’ Home markets have been preserved, and at the same time foreign markets have been captured for the American producer. Our domestic trade is greater than the entire international commerce of the world. "Our reciprocitywith Cuba redeemed American honor, opened Cuban markets to American products and will eventually close them to America’s rivals. The opposition denounced but could not hold their votes against it; and the sheer wisdom of our policy made patriotism victor over partisan-

ship. Without disturbing the nation’s ordinary business, we have applied existing laws to organizations of industry. We have made certain the canal, that historic purpose of the American people. The opposition resisted, but in the end half their votes sustained us; and partisan hope was wrecked by collision with the will of the nation. In a period so short, history tells of no achievement for the betterment of an undeveloped people equal to our work in the Philippines—work to Filipino unliftment and Amtirican advantage. “Credit to whom credit is due, and no more credit than is due! We ask no unjust praise. Some mind planned what we have done —a mind greater than any one man’s Intellect, greater than the plans of parties. It was the mind of the American millions. We were only the executing hand. Harmony has ruled our councils. Behind each act our votes massed solidly; and under the leadership of our fellowworker, Theodore Roosevelt, strong and honest, we have sought to accomplish the people’s settled purposes. And to the people we will continue faithful."

Governor Durbin t-hen addresesjl the audience briefly, provoking further applause. Congressman Frederick Landis of the Eleventh district was then called upon, and in his characteristic vein entertained the convention with one of his breezy speeches. Congressman Holliday of the Fifth district responded briefly to a call upon him for a speech and added further to the enthusiasm of the occasion. John C. Cheney, candidate for congress in the Second district, was introduced and made a hit by announcing that “we are no longer the forerunners

of prosperity in this country—we are the proprietors.” At this juncture Captain English introduced a resolution which was adopted, declaring the electors at large from the state of Indiana to be George A. Cunningham of Evansville and Joseph

[Secretary Republican Stnte Committee ] B. Oliver of South Bend; the delegates at large to the national convention at Chicago to be Senator Charles W. Fairbanks, Senator Albert J. Beveridge, Governor Winfield T. Durbin, and Hon. James P. Goodrich. The alternate delegates at large were Erastus P. McClure of Anderson, Ephraim Marsh of Greenfield, Howard Maxwell of Rockville, and J. F. C. McAdams of Portland. The convention then adjourned at 1:30.

JAMES P. GOODRICH.

HON. JAMES E. WATSON.

SENATOR FAIRBANKS.

SENATOR BEVERIDGE.

FRED A. SIMS.