The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-06-01
The Independent Republican Conven.
tiOn
philadelphia Press May ISL

AhO ihucptuueHI pepuuhCoh lottI
Convention, in horticultural Hall
yesterday, was largely attended, en-
thusiastic In its conduct, and bold II
its nominations. The platform de
clares for Civil Service reform, reflect
severely, If indirectly, upon th,
Arthur administration, and contains
radical principles of party reform
The ticket is Republican throughout
The session, though as exciting a.
could be wished, began, continued
and. ended in harmony. This ticke
was nominated:
For Governor, JOHN STEWART, o.
Franklin.
Lieutenant Governor-LEvI BIRr
DUFF, of Allegheny.
Secretary of Internal Affairs
GEORGE w. MERRICI<, of Tioga.
Congressman-at-L Large - WILLIAM
MCMICHAEL, Of Philadelphia.
Justice of the Supreme Court
GEORGE JUNKIN, of Philadelphia.
A GENERAL VIEW.
A Pen Picture of the Convention as IL
Appeared.
When Hon. 1, d. Mckee, of the
State Committee, arose to call the In
dependent Republican State Conven-
ton to order, in Horticultural Hall,
shortly after IL o'clock yesterday
morning, he stood face to face with a
| gathering which has no parallel in
the political annals of Pennsylvania.
1t looks more like vast assembly of
churchmen than anything else. The
| auditorium, the galleries and stage were
crowded, not with the clacquery log
rollers and half-drunken hangers-on
who figure so conspicuously in the
average party assembly, but with men
and women, young and old, who were
thoroughly representative of the high
est citizenship Of the Commonwealth.
1t was gathering of earnest, sober,
intelligent men who by their conduct,
individually and collectively, demon
strated that active political service in
wolves nothing incompatible with the
loftiest standard of public morals.
Senator Mitchell entered the room ten
minutes before the Convention was
called to order, and his appearance was
the signal for storm ofappiause which
subsidized only to break out with re.
newed vigor upon the arrival of Major
Merrick, Hon. Charles s. Wolfe and
other prominent leaders.
THE ORGANIZATION.
A word from Chairman Mckee, of
the State Committee, an eloquent
prayer by Rev. ID. G. Babcock, the
reading of the resolution by which the
January Conference ordered the Con-
vention, and the body was ready for
business. The nominations of Hon.
John L. Mitchell for temporary chair
man and Philip G. Garrett and Thomas
w. Phillips for temporary vice-presi-
dents provoked a whirlwind of cheers,
and were approved by acclamation.
The scene in the hall at the moment
Senator Mitchell appeared on the plat
form was one of peculiar interest.
High above his head hung large por-
trait of Garfield, festooned in banner
and smilaX; on either hand banner
spread away to the flaps, and bearing
the inscription:
''The cause for which Garfield died
must not be lost"
The other emblazoned with The war
cry:
LET us forward his battle for true
Republicanism.n
About him on the stage were
clustered a host of men conspicuous
for long and faithful service in the
cause of the Republican party. George
Lear, Chairman OF the recent Conven.
tion at Harrisburg was there; Francis
B. Reeves, was there, and so was Joel
j. Bailey. William A. Drown, James
V. Wilson, r. A Hastings. Walter
Madeira and John T.. Graft sat to-
gather near the wings. Prof. r. A.
Thompson, f. H. Lewis, Joshua l..
Bailey, William E. Lockwood formed
semi-circle on the rear of the plat
form; While on the extreme right sat a
score of venerable men whose silver
locks glistened in strong contrast with
the gold and raven tresses of the fair
young women who We're seated near
them.
SOME OF THE PROMINENT PERSONS
PRESENT.
Directly in front of the stage sat old
DIR. Doane, of Williamsport, who, in
1857 at Syracuse assisted i'm the first
Republican Convention in the Empire
State; beside him was James H. Bill
lington, the organizer and president
in 1857 of the first Republican Club in
Philadelphia. Just across the aisle
was Abram Barker, and near him, on
the right, was Louis G.. Madeira. In
the further end of the space reserved
for delegates stood the lank figure of
George E. Mapes and beneath him sat
his old companion n-in-arms, Charles S.
Wolfe, whose voice but moment be-
fore was drowned by the plaudits of
those he rose to address. A rod away
on the right sat Senator Kaufman, of
Lancaster, who so lately felt the iron
blow of the machine, and two PAGES in
front of him sits George w. Merrick,
the OfficehOlder who still owns him