The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-28
AN ORGANIZED MOVEMENT
A Vigorous Effort to Secure the Ma
tiOnal Conventions Agreed Upon.
Prominent Citizens Seeking to Accomplish
That Object-A Committee Appointed
to Urge the City's Advantages.

The meeting at the Bates House last evening,
called by the Board of Trade, for the purpose
OF considering the proposition for holding the
next Republican national convention in this
city, was attended by not only a large number
of the foremost business men of Indianapolis,
but by many of the most prominent citizens of
the STATE and determination to secure
the convention, If possible, was mani
tested. The meeting was called to order
at 7:3o O'Clock by A. D. Lynch, president of the
Board of Trade, and in stating the object for
Which it had been called he said that an effort
would be made to have both the Republican and
Democratic national conventions held at Indi-
anapolis but especially the former.
Judge Martindale moved that, inssmuch as
there were number of gentlemen from outside
the city present, the form of the organization
should be as a State meeting, which was
carried by consent, and Mayer Grubbs
was elected chairman. Charles L.
Holstein, United States District Attorney, was
chosen as secretary. After the organization
had been effected, Judge Martindale presented
the following resolutions for consideration;
THE RESOLUTIONS.
"At general meeting of leading business men
held at the Bates House in the city of Indianap-
oils. on the evening of Nov, 27, 1888, in con-
Trade, it is unanimously
"Resolved, Toi petition the national Republi-
can executive committee to fix upon the city of
indianapolis as the place for holding the Repub-
ncan national convention of 1884 That in
DONG so this meeting assures the committee
that the hotel accommodations will be ample
for the comfortable accommodation of the
people who may attend the convent ion and that
a hall of ample capacity will be provided by the
people of indianapolis in which to hold the
convention, and that halls will be provided for
the several State delegations and committee
rooms, all free OF expense. That committee,
Stanton j. Peelle, W. W. Dudley and the Indiana
delegation at Washington, is hereby appointed
to present the claims of Indianapolis and urge
upon the national committee the advantages
and importance of holding the convention in
this city That in case the committee fix upon
indianapolis as the place of holding the con-
VentiOn the chairman of this meeting is directed
to call meeting of citizens organize and
appoint the necessary committees to carry out
the pledges herein given by providing for said
convention"
CAPACITY OF THE HOTELS.
In addressing the meeting upon the resolu-
tons, Judge Martindae said that he had been
given assurance by Democrats of national repu-
tation that if the Republican convention should
be held in Indianapolis il was probable that the
Democrat tic national convention would be held
here. also. The only question in the matter of
securing the Republican convention, he said, is
in providing the necessary hotel acc0mmoda-
tons, After comforting with the hotel pro-
prietors and others informed in re-
gard to the matter he had no
doubt that Indianapolis could provide
comfortable accommodations for both conven-
tons. He had assurances from the proprietors
of the three leading hotels that each could well
take care of 1000 persons, and there are at least
eight or ten other hotels that can each we'll pro-
vide for from 400 to 500 persons. In all classes
it,,
could accommod ate from 1900 to $4,000 per-
sons, exclusive of the boarding houses, which
could well care for very large additional num-
Der of visitors. Besides, many private houses
would be thrown open for the enter
tanm ent of delegates and visitors. so far
in attendance was concerned, he said that
Indianapolis was so easily accessible by rail-
roads from nearly all the surrounding towns
and cities, that Indianians would, on an occa-
sion such as the holding of the national con VEN
ton, come and go on the same day.
AN ESSENTIAL STEP.
General A. d. streight said that he was
quite that Indianapolis could we'll
take care of all who should come
The essential thing to securing the
convention, he thought, is to begin work at
once 1t would be necessary to build hall of
sufficient capacity to accommodate the conven-
ton, but the funds which would be required for
this purpose could be easily raised among the
citizens. The important thing, though, lies In
the preliminary work, and no time, he said,
should be lost.
Robert Mitchell, of Princeton. president of
the State Board of Agriculture, offered the free
use of the Exposition building as place for
holding the convention.
Hon. John Overmeyer, of Vernon, chairman
Of the Republican State central committee, said
he thought the hotels of Indianapolis would
give ample accommodations, and that an effort
should be made to have the convention held
here.
General William Crosse, of New Castle thought
that indianapolis had quite good hotel ia
cilities for national convention Cincinnati,
and heartily supported the movement.
COMPARISONS WITH OTHER CONVENTIONS.
Hon. Joseph R. Gray, of Noblesvine. said
that Indianapolis had as much hotel room
as Cincinnati, and that If the
people would make efforts to provide