The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-16
THE ELEVENTH DISTRICT.
The Democrats Nominate Major Kidd, of
Wabash, for Congress.

The Democrats Nominate Major Kidd, of
wabash, for Congress.
Special 10 the Indianapolis journal.
PORTLAND, Ind, July 15.-The Democrats Of
the Eleventh congressional district held their
convention in Kikendalls Hall to-day. Con-
siderable effort had been made to get out
large crowd by advertising that Colonel Gray
and other prominent speakers would address q
ratification meeting in the evening, Immediately
after the convention. Before the convention as
sembled there was little enthusiasm, and only a
small number of people were present from the
country.
The convention was opened with prayer by
Rev. Seth Wilson, of Jay On motion of Cap
tain j. B. Sharrett, Hon. w. J. Hilligass, of
Huntington, was elected temporary chairman.
Mr.. Hilligass returned thanks for the honor.
and addressed the convention in very earnest
manner After the appointment of COM
mittees on permanent organization, Gre
dentials and resolutions, the convention
adjourned till o'clock A permanent organi
zation was effected by electing B. F through, Of
Huntington, chairman; B. H vanwinks, of
Blackford, secretary, and all the Democratic
editors in the district, assistant secretaries Mr.
through, on taking the chair, said:
Mr. Hilligass your temporary chairman, represented
the purer element OF the Republican party that has
come to represented the older element when it
was worth the life of man to vote the Democratic
ticket We have here blended the purer element from
the Republican party, and the old element Of the
Democratic party; them what is to prevent success
when the Democracy is unitedl 1t is for success we
snuff success in the air. All We have
Witnessed the io9 Chicago enna;ouS eonvenf;ou and
saw delegates from all the States unite in nominating
Cleveland and Hendricks now see representatives
will make no mistake in the nomination. The hand
writing on the wall may be small but it is growing
We are sure of success
The committee on credentials reported no CON
tests The national and State platforms were
adopted. The roll of counties was called, and
the name Of only one candidate announced Ma
jor M. H. Kidd, Of Wabash. He was nominated
by reclamation, and the convention adjourned
to the courthouse yard for the ratification
meeting. Major Kidd was introduced to the
mass meeting, and, after expressing his thanks
to the convention for the honor of the nomina-
tion, said:
The first question wish to talk about is reform.
We want reform of the civil gyice. The Republicans
have promised it for several Years. but have failed
The whole theory of the civservice bill is insult
to the American people, The trouble is the officers
not only know how to steal, but to hide. The quea-
tion should be of capacity and integrity. With
these any is fit to hold Office. 1t is not ques-
ton in geography What made civil service reform
necessarily The dishonesty Of public officers And the
only way to purify and reform the civil service to
remove the President and all other government Off
GERS except as Mr.. Hendricks says, if it is possi-
BILE to find honest one who is not
working for the party let him stay. Democrats if you
have aspirations fear not; you will get the offices.
You never saw party in power that did not become
corruptthe leaders, mean. Any party out of power
and coming in is pure. The masses Of the Republic
an party are honest, but corrupt work in and
get the Offices. You not reform the parties ex-
cept by turning river and washing them out. It
has been charged and proven, time and again, that
the in Office dishonest; but the officers stand
by the corrupt men. We have no idea of theamoupt
of corruption. discrepancy Of 800, 600, 600 in
the treasury books has never been explained, and
should be explained by disinterested persons The
present tariff is cunningy devised scheme and gives
the manufacturers nearly all the profit. enough
to support the laborer. He thought the tariff unjust
and claimed the poor paid one-half as much to
support the government as the rich man; that they
pay in proportion to the goods they buy and not ac-
cordng to what they are worth. When the Repub-
Hcans had power, they did not reduce the tariff but
created commission. At the last Congress the Dem
ocrats could not reduce the tariff because the Presi-
dent and Senate were Republicans
He closed by promising to make thorough
canvass, and urging the Democrats to work in