The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-25
Ill Of Whom are Republicans, with the Prob
able Exception of One Lonely Democrat
from Allen County.
The Proceedings Marked by Unusual
Turbulence, Wranglinga and Disorder.
A Manly Declaration of Principles by Those
Who Oppose Separate Political Action
The Proceedings in Full.
THE sH1Er DOMINATING CONVENTION.

THE sHIEL NOMINATING CONVENTION.
The Platform Adopted and Ticket Selected
Unusually Turbulent Proceedings.
The convention of Prohibitionists of Indiana
which was called by Mr.. M. E. Shiel editor of
the Monitor journal, who assumes to direct the
operations Of the temperance people in political
way met at English's Opera-house yesterday
morning. It was simply mass convention, not
D delegate assembly, and anybody who would
pledge himself to support the ticket nominated
and indorse the platform adopted was at perfect
liberty to participate in the proceedings. With
such liberal arrangement, there were about 300
Belf-constituted delegates in the convention, the
central districts of the State having decidedly
Che largest representation A number of ladies'
members Of the Womens Christian Temper
ance Union, occupied seats on the
stage and took part in the business
speaking and voting, whenever there was oc-
casion for it. Among these there were Mrs. e.
G. Wallace, Mrs. NJ. L. Wells, Miss Amanda
Way, Mrs. Helen M. Cougar, Mrs. R. T. Brown
MIRA A. M. Noe and others But few of the
gentlemen in the body Of the convention were
known to the reporters, for they had not, as a
rule, previously figured in State assemblies
Among the interested spectators who remained
throughout apart of or the entire proceedings
were such wellknown Democrats as Eb Hen
derson chairman of the central committee;
Judge Lewis h Jordan, State Senator John
Benz, of Crawford county, james L.
Mitchell, of Hancock county; Hughes East, E.
G. Buskirk, Ross Clark, w. A, Peelle jr. and
others. From demonstrations made several
times, it was evident that majority of the dele
gates had Democratic Affiliations, particularly
so when Dr. McCune, of Kokomo said that the
last Democratic Legislature was responsible for
the overthrow of the prohibition amendment
the statement being greeted with perfect storm
of Kisses, which prevented the speaker from con-
rinuing his remarks Up to the time
the nominations were made the proceedings
were very turbulent, and the chairman frequently
had much trouble in preserving order. 1t was
evident that the convention did not care to hear,
and would not tolerate the views of those who
differed from the opinion of the majority, and
Mr.. McCune, Hon. j. N. Huston, of Fayette
county Judge Lindsay, of Howard, and Others
who tried to speak were either cried down or
prevented from finishing by trivial points of or
der The most striking act of discourtesy, how
ever, was in the refusal to consider communi-
cation sent by the other temperance convention
which was in session at the Grand Opera
house looking towards an amicabie settlement
of differences.
At the time of beginning the convention
wildly enthusiastic young man, whose name is
thought to be F. B. Griffis jumped upon the
stage, and proposed three cheers for M e, Shiel
to whom he picturesquely alluded as THE true
and tried which were given. That modest
gentleman, in returning thanks for the compli.
ment, said he believed he was getting to be as
notorious as Jesse James, and added, "As I
called this convention, I suppose it is
now my duty to call it to order
The audience joined in singing .sAlI
Hail the Power Of Jesus Name, and the Divine
blessing was invoked by Rev. David Walk. a.
N. Davidson, Of Madison county, from the com
mittee on permanent organization, reported the
following officers President, Eli F. Ritter, Of
Marion county; vice-president Isaac Keen of
vanderburg; secretary, E. G. Siler, Of Hendricks
assistants, Miss Lou Reed and B. F. Carter, Of
Marion.
CAPTAIN RITTERs ADDRESS.
In taking the chair Captain Ritter made quite
lengthy and forcible speech, which was list
ened to with close attention and frequently APP
plauded. He said, in brief:
Ladies and Gentlemen of the convention:
The circumstances which have led to the
calling of this convention of the most serious
Import to every one of us. am of the belief
that this convention has not assembled as a
unatter Of pleasure. am of the belief that the
sentiments which brought us together are such
IS emanate from the hearts and brains of the
good peopeof our State. Taking into considera
ton the conditions that have surrounded us and
the outlook for the immediate future, there can
be no motive actiiating any one but the highest
motive Of humanity. The aspirants for poll
tical promotion can find no encouragement
here. A man cannot come to this conyen-
ton and expect to weave out Of it's
action any such condition of affairs as will
lift him up in politics. The action Of this hour
is Of serious Importance. tits no easy thing for
of active thought to sever the relations which
have bound him to political party. Speaking
from my own experience, Isay to you frankly
that it has been the struggle of my life to stand
here with you. tCheers. / have prayed to
God that it might have been otherwise but as
Martin Luther SAID on one great occasion, Here
we are; we cannot DO otherwise. The conven-
ton is not composed of men who are acting
either through malice or disappointment. In
years gone by we have presented innumerable
prayers and petitions asking for relief Year af-
ter year we have been promised that they should
be granted, but we have come down to this
hour with sad experience There has been
day when it seemed that a political party was
tending in the right direction. call upon you all
TO witness that so long as there was any hope or
promise. We chung to those affiliations, until
Driven to the necessity Of seyering them. 1t is
charged that We are impracticable Either we
misunderstood what Is practical in politics, or
those who criticise us are sadly in fault They
seem to understand that practical legislation
AGAINST crime is such as the Riolatol8 Of the laws