The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-21
s.HE'S ALL RIGHT"
The Expression Started by Battery A OF the
Louisville Legion.

Louisville Courier journal.
During the recent presidential campaign q
great deal of talent n the invention of slang
phrases was displayed ~ the partisars OF the
different candidates, and q number or those
already in use were adopted and sccentuated
according TO circumstances. AS usual. the
newspaper writers havo been given the history
OF as many OF these expressions as possible. and
have IN many cases probably been correct; but
there is one. used by the Democrats perhaps
more than the Republicans, which has never
yet been assigned its proper origin. That phrase
is Whats the matter with ClevelsndF and its
answer, Hes all right OF course the sub
stitution Of any name for Cleveland-and such
substitution Is now pecesssry-cau be made,
thus rendering it available for any occasion.
This. the most popular aad universal of all the
slang, did not have its origin during the CAM
psign, but owes its birth to Battery a, OF the
Louisville Legion, OF this city.
In 1881 there was n big military affair held in
St Louis. There were competitive drills for
infantry, cavalry and artillery companies. and q
large number OF each arm entered the lists. The
famous Chickasaw Guards, OF Memphis, were
there, as well as crack companies aud artillery
sections from all over the country. Il section
of the Louisville Battery was there, and ii may
not be amiss to say that IL ACQUITTED itself hon
orably. The boys composing that particular
section-which afterward became famous al
over the United States-were a pretty lively set.
Among them was George Clark. George IS NV
ing in this city yet, though he is no longer n
member of Battery A. The boys had a great
deal of fun among themselves, and one OF their
jokes was to lay everything that occurred on
George. One night, when they had been ac-
cusinR him of something. not now remembered.
though il IS thought it was for capturing a big
dog while passing through Indiana. one Of the
boys yelled out: Whats the matter with
George Clsrkl" And the answer came irstanIef:
'.Heis all right" The question and answer were
Immediately taken up by the Cbickssaw Guards
and other companies in the immediate vicinity.
and tho night was not far gone before the cry
had spread throughout the entire camp. Tie
thing seemed TO strike evervbodys fancy. in
using the phrases they all stuck 10 George
Clark's name, however, and it was several Ga, q
before they began to substitute other nsmes.
In the meantime the battery bows began 10
concsrtize, as il were. One man would ASK the
question at the top OF his. voice, aud u dozen
others would shout the answer in unison.
This idea. too. caught the other soldiers,
and it could be heard N every compsnys quar-
ters. When the encampnAnt broke up. the
troops carried the cry 10 their homes, Dut IA was
suffered to fall eomewhat into eisuse uatil tEa
Louisville Legion went to Washington III May.
1887. At that encsrppmsat there Were InaGr
| men who had been at 81. Louis six years before,
| including some OF the LouIsvil.s boys, who lost
no time in reviving their old war-rry. The le-
gion marched down Pennsylvania avenue San
day afternoon. and went into camp at the base
of the Washington monument. and by the ne1-
| afternoon the famous old shout was ringing al
around that historic shaft. 1t spread all oVer
Washington. From the Washington eDcam1-
ment il spread further than ever, until. By the
time the presidential Campaign opened, II had
become universal.
What's tho matter with the Louisville Lee
gionl" shes all right!'