The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-29
THE CONVENTION ORGANIZES.

II. :. n.
THE CONVENTION ORGANIZES.
Great DIniculty In Securing Seats for Dele
gates-Chairman Fairbsnks's Speech.
Srecisl To the Indianapolis Journal.
FORT WAYNE. Ind, June 2S.-lt was o
matter of time and lots of it to find seats
for the enormous jam of people who
crowded into the big rink. The railroad
agents estimate, that not less than 10000
strangers we're in Fort Wayne for the con-
vention, and it seemed that not only all
these but half the native population also
wanted place IN the convention. Com
paratively little hustling had been done
during the morning hours. 1t had been
kept up so late the night before that both
candidates and delegates were willing to
take an hour or two of rest.
But the crowd was noisy and enthusiastic
as il poured through the big doors, rolled
through the ball In one big tidal wave and
filled every square inch of space in the
rink. The claim had been made that the
rink would hold 8. 200 people. and Secretary
Mllliken. of the State committee, says he
issued 4,20O tickets. Either the rink's ca
pacity was greatly overestlmated or four
or five hundred ticket!ess people
crowded past the door-keepers or
something was wrong, for certain it
Is that several hundred too many people
got into the hall. People were packed like
sardines into every aisle; everv seat was
occupied and still couple of thousand
people could not get into the building. OF
course, under such circumstances. there
was q large amount of confusion. A couple
of hundred delegate were unable to find
seats and naturally they tried to make
their grievance heard.
1t was 1890 by the big clock at the right
of the speakers stand when Chairman
Gowdy raped for order and asked the dele
gates TO be seated. This was not meant as a
pleasantly, but the irony of it soon became
apparent, for every chair in the hall was
occupied and still the aisles were packed in
o tight jam.
FIVE SEATS FOR THIRTY-Two PERSONS.
Soon after the call to order G. C. Binck.
ley, of Richmond, got the eye of the Chair.
Il am chairman of q delegation of thirty
two" he shouted, land only about five of
them have seats. 1t is evident that this
body ls nothing but an unorRanized mob.
move you that we adjourn until p. H."
Cries of "No, non greeted the motion
throughout the hall, but Mr.. Binckley re-
sumed: "It Is very evident that we are
entirely unable to transact business here,
and insist upon my motion"
Again he was greeted with q storm of
dissent from the outer periphery Of the
crowd. Those cries of mo- do not come
from the delegates" he cried, "but from
the mob"
Chairman Gowdv raped for order. and
got the attention of the house. The gen.
tleman has made q notion" he said,
(which cannot be entertained until the
convention 10 organized. This he knows.
but he did the best he could under the cir
cumstances, and is not to be criticised.
We shall soon be able to organize, and then
the convention will be in your hands.
Give us your attention for a few minutes
and Dr. Moffett will offer prayer" Silence
at once fell upon the vast assemblaae. and
every word of the minister's earnest pray or
could be heard
After he had finished there was fiutter
of disorder through the hall, whIch was
again ouelled by the fall of Chairman
Gowdy's gavel when he called for the re-
port of the committee on rules and perma-
nent organization. This was read by r. o.
Hawkins, chairman of the committee, rec
ommending Hon. G. w. Fairbanks for
chairman, Gil X. Stormonr, of Gibson,
for secretary, and the list of vlce-presi-
dents and assistant secretaries elected at
last nights district meetings. The rules
were of the usual kind. For the most part
there was good order during the reading of
the report. but II. Z. Duncan. of Blooming
ton. caused not n little noise by calling on
the chairman and insisting that he was a
delegate. despite the fact that nobody de-
MED il. The report was adopted without
q dissenting voice.
Chairman Fairbsnls's Speech.
Mr.. Fairbanks was received with loud
applause when he came forward, and his
ringing voice at once restored COM
plete order. The only interruptions dur.
ing his address came from applause, the
longest being the regular storm that fol-
lowed the mention Of President Harrison's
name. He spoke as follows:
"Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the
Conventional thank you for this great
mark of your generous favor, and trust
shall not prove wholly unworthy OF it. l
congratulate you, my fellow Re pu blicans,
that this splendid convention is permitted
to assemble in this beautiful city, of which
We are all so Justly prOud. And it is q
further subject for congratulatlOn that we
are permitted TO meet with the Republic
ans of this Gibraltar OF Democracy, whose
allegiance to the Republican cause is un-
abated by defeat and whose loyalty is not
won simply by place or power
My friends. we meet under circum-
stances of great moment, aud when abOut
MS everywhere is abundant evidence of
cOntentment. happiness and prosperity-all
Republican signs. Famine, pestileuce and
cratic victory. The eyes of the Republic
ans of the United States are upon this con-
vention. Again the Republicans of Indl-
ana are to lead In the great contest for a.
tional supremacy. The conntry's best hope
and highest aspirations are again in the
balance of popular favor, and Indiana. Is
expected to do her duty-re-elect her dis.
tinguished son, Benjamin Harrison. Great
cheers. You do well to cheer that name.
1t stands for pure and exalted statesman
ship. No other has done more to place our
State high in the esteem and admiration of
the world. To the great party which has
again honOred Us. to the American people
who desire and demand stability in na-
tiOnal administration and look to us for
announcement and hope, we here and u ow
pledge our loyal and devoted support and
the electoral vote of this great State. Jap
plause.
For over thirty years the Republican
party has stood in the white light that
beats against the throne and its record
is flawless. There is no one who ad-
mires courage and steadfastness in
dos, f6s nos admire OF aoGd sSs who
1t were perhaps fitting l should recount
the history of our party, but il is so Tiled
with deeds OF vast and vital moment ]