The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-07-21
GEN.WEAVER'S0PENING GUN
Fired at Vincennes, Yesterday, in the
Presence of 5000 Curious People.
There Was No Enthusiasm and No Sign of the
Starry Banner, but Cranky Notices
Hung from Almost Every Tree.

Special to the Indi annapolis Journal
VINcENNEs, Ind. July 2O.-The opening
of the national campaign of the Peoples
party occurred here this afternoon. In q
certain sense il was day fraught with
great curiosity to our people. There are
good many who do not understand the
meaning of the Peoples party. and the jubi-
lee to-day was the cause of q large num ber of
conservative people turning out to hear and
see what was going on. General Weaver,
candidate for President on the Peoples
ticket, arrived late last night from the
West. There was absolutely no arrange
ments made for his reception here. The
Peoples party IN this county is without or
ganization, aud the State committee is
without funds consequently there had
been no preparations made In advance.
The Jubilee advertised for to-day was
supposed to be one Of the greatest events
of the national campaign. The public was
apprised of Its greatness by small hand
bills less than ten by twelve inches in size.
There had been no arrangements made for
the reception of any Of the dIstin guished
guests, and no excursion rates advertised
on any of the railroads leading into this
city. When General Weaver, National
Chairman Taubeneck and Mrs. Todd, the
lecturer and writer, arrived at the depot
last night there was no one to meet them.
They took o cab to the hotel where some
of the local celebrities gathered near mid
night and general Misunderstanding was in
dulged in. General weaver IS the same
sturdy figure as of yOre.
The weather to-day was oppresslvely hot,
but there were at least three thousand peo-
pie assembled at the fair ground this after
noon to hear the General fire his salute in
the grand opening of his campaign. The
crowd was composed mostly of old men.
and as far as could be told was about
equally divided between Democrats and
Republicans. and was made mp of strangers
almost entirely. Genera! Weaver talked
attentively throughout, but there was an
absence of enthusiasm or applause.
There were many humorous features
about the meeting. The crowd was assem-.
the fair ground. The trees were loaded
down with mottOes, some suggestive and
some containing startling statements. For
instance, one read: Lord Carnegie Will
clared that the PEOPLES Party was in
Favor of no Pinkertons, no National Banks.
no Trusts: no MonOpolies. no Force Bilis:"
The leading motto was: Labor Demands
Fair Play from Capital" Another
Tssa Fsrmer sr Pays It's j. The Tax most snd stals sas
ling -pIscard, IN big letters, was:
''We Demand $50 per Capita.n while an
other read, Free Silver and Free Men,"
The Homestead imbroglio was echoed by
of Homestead Cries Out for Vengeance at
the Polls" One motto was. Read the
Omaha Platforms: it is Short and Sweet
and Does Not Dodge" These and similar
notices were tackled mp profusely ali over
the grounds.
At the close of General Weavers address
c. G. Rankins the treasurer of the nation
al committee. arose and made the state
ment that this was the Peoples party fight
against the enemies of the country, and
money must be raised TO pay expenses: He
declared that they expected to carry
Arkansas In September, Georgia In Octo-
Der and Indiana in November. In order to
do this they must have the funds to keep
are interested in the party's cause to con-
tribute all they are able towards defraylng
the expenses.
Mrs Todd followed Mr.. Rankins and
made a very bitter speech. saying she rep
resented the cause of Christ. She pre-
dicted war and blood if the great reforms
of the Peoples party were not effected,
pleaded that money they must have, and
declared that the national committee Is
impoverished and could 20 no further un-
less the funds were raised to pay the ex-
penses. eff we fail for the want of money
then the blood in this conflict must fall on
yonr heads" she said. She asked for
quarters, halves and dollars, and begged the
audience to be liberal I'VE are all poor"
she exclaimed, land if we are SO poor that
we must deny ourselves meet to contribute
this fund, then 60 without meat rather
than surrender. Sacrifice your ten and
coffee and lend us your financial aid"
A collection was made, and there was
probably about SIS in the bushel basket
when the solicitation was ended. Tele-
grams were read that seemed to create
some excitement. One W as from the West
ern Silver League, which telegraphed it's
Endorsement of the Omaha ticket. Another
was from the silver associ alton of Nevada,
and pledged the electoral vote of Neyad
to Weaver.
At 4:30 o'clock trem endous thunder
storm came up and broke up the meeting.
The meeting tonight at the fair ground
was thinly attended on account Of the
rain.
Ore of the most notable things of the
occasion was the absence of the American
flag. Not q sign of the stars and stripes
could be seen on the entire grounds. There
were no bunting decorations around the
speakers stand. and the flag of liberty was
nowhere to be seen. The local managers of
the Peoples party, together with large
are feeling enthusiastic regarding their
meeting to-day, and regard 1t as grand
success.
Hon. John L. Griniths at Kokomo.
srectsI 10 the Indianapolis Journal
KOKoMo, Ind, July 20.-Hon. John L.
GrIffiths addressed the Young Mems Re-
publican Club here this evening. The
courthouse was packed with shouting Re-
publicans. and his speech aroused the
greatest enthusiasm. He said the party
would be greatly strengthened by the in
fusion OF new blood, and predicted Q
marked effect on the result. One year of
McKinleyism, he said. had proved its
wisdom; not q single article had been ad-
vanced in price. He scored the Democratic
press for holding the tariff responsible for
the Homestead strike. and cited the
fact that twice as many strikes oc-
Cured in Great Britain under free trade.
The wisdom of reciprocity had been
demonstrated by results. The faIse pro-
tense of Democracy was well stated by tho
record of the recent Democratic State Leg
isiature. which rejected nineteen of the
twenty-three bills introduced for the re-
lief of the laboring classes of the State. OF
the tax law he said that of the one and
one-fourth million dollars increase in
taxes corporations paid but S22S.0O0,
while the farmer. home-owner and COM.
mon people paid S9SS, 900. The Republican
party. he said. needs no platform but it's
record. The mugwumps he declared. were
simply coupons on Democratic tickets.
The speaker was frequently applaudel