The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-03
WATSON'S %ELOQUENCE
1T wIS HIM A CONGRESS NOMINA-
TION IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT.
STORY of an Unusually Interest,"
ing Republican Convention.
special to the Indianapolis Journal.

4 OptCAdl " lHc lluldlldpOilS JOuIudL
GREENSBURG. Ind. Aug. =. - The
Fourth district Republican congressional
convention. held here to-day to place in the
field a candidate against the antique Hol-
man, was essentially a James Z. Watson
convention. The result was a remarkable
tribute to the genius and popularity of the
brilliant young orator from Rushville. 1t
was a notable personal triumph, for, CON-
ing here without a delegate pledged to his
support, and having declared that he was
not a candidate, he captured the conven-
ton by the sheer force of his oratory. the
structures carefully and laboriously reared
by the avowed candidates being swept
away like chaff before his eloquence.
/ Watson came in from Rushville last even
ing, and was Immediately besieged by his
friends to permit the use of his name, but
refused, declaring that the nomination
should go TO one of the candidates who
were seeking it. His decision was accepted
for the time being and the canvass pro-
ceeded on the lines already drawn, with E.
ID. Moore, of Lawrenceburg, and William
D.. Wilson, of Osgood, in the lead, the
chances apparently being in favor of the
former. L. b. Adams, Of Shelbyville, and
Judge w. a. Cullen, of Rushville. also had
their friends. There was some quiet work
for VIII Cumback, but the strong under
current in favor of Watson was not to be
underestimate or overlooked.
1t was IL O'Clock this morning when A. Z.
Nowlin, of Lawrenceburg, chairman of the
district committee. called the convention to
order in the Greensburg rink. Chairman
| Nowlin spoke briefly, counseling harmony
and discretion, and predicting the election
of the candidate whom the convention
should nominate. The Rev. Mr.. Roscamp
invoked the divine blessing, and then, on
motion, the roll of counties was called for
the appointment of the committees on
permanent organization, credentials and
resolutions. The committees were consti-
tuted as follows:
IN Resolutions-Dearborn county, II. d.
Charles F. Jones: Rush. Thomas Green;
Ripley. John Robuck; Ohio, Davis S. Will
burn; Switzerland. l.. E. Smith; Shelby, E.
IN Credentials-Dearborn. George NJ.
kF obn Decatur. Al j.; Smith; Frs IniI
Ripley. Charles NJ. Brown; Switzerland,
Louis F.. Work; Shelby, David L, Wilson.
Lowden: Decatur Alva Reed; Franklin. Z.
| w. Stockwell; Rush, l.. II. Ravens; Shell
by. w. A. Bodine; switzerland. f. S. Hum
WON BY ELOQUENCE.
The convention then took a recess until
L o'clock. During this recess it was APP
parent that some holes had been covered
in the Moore Qualifications, for it was con-
fdently predicted, just previous to the re-
converting, that Moore must be nominated
on the second ballot or his own county del
egation would go to pieces. A cousin of
Wilson. ii vas said, had been elected a
delegate from Dearborn county, and after
the second ballot he proposed to march
INTO the wilson camp and carry a con-
siderable detection with him.
There were from eight hundred to a
thousand Republicans in the building when
O'clock. The committee on permanent or
ganization reported, recommending James
=; Watson, of Rush county. for permanent
Lawrenceburg Press, for pertinent
secretary. If the Moore and Wilson follow
ings counted on shelving the dangerous
dark horse by placing him in the position
of permanent presiding officer they made
a grievous blunder-a fatal blunder, for
James T.. Watson before an audience is a
dangerous man. The young chairman was
given an enthusiastic greeting as he APP
insensible to the touch Of gratitude, he
said. not to be deeply moved by such a re-
ception. Mr.. Watson spoke for twenty or
thirty minutes, and after each rounded sem
tence there was an uproar. AS he carried
the audience with him the Moore and the
Wilson men looked aghast, while the Wat
son men howled with delight as the situa-
ton which they had foreseen developed.
He talked of the matchless career and
| achievements OF the STdnQ ola party, OF
m wrecked and business paralyzed,
of a pension policy that was a reproach to
patriotism, and a foreign policy that
had earned us the contempt of the world.
His most striking figure was that of the
White City by the inland sea. a year ago
a thing of magic beauty. sublime in con-
ception, marvellous in construction and exc
cution, the wonder of the world. To-
day all that remained of that dream
I of wonderland was a vast stretch Of ruins
and ashes, and yet, he said, the contrast
between the Worlds Columbian Exposition
of a year ago and the wreck of it that
remains to-day was not more glaring than
that between the golden era of the Harri-
son administration and the commercial and
industrial blight that is the result Of six
White House. Great smokestacks
of manufacturing establishments no longer
appear 20 the toiling millions as the pillar
night, but, blackened and silent, they stand
as tombstones to dead prosperity and sti1ed
industry. Rejoiced, he said, We are that, in
spite of defeat, we yet stand proudly erect,
no step retraced, and with our banner borne
aloft, on its folds inscribed Protection,
Honest Pensions and a Vigorous Foreign
Policy" We will go out into the field and
throw down William S. Holman and his d.
vided cohorts.
Long continued applause followed the con-
clusion of the speech.
The committee on credentials reported no
Charles H. Jones, of Franklin, read the
report of the committee on platform. which
was unanimously adopted. The report was
brief and TO the point, as follows:
The Republicans of the Fourth congress
sional district of Indiana, in delegate con-
vention assembled. indorse the administra-
ton of Benjamin Harrison as wise, pure
and thoroughly American, and we condemn
the administration of Grover Cleveland as
the most un-American, pernicious and de-
structive of American interests since the
foundation of our government. We believe
in the principles which have given our coun-
try unparalleled prosperity for more than
thirty years. and hereby reaffirm those
principles as enunciated in he national Re-
publican platform adopted in 1892 and in the
Republican State platform of Indiana in
1884,
THE BALLOTING.
The convention then proceeded to the Sc
lection Of a candidate. 1t had been ar
ranged that the names of candidates
should not be presented. but Che roll OF
| counties being called. each should announce
it's vote. The first ballot resulted as fol-
lows:
Will Wat Ad- Cul-
-C0nntipc- Moore som SON ANS lon