The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-25
Ex-President Harrison Greeted
With Widest Applause,
Upon Appearing in the Indiana
Convention Today.
BUNTING IS FLYING.
The Whole Town Alive With
Republican Enthusiasm.
Six Thousand People Confident
of Victory Attend.

INDIANAPOLIS, April 25.-The Repub-
lican state convention opened with the
weather clear and crisp, and although
most of the delegates were up all night
working for their favorite candidates,
they were sustained by enthusiasm and
showed no signs of fatigue
1t is the largest convention ever held
in Indiana and LIS delegates filed the
lower fioo- of Tomlinson hall The al
rtefnates were partitioned off by a high
board fence in the rear of the great
hall.
The gallery on the right was reserved
for the ladies and there were hundreds
of them present. The left galleries were
occupied by the general public, and
when the convention was called to order
there were 5000 people present
State Chairman Gowdy was at the head
quarters in the Denison house early and
was besieged by ticket-seekers. The
chairman was unable to furnish any how
ever, as the last ticket was given out last
night. The hall was elaborately decora-
ted.
A picture of ex-president Harrison, ten
by six feet, was suspended Immediately
above the chairman's desk. Pictures of
Blaine, the late governor Morton, Gov.
Mckinley, Garfield, Lincoln and Grant
also adorned the walls Great bands Of
tri-colOred bunting crossed and recrossed
most pleasing.
Opening of the Doors.
At 8 o'clock the doors were opened,
and the arduOus labors of the corps of
sergeants- at arms began. The delegates
were seated by districts, and it was near
ly 10 o'clock before they were properly
arranged. The stage was decorated with
red, white and blue streamers, and on the
front of the presiding officers chair was
a huge gilded eagle.
At 9:30 a band located in the left gal
lery just over the stage, struck up series
of popular and national airs, and there
after outbursts of applause were frequent
until the convention was formally called
TO order by State Chairman Gowdy at 10
o'clock.
When the venerable presiding officer,
ex-Secretary of Navy Richard w.
Thompson, of Terre Haute, came on to
the stage from the rear in company with
Charles w. Fairbanks, the convention
cheered him Justify. He was escorted
to a seat next to Chairman Gowdy.
Chairman Gowdy asked the conven-
tion to rise and Rev. DR.. Coultas Of this
city offered prayer. Before the echo
of DR.. Coultas' prayer had subsided, a
lusty lunged delegate cried: "Hurrah for
Harrison"
The report on credentials and perma-
nent organization was then adopted.
The report as adopted provided that
''The rules of the Fifty first congress as
adopted and applied by Thomas b. Reed
and lately endorsed by the present con-
gress should govern
Harrison Given an Ovation
PandemOnium followed the appear
ance of ex-President Harrison, who fol-
lowed the presiding officer. Hats and
handkerchiefs were waved and the audi
ence arose to its feet amid cheers
Ex-President Harrison spoke as fol-
lows:
Mr.; President. My Venerable and Honored
Il congratulate you: congratulate the
Republicans of Indiana that you are per-
mitted on this hopeful day to preside
over gathering of the Republicans of
this great state lApplausel You have
battled for the principles of the party
Tor many years; you have been the able.
dOuntless champion of these great prin-
ciples, which called the party into ex-
istence and which have won for it SO
often and through a series of such bril-
liant years of administration the conf
dence of the people. [Applausel
AS you have been faithful to the
party in the hours of weakness and
darkness we are glad that you are
here this morning when the country
is awakened to the fact that a restoration
OF Republican principles in administra-
ton Is essential to the prosperity and
happiness of the people [Great applause
To you my friends / would come this
morning with an acknowledgements of nv
grateful obligations for those undeserved
and accumulated favors which you have
heaped upon me.
Il will not undertake it this morning:
1t would be Inappropriate. l will not
stand between you and the important
work which you have assembled to do.
and which you are eager to be about.
AT some time during the campaign which
so auspIciously OPENS today-if it be the
pleasure of my fellow citizens=I shall
hold myself at their service for fuller
discussion lGreat cheeringl
81 cannot allow, as have said before.
that an ex-president has lost his citizen
ship. Laughter and applause.
The People Have Turned
"Nor can / admit that a calm and tenn
perate discussion of great public oues-
tions is undignifed in any man. IAN
plause We have had, beginning with
those years when a senate champion of
Wing principles turning to Col Thomp-
sonl spoke to us fellow citizens of IN
diana down to the last national campaign
a continuous debate upon the question Of
the tariff The people have now accept
ed one view of the question and now
turning, have adopted the other. TAp-
plause
srhe debates seemed to have worn it.
self out Even your silvery eloquence. sir.
was hardly equal to stirring great interest