Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-28
BAY STATE SPEAKS FOR REED
Delegates, However, Come to St, Louis
Free from Instructions.
ENTHUSIASM FOR THE MAN FROM MAINE
Republicans of Massachusetts, Define
Their Attitude on National
Policies without Minc-
ing Words.

BOSTON, March 27.-Accompanied with
enthusiasm that rocked the great music hall,
the state convention for the election OF dele
gates to the republican national convention
at st. Louis was held here today The
delegates came with only one name In their
minds as their choice for the presidential
nomination. 1t was that of Hon. Thomas
b. Reed of Maine, consequently any reference
to the man or his sentiments was the signal
for cheers and applause; and again and again
the building trembled with shouts and hand
clapplng cheers and waving of hats, as the
delegations contested with each other in
manifestng their appreciation of their favor
ite.
Long before the hour for calling the con-
venton to order the delegates began to as
sembe in the hall, which was elaborately
decorated The delegates killed time pend
ing the call to order, by cheering whenever
a prominent member of the party made
| his appearance upon the platform. lhe
lrst grand volley of cheers came when the
officers of the state central committee led by
Chairman George II. Lyman, made their ap-
pearauee on the platform, while the pahd
played "Hail Columbia"
| Mr. Lyman called the convention to order
| at 1916 and the call for the convention was
read by Secretary Talbot ,Rt Rev. VIII
| liam Lawrence, Episcopal bishop oil Massa
| chusetts offered prayer, and eloquently re-
| ferred to the justice and purity Oh the nIe
| of the late Governor Grsenhalge. Chalr-
man Lyman then addressed the delegates as
| follows: -
GAVE REED sENDoFF.
| 1--WE are assembled in convention en-
| powered by the suffrages of the republican
voters of Massachusetts to outline and de-
| termine the policy of this commonwealth
when she shall meet the representatives from
| her sister states at perhaps the most i'm
| portant national convention in the history OF
! the great American party. we meet atter
| a lanse of four years, to select good men ana
| true who are to speak Tor the common
| wealth at the convention, and also to agree
| unon and formulate such rules OF govern
| ment as shall best tend to represent and IN
| terpret the principles of the party we honor
| the foundation of our best citizenship. Let
| the national convention stand true 10 tne pes.
| interests of the republican party, an honest
| dollar and the institutions of our country
| and that party's defeat is an impossiDility'
| "Gentlemen our position is very re-
sponsble one. In thought and name anu
being. we are one with that New England SIS
| terhood of states whose proudest record mas
| ever been for loyal support of those lnstltu-
tlons why has no New England state yet
| met in convention? Is 1t not because .hey
| demand first to hear the voice of Massachus-
|
century. with sword and pen, in council and
| on the field New England with united pur-
| pose was the foremost in establishing TINS
| great government under which we i've, ana
| foremost of them all In freedoms cause, with
brain and arm fought Massachusetts,. Then
| was given birth to that great bulwark of the
American people-the New England man.
MANY VITAL ISSUES.
"Today. though blessed with peace, we
have issues no less vital that must be dis
tinctly met They involve the very founda-
| tion of our civil structure, OF those institu-
| tions Of our credit, of our national honor.
Mass etts owes 1t to herself, she owes it
| to those who fashioned her in earlier and
darker days. to take her place and maintain
her birthright in the councils OF states. All
the states within this wide territory-Gods
gift to an infant republican religion in
enterprise in culture, in refinement in its
schc OILS, in the fervid and intense spirit of
patriotic Americanism, by tradition, and by
example stands first and foremost the old Bay
state.
"'Then let your votes send such men to st.
Louis as shall best represent Massachusetts,
that at this last convention of the nineteenth
century she and ell New England shall stand
no cipher, but a mighty unit and with such
resolutions as shall receive the endorsement
of all Americans who own a country, and
demanding such leader as truly American
as the principles he Is called upon to defend.
New England cannot be said to be less
worthy Of leadership today than in the old
days OF thirteen original colonies when she
presents her chosen cheftain, the name OF
Thomas Bracket Reed.
When the speaker mentioned the name Of
Reed the audience hurst into loud applause,
women among the spectators in the balconies
joining.
Following Chairman Lyman's address. CON-
mittees on credentials and on permanent or
ganization, on resolutions and on ballots wero
appointed. When Senator Lodge rose to pre-
sent the motion for the appointment Of a reso-
lutions committee he was given greeting
that lasted several minutes, the hall ringing
again and sgain with cheers.
The committee On credentials reported tho,
the convention was entitled to 2G02 dele
gates and that 1851 delegates were present
Congressman s. w. Mccall Of Winchester
was chosen permanent chairman His in
PRODUCTION was the signal for a great ovation.
FAULT OF DEMOCRACY.
Chairman Mccall addressed himself first
to a statement of the business situation. The
depression prevailing he attributed to the
democratic party.
"The caution imposed upon our business
men by the democratic restoration" he said,
was increased by the first acts of the ad- |
ministration. Mr.. Cleveland put the Treas
ury department in the hands Of a gentleman, |
who however distinguished by parlamen- |
tary talents, brought to the discharge OF his |
new duties a degree Of incapacity never be- |
fore known in financial circles OF that high |
office. When first confronted with the prob |
lem of maintaining the gold reserve |
which had been so laboriously built up and |
so sacredly guarded by republican states
men. the administration refused to issue
bonds TO secure geld and Mr.. Carlisle threat
ened to pay our obligations in deprecated |
silver This attitude in view of his pre-
vious record upon the silver question, rudely |
disturbed the confidence Of everybody inter
ested in having our money standard main
tanned, o. owning American securities.
run was started upon the treasury the gold |
reserve, left defenseless, was trenched upon
for the first time since its creation: cur
stocks and bonds came back TO us across the
ocean hy ship leads and in q moment We
were in The midst of a financial panic which.
compared with the panic of 1879. was as the
hurT icane to the summers breeze. The sale
of a few bonds would have ayertel the fret
danger, but when the great dixie for the
preservation Of sound currency was once
b oxen. tens Of millions of bonds were
almost useless when thrown In the breach"
The speaker proceeded with a review Of
national finances since 1861 deducng from II
the statement that the republican policy cf
protection had given this country prosperity
which had been interrupted as the principle
OF protection had been threatened. ''ro eum
up the whole matter" he said. III IL enough
for us as Americans to know that tho ma
fipOal nnlirv nf nrptepfInn !