The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-25
The Ex-President win Himself Take
q Hand in Prosecuting the EN-
pIOyer Who Coerces.
EFFECTS OF FREE COINAGE
PLAINLY SHOWN WHAT WOULD FOL-
LOW BRYAN'S ELECTION.
A Line of Thought for the Working
man-HuEh Hanna's Neat Speech in
Introducing the StatesIuan.

No man ever received a more f1attering
ovation here or elsewhere than did Gen.
Benjamin Harrison at the hands of his fell
low-townsnen last evening. With Tomlin-
son Hall packed as it never was before,
with thousands unable to find an inch of
standing room, with his appearance upon
the platform greeted by wild and prolonged
demonstrations of delight and with almost
every sentence punctuated by the en-
thusiastic applause of the great audience,
surely this most distinguished of living
Americans must have felt gratified at the
cordialty of his reception.
Yesterday the indications of a great crush
were unmistakabe that it was feared
serious accidents might result from the
rush likely to ensue if the doors were
opened at set time. and it was decided to
leave them open. 1t proved an excellent
plan, for the people who came early filed
quietly in, and by the time Z o'clock ar
rived there was not left an inch of stand
ing room. From that time on until after
o'clock people were turned away in a con-
stant stream. unable to edge their way
within the doors. Though a large crowd
fingered about the building in the hope that
the crowd within would thin out and were
disappointed in this hope, there no dis
order, and the police found nothing further
to 10 than to tell people that the hall was
already packed.
AS the seats were arranged last night,
the hall viii seat about four thousand. and
1t is estimated that fully five thousand sue
cceded in packing themselves in, for it
looked if half the people were standing
up In the aisles and In the spaces along
the sides and they We're jammed in the
torL-ost gallery tight as any place else.
The hall had been decorated in excellent
taste for the event. The balustrade of the
gallery had reen hung in white and showing
in relief against this alternated a device
made up of shields and flags, with gilt
rreaths surrounding pictures of Mckinley,
and such words as protection" ''reciproci-
ty'' and sound money" Upon each side of
the hall hung enormous flag about mid
way back from the stage caught back to
the side wall, not to obstruct the
view. A small extension of the stage
served rostrum and was draped in
the national colors. The scheme of decora-
ton for the stage was striking and ef-
feotive. At either side great flag of silk
was draped back, while two more big flags
formed a half circle in the mid
die. These served as background
for pictures of heroic size of
the Republican nominees, surmounted by
a gilt eagle, dra2ed with smaller silk flags.
Back of all was an effective arrangement
of bunting in the national colors. Palms
and plants gave their charm to the speak
ers' stand.
HALL FILLED BEFORE O'CLOCK.
The house was filled to it's utmost before
o'clock. and as the great audience well
understood that it had over an hour to
wait it displayed no impatience rest
lessness, though it had great desire to
be entertained. Occasionally some enthu-
siast would start a cheer for Mckinley or
for Harrison, and it would be given with
a will Then some one else would ask what
was the matter with Mckinley and there
would be a unanimous yell to the effect
that he all right. AT about half past
seven the Baldheaded Glee Club came for
ward and received with tremendous
cheer. The clubs first installment of cam
pagn music was received with evidences of
high delight. And once the big audience
had got taste of it, the club was given
no rest, but was compelled to render song
after song. The last number given was
Marching through Georgia" with Bur-
CESS Brown singing a solo and the whole
audience joining in the chorus. And they
Joined in right heartily. With the magnifi-
cent old chorus yelling up from five thou
sand throats it was inspiring, to say the
least
The stage had been arranged to seat over
who held tickets were unable to find seats
although the number of tickets had been
restricted to the number of seats. A good
many people who arrived early and found
the hall already filled to overlooking, clam
bered over the press table and the speakers
rostrum to chairs the stage. Many of
those who had stage tickets entered from
the west door leading to the stage and
after glancing over the great audience,
turned about and went away disappointed
Meanwhile the thousands of people sat ex-
pactantly, if quietly, awaiting for Indiana's
distinguished son to appear. People on the
stage expected General Harrison to enter
from the west side and occasionally arose
and glanced in that direction Several
times the great crowd witnessed this pan
tomime and began prolonged cheers. A lit
tie after o'clock the sound of music from
a brass band came up from the streets and
the audience realized that the ex-President
was about to enter. He came from an un-
expected direction, however and was al
most upon the speakers rostrum before the
audience caught sight of him. Every per-
in the house was upon his feet. Hats
and handkerchiefs were being waved and
people were cheering at the top of their
voices AS the audience caught sight of
General Harrison, little flustered from
the exertion of getting through the tightly
wedged crowd the stage, but smiling
and bowling in recognition of the friendly
cheers were redoubled and the enthusiasm
reached point never before witnessed in
Indianapolis
General Harrison had been escorted from
his home by uniformed division OF the