The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-27
WOOLLEN FOR CONGRESS
SOUND-MONEY DEMOCRATS OF THIS
DISTRICT HOLD A CONVENTION.
Chairman S. o. Pfckens Recalls that
Bryan Voted Straight Populist
Ticket Four Years Ago

congressional district met in mass conven-
ton at the Criminal Court room yesterday
afternoon and nominated as their candidate
for Congress Evans Woollen, who is at
present secretary of the Commercial Club.
and has long been known one of the
clean and intelligent young Democrats Of
indianapolis. 1t was a foregone conclu-
sion that Mr.. Woollen would be nominated,
and as there was no contest, the convention
was not largely attended.
In calling the convention to order, S. O.
Pickens, chairman of the State committee
who is also chairman of the Seventh dis
trict, made a brief but pointed speech.
After the Chicago convention" said he,
lit was claimed by many thousands of
Democrats throughout the country that
that convention had enunciated a plat
form of principles that was Populistic
rather than Democratic; that it had nomi-
mated upon this platform man who was
more of a Populist than Democrat. Day
by day since that convention adjourned 1t
has become clearer and clearer that this
assertion is true. Shortly after the Chicago
convention the Populist convention met at
St. Louis and enunciated a platform con-
tanning practically the same principles as
the platform adopted at Chicago and this
Populist convention, almost by reclamation,
nominated upon this platform as its candt-
date the same man nominated at Chicago.
From that time to this national leaders
of the Populist party have claimed and
maintained that Bryan was as good Pop
ulist any of them and was satisfactory
to them for that reason. But now all
manner of doubt that there may have been
upon this subject has been set at rest, for
the friends and supporters of Mr.. Bryan
have admitted that in 1892 he voted for the
Populist candidate for President, Mr.
Weaver, as against Grover Cleveland, the
nominee of the Democratic party Senator
Faulkner, of the so-called Democratic
branch of the Populist national committee,
by way of apology for this action, declares
that it was done under the direction OF
the Democratic national committee. The
men who composed the National Democrat
ic party are men who do not take dictation
from any committee to whether or not
they shall support Democrats.
'Day by gay 1t mas become palmer that
the National Democratic party is the only
true representative OF the Democratic
faith, and that the Indianapolis platform is
the only true expression OF Democratic
pr1nclpies that has been given by any ma
tiOnaI convention this year. Ano since the
Indianapolis convention was held the only
Democratic President we have elected in
thirty years and every member OF his Cab
met have indorsed the platform adopted
and the candidates nominated at Inaian-
/
the National Democrats should vote for
candidates not only upon the electoral
ticket, but upon every ticket in which the
principles involved may be considered at
issue
Mr.. Pickens then read the call for the
convention and Walter kesser was elected
secretary. Upon the call for nominations
for Congress, Frank Edenharter named
Evans w oollen and moved that the nomi-
carried with much applause, and in re-
Spouse to numerous calls Mr.. WooIen came
forward; The nominee was introduced by
Mr.. Pickens the next Congressman.
Mr.. WooIlen said:
Mr.. WOOLLEN'S SPEECH.
Il thank you very cordially for this evil
dence of your good will and confidence. 1
accept the nomination, understanding full
we'll that the acceptance of it involves the
pledge that 1 will make vigorous and UNI
renting campaign That pledge is made.
L understand that our campaign will be a
Democratic campaign. (Applause.) 1t will
not be a campaign against MIR. Cooper nor
a campaign against Mr.. Overstreet, but a
against both of them. Cap
plause.l Our campaign is to be made with
all vigor and earnestness in the effort to do
II we fail in this our fight shall not have
been made in vain. 1t Will help to rally to-
gether the men who believe in the princ-
pies of Jefferson and of Cleveland. Up to
this time there has been no congressional
campaign in this district in behalf of the
Democratic party Mr.. Cooper does not
Democracy, but silverism and The
convention that nominated him represented
silveriSm. That nomina ton was made from
a list dictated by the Populsts and
there is nothing more repugnant
to Democratic faith than Populism.
This is true because Populism is the
quintescence Of Republicanism. When you
see upon one side of the road a Populist
convention, upon the other side a so-caled
Democratic convention, ands in the middle
of the road a conference committee con-
trolling both, you may depend upon it that
that convention, no matter what its pre-
tensions may be, is not Democratic con-
vention. This was the situation at Frank
lin, so-called Democratic convention upon
one side, a PopuliSt convention upon the
other, and a conference committee that did
the work. We are here to repudiate that
enter upon the campaign earnest and con-
ndent that we shall do out duty by uphold
ing 1 the standard of Democracy unsullied
by Populism, silverism, Republicanism or
any other ism" loud applause)
The nomination of Mr.. Woollen left a
vacancy upon the electoral ticket which
was filled by naming Francis r. Hord cleo
tor from the Seventh district. All those
present signed the petition necessary to
place the ticket upon the ballot sheet.
Evans Woollen is thirty-three years of
age, having been born in this city in No
Woolien a lawyer. The son attended the
public schools of this city and graduated
at Yale in 1886, subsequently taking the
a. M. degree after two years of post-gradu-
ate work. He came out of college a free
trader. and has since been active in the
Democratic party. He participated in the
sound-money campaign both before the
State convention and at Chicago, and was
active in pushing forward the national
movement, acting as assistant secretary of
the national committee during the month
of August. Since leaving college he has
practiced law with his father and has been
for two years past secretary of the Com
mercial Club.
Mr.. Woollen Issues Challenge.
Evans Woollen, the sound-money Demo-