The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-01

lay hands on a seat IN Congress and to
just hold it. With demand for tariff and
financial legislation. what would then avail
the faculty to deal in glittering generali-
ties. spin fancy sentences and grind out
panegyrics TO departed Republican saints?
II a man who never had case in court
could as well have charge of great legal
interests as an experienced lawyer, or If
one who had never been in a legislative
body could deal with bills as well as the
legislator of experience and knowledge of
parliamentary ways and rules then the
voters might as well send Watson him.
If, however, years devoted to the study of
public questions qualified for the rendering
of more effective service, then he thought
that on the score Of efficiency and ability
to serve the district and the people his
claim was superior to that of his competi-
tor.
PERSONAL CHARGES.
Mr.. Johnson was disposed TO hold Wat
son responsible for the defamatory charges
with which the several counties had been
flooded. 1t was significant. he said. that
these charges had been-heard in the coun-
ties Immediately after Watson's departure
1t was a cardinal principle Of law of reason
that when a man does not prevent thing
that he could prevent he becomes RESPONSE
wished he could at any time have stopped
those ISLANDERS. He declared it to be his
purpose 10 stand up ana tear the mask
IRON the face or this man. who was drag
ging the banner or the Epworth League
through the mlre, anu VINO, through MS
frienos, was using the weapons OF SANDER,
defamation and detraction. Mr.. Johnson
charged that Watson had secured the fol-
lowing in henry county tnat he had by
promising more offices tnan the entire dis
trict is entitled 10, seeking his personal
ends, said ne. by bestowing your orices.
l have not promised an once. After the
election no arm can reach over the noun
tains ana take me by the throat and say,
Give Tom Jones this Orilce; you promised
it, i have not promised an office. / have
not given oime nor Will i permit that
any friend of mine shall give a dime TO
influence vote, and defy The boodler and
the machine politician who are arrayed
against me"
The speaker admitted that his daughter
was a member or the Catholic Church
She had not married a Catholic, because she
was not married. He had not counseed
her to do 1t or not TO DO it. IL was ques-
ton she had decided for herself. He be-
Iieved in religious tolerance and liberty
himself, and wondered III his competitor had
ever discovered that the national Constitu-
tion and the Constitution of most of the
States provided for the fullest religious lib
erty
Other charges were taken up and disposed
of seriatim, and in conclusion the speaker
warned his hearers that it was struggle
OF men against the machine, of men against
detraction and defamation, and he warned
of the machine in this instance meant their
bondage to that influence in this county
hereafter. The speaker held his audience
to the close, and was frequently inter-
rupted with loud applause.
THE WATSON MEETING.
The opera house was inadequate to hold
the crowds that came out here tonight to
attend the closing Watson meeting. A
great crowd had assembled, and when the
doors We're opened the way the men and
women fought their way in was equal to a
bargain-counter rush. The attendance
was increased by trainload of three hun
dred people, most of them employees of the
Irondale mills who came over from Middle
town. These, with a brass band and trans
parencies, marched from the station to the
Bundy Hote,, where Mr.. Watson addressed
them briefly. The Irondale people also
brought their glee club, which interspersed
the exercises at the opera house with eX-
cellent music. A terrific yell, with beating
of drums and blowing of horns, marked the
appearance of Watson on the stage The
din lasted full minute, and was repeated
when Watson was introduced by Frank T..
Beach, the presiding officer of the evening.
Mr.. Watson's address, unlike that of Mr..
johnson. was devoted a}oost exclusively to
kind of an address he would deliver IN a
campaign. He declared himself in favor OF
the re-enactment of the Mckinley bill. or
ton of the Monroe doctrine, pensions for
soldiers and international bimetallism He
said he had nothing to say against his COM
petitor Mr.. Johnson, and declared that he
had never, on the stump or in private, said
anything derogatory to his public or private
character. He h ID declared his standing
on public questions. and he was willing to
let the people of Henry county Judge to
the claims and merits Of him and his COM
petitor. He hadn't served long in Congress,
/ 4, Anl 1&.rf l.A nrrrfa hn had
seen had satisfied him that he would like
Vt, and he hoped the people would send him
back. After all, 1t was a question of prin-
ciple, and not men, and the triumph of the
party he declared to be paramount TO that
of any man. Watson was vociferously
cheered at the end of almost every para
graph, and it was plain the big audience
was in intense sympathy with him. Wat
son spoke for an hour and half and was
followed by. L. b. Jackson, superintendent
of the Irondale mills and a recent convert
from Democracy to RepublicaniEm.
THE RESULT IN DOUBT.
The best informed politicians here tonight
who will venture an opinion agree that to-
morrow's election will be exceedingly close
There will be in the neighborhood of 1900
votes cast, and neither candidate is likely to
have a margin of over 200 votes. Full re-
turns will probably not be received until a
late hour. There Is a county ticket to nom
mate, as we'll as this congressional question
to decide, and some Of the precincts are re-
mote from New Castle. Unless the vote
should be very close, however, the returns
from New Castle, Knightstown and other
precincts accessible by telephone should rem
der forecast of the result easy and certain
tomorrow night.
Tomorrow the extra force of deputy
sheriffs will be maintained. and, should cir
cumstances seem to warrant it. the force
will be increased. 1t will be notable day
In the history Of Henry county. 1t will be
the staid, sober. conservative element back
ing Johnson against the enthusiasm, dash
and hustle Of the younger element back of
Watson. The question is whether the john
son column can withstand the rush line Of
| the Watson tigers. w. X. l..