The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-20
FOUR FULL COMPANIES
BICYCLE CAMPAIGN CORPS IN MA
RION COUNTY UNDER WAY.
A Letter which shows How Governor
Mckinley Has Advanced the In
terests of WheeImen.


organize a monster Mckinley and Hobart
Bicycle Club, to have organizations formed
military lines throughout the country
1t was not supposed then that it would
ever reach the proportions that it has al
ready reached and it now gives promise of
being a potent factor IN the work fer sound
money and good government. Last week
George N. Catterson, who has charge of the
work of organization in this county, re-
ceived the following letter from James r.
Dunn, who has charge of the work
throughout the country:
''Your cheering letter Is at hand It is a
pleasure to learn that so many of my
friends and associates among the wheel
men are taking a bold stand in this cam
paign in behalf of sound money and hon
est government. / need not conjure you
upon the questions at Issue in this cam
paign, as I recognize your fidelity to the
great principles involved, and your patri-
otto efforts in behalf of the standard bear
er under whom we are all enlisted. If there
Is any class of citizens In this country who
should, at this time, bury all feelings OF
party prejudice and partisanship, and en-
gage in this battle for the honesty and in
tegrity of our institutions, II is the wheel
men, who have, during seventeen years,
shown their lighting qualities, and Sturdlly
maintained their rights and privileges I'M
der the law.
mot only has their influence been felt
in behalf of what may be called by some
their selfish interests, but they have fur
the prejudices of politicians, the presidents
of history and the open opposition of their
fellow-citizenS in promoting the great ques
ton of the Improvement of highways 1t is
not my purpose at this time to enter into
this latter subject, but to point to a still
greater reason why the wheelmen OF the
United States should give their faithful,
Jealous and enthusiastic support to Nc
Kinley.
MKINLEY AND GOOD ROADS.
81 had the honor to serve the League of
CID don't for two
terms. and afterward as chairman of the
committee on legislation. Being a personal
friend and constituent of MAJOR Mckinley
1T was but natural that / should seek his
good offices in behalf of such legislation as
the league was promoting. / was unsuc-
cessful in obtaining Endorsement of the
matter of the improvement of highways
from the Democratic Governor of Ohio.
Campbell, in 1891, hence, when Governor
Mckinley, in his inaugural address, deliv-
cred in January, 1892, gave prominent ut
terance to the great Importance of this
question he endeared himself to the hearts
of Ohio wheelmen and his action had i'm
mense influence upon the Governors of 9TH
er States, who until then, had been fear
full of the consequences of taking an active
stand upon this question. Later on, in JAM
uary, 1898, in his annual message to the
General Assembly, Governor Mckinley took
a. step further, and suggested to the Gen
GraI Assembly the creation OF a state
highway commission, which he later had
the pleasure of appointing, and whose re-
port has attracted widespread attention.
1t was not only as Governor and in his
official capacity that Mckinley showed his
friendliness to our undertakings, but in
hundreds of instances, when applied to
him for assistance, cooperation and sup
port in forwarding the proposed legislation
by Congress for the appointment of a ma
was yv'I prompt' considerate and most helpfui.
= Governor Mckinley rendered a reception
to the members of the National Assembly
of the League of American Wheelmen at
the time of it's meeting in Columbus in
1892 and was then and there decorated with
badges and made an honorary member OF
two of the Chicago cycling clubs, which
membership he has frequently referred to
in such a manner as indicates the high
value he places upon the friendship of the
wheelmen.
II wish I might go further into details.
but it is sufficient to say that Mckinley
has never yet been requested to grant any
favor to the wheelmen which has been re-
fused, and his last public action in their
behalf was in reviewing the great wheel
mems parade in Cleveland, o.. last month,
upon the occasion of the Cleveland CEN
tennial exercises. While | have given you
attitude toward the wheelmen. / wish to
give due prominence to the fact that the
patriotism and political integrity which in
ceiving the same grateful appreciation
which the wheelmen feel for the man they
honor.
THE work of this department of the Re
publican national committee is not confined
to the organization of clubs for parade and
show, but is taking deep root in sparsely
settled communities, where our best field
of work is the dissemination of campaign
literature. 1t is our intention to secure de-
tails from all wheelmens campaign clubs,
and where clubs cannot be formed, from
detached wheelmen. to assist the State and
local committees by every means in their
power. Let every man appoint himself a
missionary of this new gospel, and tender
his services to the proper authority, for
the of acting messengers. and
to distribute campaign literature through
out the country.
THE LOCAL COMPANIES.
The work in this city has progressed very
rapidly under the management of Mr. Cat
terson 1t was less than three weeks ago
that he began to make effort to organ
lie some companies here. The result is
four companies completely organized and
about fifteen in shape for organization be-
fore another week goes by. Besides this.
1t is the intention of Mr.. Catterson to or
ganize one special company in each ward
of the city to be known as the wards spe-
cia1 company. 1t will be composed of MEM
bers scattered among the different pre-
cincts of~the ward. These men will be Sc
lected as far as possible, by the ward and
precinct committeeman. 1t will be their
special duty to assist the committeeman of
their ward and precinct election day
1t Is not every rider VINO can JOIN q COM
pany of the wheelmen, who give his
entire time to the work or election day
and for that reason the members of these
special companies Will be selected from
those who can devote their entire attention
to the work on that important day |
There will be much work to be done In car
ryipg messages from place to place and
getting out the voters.
The four companies which have been or
ganized here have been formed into bat
TALON with L. j. Richards. of PIT North
Capitol avenue. as major. As soon as
enough battalions formed they will be
organized into a regiment and a colonel Sc
lected. The complete roster of the COM
panies organized Is as follows
Company A-E J. Richards, ma ior of bat
talon; H. X. Slanter. captain; viii Nc
Curdy. r. w. Mclaughlin, j. r. Tindlater
Fl. McCollister. j. NJ. Vail, w. r. Hancock
Henry c. Carr. DR.. II. b. McNutt W. T.
Ellis E. Beard Nj. D.. w. r. Allen, f. p
Ramsey, f. I. Willis Lon Carnes. Morris |
Meek, Lawrence George, Charles II. Me
Bride. L. II. Burford c. b. Lenix George
G. Bridges, F. X. Sawyer, William C. Kap-
pier, E. l.. Barth r. F. White, Ben Cox
c. Jones, p. Shaw, L. Thompson j. E. Tay-
lor Omer Caswell. Horace Furnas Knox
Hutchinson. b. futile, F. NJ Grove, Frank
Horning.