The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-18

cities in all parts of the world. and when
free from further call to duty, free to take
to himself the pleasures of life at its best
anywhere on earth, he announced to the
public that he would return to indianapolis,
the home of his boyhood. the most beauti,
Club greets this honored hero tonight with
its welcome. May good health keep long
among us Admiral George Brown.
ADMIRAL BROWN TALKS.
Admiral Brown responded to the toast,
| "A Comparison of Indianapolis and Other
| Cities" As he arose he was greeted with
| hearty applause that was twice renewed.
heartiness of his reception and expressed
| his gratitude for the cordiality manifested.
| Il feel greatly honoTed by the. privilege of
being with you this evening"" he began.
| Since / entered the navy nearly forty
nine years ago. have never been absent
from indianapolis except when on duty at
| sea or stationed at some point in the United
| States. When away 1 have always been
a subscriber to your local papers and have
consequently never lost interest in Indian
| apolis have been able to keep posted on
current events of your city as shown by it's
papers. The rapid progress of the city
dates from the time of the organization
of the Commercial Club. when energetic
citizens were brought together for one COM
mon purpose. This club has put good men
at the wheel, and all have pulled together
for the city and the advancement of its in
terests at home and abroad.
Many who have been so unfortunate as
not to have seen indianapolis only know it
as they have seen it located in the school
Biographies, described as being located on
the west fork of White river, although they
have heard of it's railroad facilities it's
commercial enterprises and mercantile ac-
| tlvities. Some of them have heard that
| that sometimes flows through it's center.
| daughter and applauSe.) They have not
| heard that it has within it the beautiful
| town called Woodruff Place. In my duties
| in the navy 1 have visited numerous cities
! of foreign countries, and there are few L
| have not visited in the United States. am
full nff I1eaa hat n
| off the seabOard that offer so many advan-
tages as does this city of ours. Upon my
retirement from the navy under operation
| of the law, by reason Of my age, decided
| to make this city my home, because have
always loved it and have always called 1t
| my home. l remembered with happiness
| the many friends here. l am convinced that
l made no mistake, as my old friends and
many citizens have met have greeted me
cordially and kindly
Comparing indianapolis with other cities
| Admiral Brown spoke of the general feat
| ures of the city. I'VE have" said he,
! broad and Well-Shaded streets as has
| Washington, but here the houses are To-
| Gated well back from the streets. This en-
| hances the beauty of the streets and homes
| and gives privacy to our residences. One
| important point in comparing indianapolis
| with other places is that it is not a new
| city We can well take pride in our home
| Many here tonight can take pride in say
| ing that they have had a fair share in
| bringing about the good conditions. While
| there are many things we can speak we'll Of
| there are some matters that require at
| tention, and doubtless will receive attention
from the progressive members of this club
| In all my experience in all parts of the
| world / never have known a city that had
| its Street-car tracks so well laid down or
| where the conductors were more polite and
| attentive nor where the motormen were
more attentive than here. The cars, it is
| true, sometimes get in the way of the
| bicycle riders. We are poorly off in the way
| of good, pure illuminant in our so-called
| artificial gas. There has been some talk of
| cheaper gas. l, for one would be willing
| to pay more for better gas"
Admiral Brown told of his experiments
with illuminants in the 31a years he was in
| charge of the lighthouse supplies at New
York, and said that he had experimental
| with everything from tallow candles to
| electric lights, so that he thought he could
consider himself competent to speak on this
| question.
luxury, but are necessity. The most per-
rect and satisfactory system 1 have seen
was in Honolulu. Hawaii. There is no
monopoly there. There are two companies
| having franchises. The charge is $24 a year,
and the service is most excellent. Nearly
every resident has a telephone, and many
| nave phones of both systems in their
| houses. The lines extend throughout the
| Island, the longest being perhaps forty
miles: NO extra charge is made for the
| the telephones more for social than business
purposes The ladies make their calls by
telephone. About o'clock every night the
dealers have the right of way and call on
their customers for the next days orders"
Admiral Brown excused himself for con-
t1nu1ng his rambling remarks" and bow
ing his acknowledgment of the cries to "go
on, expressed again the qualification and
pleasure the cordially of his reception had
given him. and resumed his seat amid re-
newed applause
ADDRESS BY MR.. MORss.
Samuel E. Morss was next introduced,
President Fortune paying him the following
| tribute:
1T is the privilege of the Commercial
| CUB to have here tonight as a guest of
honor a distinguished citizen who belongs
| to the new indianapolis and who has been
! an important factor in making 1t. He has
been to us, as public spirited citizen and
| journalist. what the brilliant Grady was to
the new South. As one of the three men
who represented the Commercial Club in
| the framing of our present city charter his
service to Sle public as citizen is a part
of the foundation work in the making of
the new Indianapolis. AS an editor he has
given helpful support to all organized eff
forts to advance public interests. He has
been truly a champion of Indianapolis who
speaks for it with appreciation of the dig
nifty BETTING representation of 1t and
with comprehensive regard for it's greater
possibilities AS a representative of parti-
sanship-which means a difference of opin-
ion and stand for side, with each side
confident that it is right and that others
are wrong-he has done good enough to
atone for any sins that may be charged to
him by his opponents. Some of the good
white milestones that mark his progress in
politics are the honest ballot law, the school
book law and the new tax law. These
measures have been purifying and bene-
fetal influences in Indiana; and to the man
of broad mind and strong moral courage
who devoted his abilities to bringing about
these great reforms we people of Indiana
are much indebted. He has been a power
for good in his State He comes back to
us from five years of service abroad, with
the distinction of having commanded for
the position of consul general to Paris
higher recognition than was accorded it
before, and with the record OF having
substantially advanced American CONNER
cial interests in France He is one of the
suffered from his French experience. His
French reputation has become familiar to
us from the reports of returning fellow
citizens who have had reasons of their own
for talking about him more than their per-
SOnai experiences in Paris. 1t is pleasing
to note that pictures of him before and after
his residence in Paris show no devastating
change in his appearance. In the Honor
able Samuel r. Morss the Commercial Club
welcomes the return of an honored member,
a good citizen. who has been helpful to
the community and to whose future look
with much interest
Mr. Morss was received with hearty APP
plause and said:
First of all let me thank you for the
compliment YOU are paying me this evening
When | arrived at New York, last June
from Europe l found awaiting me a letter
from Mr.. Bobbs in behalf of the Commercial
Club rendering me its Inequalities. AS /
was Obliged to remain In the East until late
in the summer | was unable to accept at
the time the courtesy thus so graciously
proffered. That after so long delay the
invitation was renewed and especially that
me in this connection with the gallant and
distinguished son of Indiana, to whom you