Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-13
WELCOME BY PINGREE
League Of Republican Clubs in Con-
vention at Detroit.
FINE WEATHER FOR MEETING
Great Faith That the Right Will
Prevail.
WOODMANSEE'S ADDRESS

July 13.-Coo1, pleasant weather was fur
nished for the opening of the tenth an
nual convention of the National League of
Republican Clubs, which was called to
order considerably later than the sched-
uled hour of 10 o'clock this morning.
The Detroit Auditorium, naturally crude
and uninviting in appearance, was beauti-
fed by a considerable display of patriotic
decorations. The most striking feature in
the decorations was a life-szed portrait
of President Mckinley, surmounted by an
eagle and surrounded by the stars and
stripes. Directly opposite, in the rear of
the hall. was a similar portrait of James
G. Blaine. Pictures of Washington and
Lincoln adorned the walls at either end of
the big hall, and the Intervening spaces,
rafters and gallery fronts were hung with
the red, white and blue and escutcheons of
the states. A graduated tier of seats in
the rear of the platform, having capacity
of 300 seats, was occupied by more or less
notable visitors. The delegates, who were
seated in state groups, filled nearly the en-
tire floor space.
1t was 1870 o'clock when President
Woodmansee raped for order The dele
gates had net yet settled down in the
places assigned to them and the galleries
had almost no occupants. Rev. DR.. Robert
j. Service of the Trumbull Avenue Presby-
terian Church came forward to offer
prayer. He prayed for blessing on Presi-
dent Mckinley, Congress, the governors
of states and all others in authority and
that the national honor might be saved
from tarliShment.
President Woodmansee then introduced
Gov. Pingree to deliver the address of well
come on behalf of the state of Michigan.
Speech by Gov. Pingrec.
The governor said, in part: Mr.. Chair
man, and members of the Republican Lea
1>l,4
Michigan. Your meeting here should,
therefore, be an inspiration. You cannot
fail to remember what it was that made it
Necessary that a new party should be
formed. On behalf of the state, l extend to
you L cordial welcome.
You are the young men of the party. You
represent its working force. You know the
necessity of organization. You know that
this is an age of activity and progress, and
that parties, as well as men, must move
forward they will die. You cannot live
upon memory or upon hope.
The republican party, from the day of
it's birth, became great power. because
it was the party of the people, and it will
remain great power so long as 1t remains
the party of the people, and no longer.
I'VE hear a great deal said about the home
market. 1t is the most valuable market we
Lave. If l were going to destroy that mar
ket entirely. would favor the continued
formation of trusts and combinations of
capital. This would result in throwing
about half of the working men out of en-
ployment and of wiping out small con-
Germs and destroying individuality, which is
another name for patriotism. Then it
would only be necessary TO see that the
greater portion of the taxes are collected
from the working classes and that all rail-
road companies and all other watered
stocked concerns are taxed from one-third
TO one-seventh as much as the widows
cottage and the farmers farm. The ma
Jorlty OF the people are not in favor of de-
stroying the home market in this way.
Nero was about the only man. who reioi .ed
in the burning of Rome He had a few
favorites to whom he had promised the
work of rebuilding.
Faith I'm the Right.
Il have great faith that the right will
prevail. The people are patient, and when
they are betrayed by their representatives
they make other selections and try again.
They expect relief from the republican
PARTY, ard they are willing to give it a fair
: trial. You are here as the representatives
Of that party. fresh from the people them
selves, and your utterances and your rec
concentrations will be awaited with inter-
est and II they are wise and true and prac-
tical they will be received with welcome"
The governor was compelled to pause for
moment on account of an interruption
caused by a ripple of applause at the en-
trance of the Illinois delegation, headed BY
Gov. Tanner Mr.. Pingree's address was
not in any sense spread-eagle speech. and
the applause was rather faint, coming
mostly from his friends in the Michigan
delegation. AT one point the governor
aroused a genuine burst of applause by an
interpolated reference to the miners strike,
expressing the hope that it would be sue
ceSSful.
Speech of President WOOdmansce
In reviewing the work of the league and
its future prospects President Woodman-
see said: In compliance with custom that
has become established at our National
League conventions, I venture to address
you as your president. upon the state of
the league, and of our relations and duties
TO 1t and to the republican party The
league has a mission to perform, and 1t is
emnently proper that we should annually
determine If this organization has meas
ured up to it's possibilities. The pomp and
ceremony of a national assembly of this
character are so useless and so inapproprf-
ate, If we cannot learn a lesson and profit
by reason OF the experience. Speaking as
l do for those who during the last year
had charge of the affairs of the league, 1
can say that We are proud of what has
been accomplished during the closing ad-
ministration. l am able to report that the
debts of the league, which have so long
been a menace to its development and a
encouragement to Its friends, have been
paid. l can further say that every obliga-
ton that has been incurred during the last
officers
whom you may select at this convention
will not be required to divide their time be-
tween the wants of the organization and
the demands Of it's creditors.
League is Growing.
I am justified in saying that the league
is growing. In a number of states few
years ago our party leaders looked upon 1t
with suspicion. Now they recognize it's
usefulness and gladly encourage and sup
port it. We have a number of distinguish
ed statesmen who have hardly realized the
fact that there exists in this country the
National Republican League. They have
unsatisfied ambitions, and are somewhat
disappointed at the slow progress they
have made in national politics. My advice
to them is to get In line and not overlook
the league men in this country, who. with
a comradeship of 2,50O,0OO members, have
no axes to grind, but naturally think more
of their friends than they do of their enc
miles, OF the large number Of distinguished
republicans who have been friends of the
league there is one who stands out con-
spicuous among all the rest. That man is
william Mckinley. AS an organization the
league cannot assist any candidate for
Office, until nominations are duly made
but as individuals. Its members naturally
remember their friends. As consequence,