The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-08
YOUNG CHICAGO MAYOR
CARTER HARRISON GREETED ny A
CROWDED HOUSE.
He Was Accompanied by the County
Democracy in Plug Hats-POints
Made by the Speakers.

of $50 members of the Cook County Demo-
cratic Club from Chicago The meeting
opened at o'clock and by SIS o'clock the
hall was fairly well filled with a mixed
audience. Taggart and his Chicago friends
did not arrive at the meeting until o CLOCK,
and during The interval the crowd was en-
tertained by the chairman of the meeting,
S. f. Morss, and Leon Bailey Their re-
marks, which were along the usual lines
being followed by the supporters of Tag
CART during this campaign, were respect
fully received by those in attendance AT
O'Clock a forerunner notified the band sta
toned in the balcony at the back OF the
hall that Ts.ggart and the Chicago delega-
ton was about to enter the hall ana II pc
gan PLAYING a march as Taggart and Car
ter II. Harrison, jr., entered at the heao Oh
the Cook County Democratic Marching
Club. The cheers which made the welKin
ring were divided for Taggart and Mayor
Harrison, as they FASTENED up the center
aisle to the platform. The Chicago party
was ACCOMPANIED by the following officials
from that city: Joseph Ripley, Miles De-
vine. city attorney; Joseph f. Martin, city
collector: Robert L. Burk, oil inspector;
Fred e. Eldred, city sealer; James Pyne'
boiler inspector, and Alderman John Brown,
leader Of the City Council and chairman OF
the finance committee. These distinguished
Chicagoans occupied the front row OF chairs
to the left with City Attorney Curtis ana
TIA ggart. The County Democracy Band OF
fifty pieces under the leadership or W. o.
De Baugh, took up it's station III trout OF
the platform, while the members OF the
marching club occupied the chairs when
had been reserved for them in the front
part Of the auditorium. The members OF the
club were dressed in black suits, wearing
white bow ties and black silk hats ana
each was armed with a black umbrella ana
a large purple ribbon badge, upon which
was the monogram of the club. They hao
given a street parade and the crowd that
followed in packed the hall. After the con-
fusion caused by the entrance OF the oele-
CATION had subsidized sufficient Tor MT
Bailey to close the remarks he had been
making at the time Of the interruption, MI.
Morss arose and introduced Mr.. Iaggart.
Taggart spoke at some length, but, Tor the
most part, his talk was a reiteraton or 1or-
mer speeches. This consisted of denying the
charges generally made against him, ana
alleged that the books of the administration
were open 10 the investigation OF all VINO
chose to see them, and as for his accusers,
he simply dafied them. Also that pubic OF
ficials who did not do their duty should not
remain in Office Git is supposed to be UNDER
stood that this means after the public mas
found them out) His own land, he says,
shall not be purchased. During the excite
ment of the occasion, being obliged to ex-
plain away so many charges that had been
made against him and his administration
he unconsciously spoke a truth he little
wished to when he said: Il will say to you
haf uyhi I
in public office, / have never used it for
public benefit" This remark occasioned
many furtive look and sickly smile to APP
pear upon the faces of his friends, who
were close enough to catch it.
HARRISON GIVEN AN OVATION.
Mayor Carter III. Harrison, jr., was next
introduced, and as he arose he was greeted
by a rousing burst Of applause He first
told story he had heard on the train COM
ing here about himself and the crowd of
alleged buns who were accompanying him
to this city, and apologized to the citizens
of Indianapolis for bringing such a dele
cation into their midst. He distinguished
himself as a. "jolller,'' and won cheers for
many of his witty remarks. He said that
he would acknowledge that he and his
friends had INDUCED in several drops of
that which inebriates before they arrived,
and expected to indulge in more as they
were gong South, where the yellow fever
was raging. so that the Governor OF lll-
noiS had refused TO venture in that direc-
ton, so they had taken precautions and
expected to be SO thoroughly soaked and
inoculated with the stuff by the time they
arrived in Nashville that their systems
would be thoroughly strengthened against
any sort of microbes that they might have
TO encounter. He spoke Of having read the
vention at this city, and said that he
thought it a good one, and that 1t reminded
him of the platform adopted by the Demo-
Gratis at Chicago at the time of his nomi-
nation. He said that it promised a good,
economical business administration, good
for all parties, such a one as Taggart had
in the past given to Indianapolis. Abiding
to the Chicago papers, he said that they
had spoken of Indianapolis as great city;
they had spoken of its good government
and its prosperous condition.
Il do not always believe what / see in
the Chicago papers," he said, but since l
arrived here l am convinced that for once
they have told the truth He praised
the good streets he had encountered while
on his way TO the hall from the depot, and
particularly eulogiZed their clearly condi-
ton, and lamented the fact that the streets
of Chicago were not as clean. When a
chicago man comes mere, sad ne, ne can
go down on his knees and thank GOD that
this is one place where streets are good,
and, above all, clean. Chicago asphalt
streets he declared were put down. not for
wear, but for repair. A small portion of
his time was next given to condemning the
Republican administration before Taggarts
llIAS, a1Jef Wnlcn nc gave praise lOr
Thomas. He commended the system of
parks but made no reference to the Tag
CART administration plan Of park system.
In closing he rashly said: i only hope
that when my two years are done | may
have as good a reputation abroad and be as
Well thought of at home as Mayor Taggart
is to-day"
Walter Thomas Mills chairman of the
state Democratic committee in Illinois, was
next introduced after the Chicago band had
rendered several selections. Mr.. Mills proved
to be of a humorous turn of mind, and at
tempted to keep the spectators in continual
commissions of laughter by his witty say
ings and anecdotes.
William Z. English, who followed Mr..
Mills with few brief remarks, stated that
he did not stand with any men or body of
men who ever bolted from Democratic
convention He spoke in q humorous vein
of the annexation to Indianapolis of the
great cities of Haughville, Mount Jackson
and Brightwood, and said that the city was
going to spread out and annex Chicago.
Thus would the Cook county Democrats be
brought in By their side, not because their
votes were needed to elect Taggart, but for
good fellowship. Taggart he spoke of as
s'that best of fellows that best of good fell
lows" Judge Cox spoke for a few minutes,
after which Mr. Bert Morphy. baritone,
Toolin" without accompaniment. The only
friend of Taggarts who was conspicuous
bv his absence was Sterling r. Holt, and,
strange to relate. no one proposed his name
for a speech After Mayor Harrison had
finished his speech the crowd in the gall
leries and the back part or the auditorium
began to leave the hall.
After adiOurning from the hall the Chi
ca goans were conducted to the Grand Hotel,
where they made merry until after mid
night Mayor Harrison and his friends left
at $50 o'clock last night for Louisville.
r a4rfc Mammoth