The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-23

A RIOT OVER PLATFORM.
Although DOwned by Majority, 1t Wa:
Declared Adopted.

Declared Adopted.
The mob was a bit slow in gathering,
and, as the hall was about the temperature
of q Dutch oven, coats were DOTTED as
soon as the delegates reached their seats.
Not great deal of energy had been squan-
dered in decorating the hall. Three small
flags and unframed Autographs of Bryan.
Gray and Matthews were sufficient for the
balcony railing, while at the front of the
stage hung two big flags and framed pic
lures of Hendricks, Turpie and Mcdonald.
Upon the front row of the stage shone
such lights as 'Cadi'' Buskirk, Myron King
and Ross Barnett.
Long before the delegates were seated
Chairman Spencer was mauling the draped
store box with one Of those hickory bung
starters given away with every keg of
Syndicate beer. and bowling at the mob
to seat itself by wards, and the band played
on.
After a final pounding of the box the ron
of wards was called, each ward yelling at
the top of it's combined voice. Then f. j.
Reinhard announced the permanent organi-
cation, with Kern as chairman and Ro-
mus Stuart as secretary. A few Kisses were
emitted when the name of the latter was
heard, but he was not there to hear them.
In fact Romus held the honor that had
been thrust upon him in supreme contempt.
and did not turn up until the show had got
started.
CHAIRMAN KERN'S SPEECH.
Chairman Kern was greeted with ap-
plause when he came to the front and be-
gan his speech by declaring that he would
be good and try to preside fairly, appeal
ing to them to preserve order Then he
prophesied that the convention would be
harmonious and leave no bad taste in the
mouth of the party. He counseled for
bearance and pleaded with eloquence that
they support the ticket. Speaking of the
last campaign he mentioned Bryan as a
''matchless young leader" and fell into
his favorite speech of that period about
coercion" and bribery" He said they
had no regrets for having voted for Bryan,
and were ready to do it again. He seemed
10 think the supporters of Mckinley were
laboring under great disappointment, and
said their lamentations filled the air" 1t
was beautiful to hear Mr.. Kern go on
about the greatness of Bryan, whom as
his personal friends well know, he holds in
contempt. Somehow the convention was
not interested in the discussion of national
questions, and Mr.. kern's address was
given scant attention until he began to
abuse Messrs. c. +. Smith Atkins, Hanna
and Parry, and tell that they had cele-
ing the wages of their men. He spoke of
the miners strike as an evidence of pros
perity and declared that within a week
125 eviction suits had been brought in the
justices courts From silence the conVen-
ton began to lapse into noisy demonstra-
tons OF Impotence, and Mr.. Kern finally
chopped off his address, but before doing
so he showed the Republican view of trusts
by quoting from the Journal a roast" of
the Sugar Trust. Then he drew q most pa
theuc picture of the poor woman who
could not procure opium except at a great
expense, for the new tariff raises the duty
on dope.
George Dudley read the report of the ere
dentials committee giving the Taggart-
Golfer faction the contested seats in the
Tenth ward and casting the push dele
gates into outer darkness wherever they
had dared to show their heads. When the
fight had come on pure ward issues be-
tween supporters OF the Taggart machine,
as was the cbse in several precincts, all
were admitted. with half a vote each, The
chair shot the report through before there
was time for opposition.
THE PLATFORM READ.
When S. L. Morss came forward to read
the resolutions the delegates, many of
whom had not seen him for years, greeted
him with applause. The silver clause was
the first thing in It, and met with rather
feeble applause. What the delegates were
interested in were the offices, and they did
not care much about anything else. The
resolutions read as follows:
while recognizing that the issues of the
municipal campaign are local and not ma
tional, we take this opportunity, the first
which has offered itself since the presiden-
tial election of 1896, 10 reaEdrm and en-
phasiZe the declaration OF the last national
Democratic convention in favor Of the free
and unlimited coinage Of silver at the his
toric ratio of 10 TO ! without waiting the
aid or consent of any other nation on
earth, upon which that great statesman
William j. Bryan made his memorable cam
paign for the presidency. We condemn the
Republican party for its failure to open
the mills, as ii promised to do II restored
to power for its enactment of a tariff law
imposing new and oppressive taxes upon an
already overburdened people for the sole
benefit of the great trusts and monopolies
TO whose power and wealth 1t owes its pres
ent ascendancy in the government and for
perpetuating the business prOstration and
industrial paralysis from which the country
has been suffering for years by persiSting
in the mistaken financial policy TO which
these conditions are due.
We extend our sympathy TO the thou
sands of American laborers who were prom
ised better wages and steady work in the
event of Mckinley's election, who have now
no work at all or have been reduced to
starvation wages, and who, in our very
midst, are being eVicted from their houses
by the score because of their inability TO
pay their rent. We denounce the men who
last fall made these false pretenses to