The record-union., 1897-07-14

DETROIT, July 13.-Cool, pleasant
weather was furnished for the opening
Of the tenth annual convention OF the
National League of Republican Clubs.
The most striking feature in the dec
oratiOns Of the auditorium was me-
sized portrait of President Mckinley,
surmounted by an eagle and surrounded
bv the stars and stripes. Directly op-
Iosite in the rear of the hall was
similar portrait of James @. Blame.
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 escutch-
cons of the States.
A graduated tier of seats having
capacity of 5000 was occupied by the
more notable delegates. The delegates
seated in State groups, filled nearly the
entire floor space, and the public looked
on from the galleries. The States haV-
ing the larger delegations were grouped
in the front and center, the biggest
spaces being occupied by Ohio, Mlchl-
gan. Illinois, New York and Pennsyl-
vania. The air was enlivened by band
music while the crowd gathered.
1t was 1920 o'clock when President
vVoodmansee raped for order. The
delegates had not yet settled down IN
the places assigned to them, and the
galleries had almost no occupants. kew
Robert J. Service Of the Trumbull ave-
nue Presbyterian Church prayed for a
blessing on President Mckinley, Con-
eress. the Governors of States and all
others in authority and that the Ma
tional honor might he saved from tar
nishment.
President Woodmansee then intro
duced Governor Pingree to deliver the
address of welcome on behalf of the
State of Michigan.
The Governor was compelled to pause
for a moment on account Of an inter-
ruption caused by applause at the en-
trance Of the Illinois delegation headed
by Governor Tanner. Mr.. Pingree's ad-
dress was not in any sense a spread
eagle speech, and the applause was
rather faint, coming mostly from his
friends in the Michigan delegation.
Colonel Henry NJ Duffield Of this city
welcomed the delegates on behalf Of
Detroit
E. N Dingley, Jr., of Kalamazoo, as
President of the Michigan League of
Republican Clubs, next welcomed the
visiting delegates.
The President of the National League,
u. D. Woodmansee of Cincinnati, then
delivered his annual address, in part as
follows:
Gentlemen of the Convention: In
compliance with a custom that has
been 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 it and to the Republican party. The
league has a mission to perform, and it
is eminently proper that we should an
nuually determine if this organization
has measured up to its possibilities.
The pomp and ceremony of a national
assembly of this character are so use
less and so inappropriate, if we can
not learn a lesson and profit by reason
of the experience. Speaking as L do for
those who during the last year have
had charge of the affairs of the league,
1 can say we are proud Of what has
been accomplished during the closing
administration. I 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 frinds, have
been paid. can further say that every
obligation that has been incurred dur
ing the last year is provided for, and
the officers whom you may select at this
convention will not be required to di-
vide their time between the wants of
the organization and the demands of its
creditors.
In further reporting to you, it is
proper for me to say that since I be-
came your President, less than one year
ago, 1 have Travelled in twelve States.
and made in each of those States from
one to ten speeches. have addressed
six State league banquets. By this
means your President has come in con-
tact with the league workers in a large
section of the Union, and he is now
more than ever impressed with the inn
portance and usefulness of this organi-
zation. The result of our efforts TO
this direction have been most gratify-
ing. The league has a right to exist
only so long as it is a useful agency for
valuable service. They can and do take
charge of political meetings, distribute
literature look after legislation, and
on election day become responsible for
L
am glad to report that in those States
where the Republican clubs We're dis
integrated by a. sentiment in favor of
free silver, our cause is full of hope, and
bye and bye the league clubs of the sill
Yer States will bring those States into
the Republican column.
During the last campaign, when the
Democratic candidate for President was
travelling about the country in palace
cars, telling the people of their poverty
and distress. the Republican League
Clubs, one by one, were finding their
way to Canton, where they heard the
gospel of hope and the prophecy of bet
ter things to come As they returned
TO their homes from the Mecca of Re
publicanism they carried with them an
enthusiasm that made the campaign of
1896 the most memorable in our coun-
try's history.
Gentlemen of this convention and
friends of the league, 1 cannot bring my
address to a close without returning my
thanks for the very distinguished hon
or that I have received from this or
ganization and for the cordial support
that has been given to me by the
league Republicans throughout the
Union. The league cannot do me
greater honor than it has already done.
At this convention I surrender the af-
fairs of this office with the firm convic
tion that there are number of splen-