The San Francisco call., 1897-07-14
President Woodmansee's En-
CoGrag aging Address to
Delegates.
THE ORGANIZATION STEADILY
GROWING.
Finally Out Of Debt and In Good
Trim for Fighting the Party's
Battles.

DETROIT, MICH, July 13.-Cool, pleas
ant weather was furnished for the open
ing OF the tenth annual convention of the
National League of Republican clubs.
The most striking feature in the decora-
tions of tie auditorium was a life-sized
portrait of President Mckinley, sur
mounted by an eagle and surrounded by
the stars and stripes. Directly opposite,
in the rear of the hall, was a similar por-
trait of James G. Blaine. Pictures OF
Washington and Lincoln adorned The
walls at either end of the big hall and the
intervening spaces, rafters ana gallery
fronts were hung with the red, white and
blue escutcheons OF the States.
A graduated tier of seats having a ca
pacity of 5000 was occupied by the more
notable delegates. The delegates. seated
in State groups, filled nearly the entire
f oor space, and the public looked on from
the galleries. The States having the
larger delegations were grouped in the
front and center, the biggest spaces being
occupied by Ohio, Michigan, Illinois. New
York and Pennsylvania. The air was en-
livened by band music while the CROWD
gathered.
1t was 1880 o'clock when Presiden.
Woodmansee raped for order. The dele.
gates had not yet settled down in the
places assigned to them, and the galleries
had almost no occupants. Rev. Robert ].
Service of the Trumbull-avenue Presbyte.
rian Church prayed for a blessing on
President Mckinley, congress, the Gov
ernors Of States and all others in author
ity, and that the National honor might be
saved from tarnishment
President WooGmansee then introduc
Governor Pingree to deliver the address of
welcome on beha alf OF the State of Michi-
gan.
The Governor was compelled TO pause
for a moment on account of an interrupt
ticn caused by applause at the entrance OF
the | linOis deleEation, headed by Cover
nor Tanner. Mr.. PIngree's address was
not in any sense a spread-eagle speech,
and the applause was rather faint, COM
ing mostly from his friends in the Michi-
gan delegation.
Colonel Henry NJ. Duffield of this city
welcomed the delegates on behalf OF De-
troit.
T. n. Dingley Jr. of Kalamazoo as pres
ident Of the Michigan League of Repu Bill
can Clubs. next welcomed the visiting
delegates.
The president OF the National League.
u ~. w OOuludHSe0 VI tDel
delivered his annual address, in part as
follows:
Gentlemen OF the Conventions In compi-
anCe with custom that has been es abllshed
at our National League conventions | venture
TO address you rs your president upon thc
state OF the league and of our relations and
duties to it and to the Republican party. The
league has q mission to perform aud it is
emiuently proper that we shou annually
determine If this organization has measured
up 10 its possibilities, The pomp' ana cere-
mouy OF National emily of this character
are SO useless and so inappro PIRATE, II we can-
not learn lesson and profit by res son OF the
eXper lence. Speaking as l do for those who
during the last year have had charge of the
affairs OF the league, l can say We proud of
what mas been accomplished during the clos
ing administration.
| am able to report that the debts Of the
league, winch have so long been menace to
its development and Encouragement 10 its
friends, have been paid l can further say
that every obligation that has been incurred
during the last year is provided for, and the
officers whom you may select at this conven-
tion VIII not be required to divide their time
between the wants OF the organization and
the demands OF its creditors.
In further reporting 20 you, 1t is proper for
less than one year ago, have Travelled in
twelve States, and made in each OF those States
from one to ten speeches. / have addressed
SIX State league banques. By this means
your presid mt has come in contact with the
league workers in a large section OF the Union,
and he IS Low more than ever impressed d with
the importance and usefulness OF this organi-
u ton. Those associated with me have bored
10 establish harmony between the league and