Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-14
Holds 10Th Ann ua| Convention
In the State of Its Birth.
Address Of Welcome by Gov. Pingree
Address by Pres. Woodmansee.
Prominent Republicans from All Over County
Present in Numbers.


nual convention of the National League
of Republican Clubs, today.
The most striking feature in the
auditorium decorations was life
sized portrait of President Mckinley,
surmounted by an eagle and sur
rounded by Stars and Stripes. Directly
opposite was a similar portrait of
James G.. blaine Pictures of Washing
ton and Lincoln adorned the walls at
either side of the big hall and the in
tcrvening spaces, rafters and gallery
front were hung with the red, white
and blue escutcheons of the states.
1t was 1890 o'clock when President
Woodmansee raped for order. Rev.
DIR. J. Service of the Trumbull Avenue
Presbyterian church offered a prayer.
President Woodmansee then intro
duced Gov Pingree to deliver the adj
dress of welcome on behalf of the state
of Michigan. Mr.. Pingree said:
MIR. Chairman and members of the
Republican League: The Republican
party was born in Michigan. Your
meeting here should therefore be an in
SEPARATION. You cannot fail to remem-
| Der what it was that made it necessary
that new party should be formed. on
| behalf of the state l extend to you a
cordial welcome.
You are the young men of the party.
| You represent it's working force. You
| know the necessity of organization.
You know that this is an age of activ-
| ity and progress and that parties as
well as men must move forward or
| they will die. You cannot live upon
memory or upon hope.
The Republican party, from the day
| of its birth. became a great power, be-
| cause it was the party of the people
and it will remain q great power SO
long as it remains the party of the pco-
| pie. and no longer. 1t was controlled
| by men who believed in the great prin-
ciple of equal rights, but it has bee n
| necessary To fight to keep what we
| have.
| The great masses of the people are
| honest and patriotic They are willing
| to share the burdens of civilization, If
| they can receive IA few of its benefits.
| Sometimes they become impatient and
| demand an inspection of the books
| They. the people know that they are
| not responsible for the present condi-
| tionS of this country. Farmers and me-
chanics. who are the principal burden
| bearers, wonder what has become Of
| the old principal of equal taxation
They wonder how and why many of
| the privileged classes still exist in this
republic.
The people have been reading an |
studying. Some of them have ven
| been thinking. They know that the
principal of equal taxation is closely
allied to the people OF equal rights and
| that it is a Republican principle and
they expect the Republican party to en-
force it. and are going to see that it
is enforced. We hear great deal said
about the home market. 1t is the most
valuable market we have. If | We're
going TO destroy that market 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 wliping 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 railroad companies and all
other watered stocked concerns ar
taxed from one-third to one-sevcnth is
much as the widows cottage and the
farmers farm.
/ have great faith that the right will
prevail. The people are patient ana
when they are betrayed by their rep
resentatives they make other selections
and try again. They expect relief
from the Republican party and 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
recommendations win be awaited with
interest. and if they are wise and true
and practical, they will be received
with welcome.
After speeches of welcome on behalf Of
the city by Col. Henry i. Duilicld and
for the State League by Il. n. Dinglcy of
Kalamazoo the president of the Ma
tional League, j. ID. Woodmansec of Gin
cinnati. delivered his annual address.
President Woodmansee addressed the
convention as follows:
Gentlemen of the Convention: In com
piance with a custom that has become
established at our national league CON
ventionS, | 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 IA mission to perform. and it is
cminently proper that we should annuat-
~ determine if this organization has
measured up to its possibilities. The
pomp and ceremony of a national assem-
bly, of this character are 50 useless and
so inappropriate. if we cannot learn n les
son and profit by reason of the expert
ence Speaking as | do for those who
during the last year have had charge of
ha ff,i ,,f 1sAat / !. hot