The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-13
PINCREE'S
WELCOME.
Michigan's Governor Delivers
the Address Of Welcome
To the National Convention CT
League Clubs at Detroit.
RAPS THE RAILROADS
In His Customary Manner and
Othe' Corporations as Well.
Tells Republicans What the
People Expect of Them.

Convention Hail. Detroit, Mich, July
13.-Cool pleasant weather was furnish
ed for the opening of the Tenth Annual
convention of the National League Of
Republican clubs, which was called to
order considerably later than the sched-
ule hour of 10 o'clock this morning. The
Detroit auditorium, naturally crude and
uninviting in appearance, was beauti-
fed by considerable display of patrio-
tic decorations. The most striking fea-
ture in the decorations was Iife-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
portrait of James G. Blaine. Pictures
of Washington and Lincoln adorned the
walls either end of the big hall and
the intervening spaces, rafters and gal
1ery fronts were hung with the red,
white and blue escutcheons of the
states.
A graduated tier of seats in the rear
of the platform having a capacity of 300
was occupied by more or less notable
visitors. I lie delegates who were seat
ed in state groups filed nearly the en-
tire floor space and the local public
looked on from the galleries. The
states having the larger delega tions
the biggest spaces being occupied by
Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, New York and
Pennsylvania. The air was enlivened
by band music while the crowd gath
cred.
1t was 10 O'Clock when President
Woodmansee raped for order. The
delegates had not yet settled down in
the places assigned to them and the
galleries had almost no occupants. Rev.
DIR. Robe ]. Service of the TrumbuI
Avenue Presbyterian church came for
ward to offer prayer. He prayed for a
blessing on President Mckinley, con-
gress, the governors of states and all
others in authority, and that the nation
al honor might be saved from tarnish-
ment.
President Woodmansee then introduce
ed Governor Pingree to deliver the ad-
dress of welcome on behalf of the state
of Michigan. Mr.. Pingree said:
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Re
publican League:
The Republican party was born in
Michigan. Your meeting here q )uld
therefore be an inspira ton You can
not fail to remember what it was that
made it necessary that a new party
should be. formed. On behalf of the
state 1 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 activity 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 a great power so long
as 1t remains the party of the people,
and no longer
1t was controlled by men who beIiev-
ed in the great principle of equal rights
but it has been necessary to fight to
keep what we have.
The great masses of the people are
honest and patriotic. They are willing
10 share the burdens of civilization if
they can receive a few of it's benefits
Some times they become impatient and
demand an inspection of the books
They, tho people, know they are not
responsible for the present conditions in
this country. Farmers and mechanics,
who are the principal burden bearers,
wonder what has become of the old
principle of equal taxation They Won
der how and why many privileged
classes still exist in this republic. The
people have been reading and studying
Some of them have even been thinking.
They know that the principle of taxa
tion is closely allied to the principle of
equal rights, and that it is a Republi-
can principle and they expect the Re
publican party to enforce it, and they
are going to see that it is enforced. We
hear a great deal said about the home
market. 1t is the most valuable mar
ket we have. If I were going to de-
stroy that market entirely, I would IA
vOr the continued formation of trusts
and combinations of capital. This
would result in throwing about half of
the WOrkingmen out of employment and
of Wiping out small concerns and de-
stroying individuality, which is anoth
er name for patriotism. Then it would
be only necessary to see that the great
er portion of the taxes are collected
from the working classes and that all
railroad companies and other watered
stock concerns are taxed from one-third
to One-SeVenth as much as the widows
cottage and farmers farm. The ma jor-
ity of the people are not in favor of
destroying the home market in this way
Nero was about the only man who re-
joiced in the burning of Rome. He had
a few favorites to whom had been
promised the work of the rebuilding.
/ have great faith that the right will
prevail. The people are patient, and
when they are betrayed by their rep
resantatives they make other selections
and try again. They expect relief from
the Republican party and they are will
ing to give it a fair trial. You are here
fresh from the people themselves. and
your utterances and your recommended
tiOns will be awaited with interest, and
if thev are wise and true and practical,
they will be received with welcome
The governor was compelled to pause
for moment on account of an interrup-
tion caused by applause at the entrance
of the Illinois delegation headed by
Governor Tanner. Mr.. Pingree's speech
was not in any sense spread eagle
address and the applause was rather
faint, coming mostly from his friends
in the Michigan delegation.
Col. Henry NJ. Duffield of this city
welcomed the delegates ON behalf of
Detroit.
The following telegram from Presi-