The San Francisco call., 1898-01-11
REPUBLICANS ATTEND A BIC
 MEETING Rally of Friends of Senator Hanna at
 Columbus. StalwartS of Ohio Protest Against What They
 Term Conspiracy.
Demand Made That Pledues of the Party at Toledo Be
 Carried Out.
STRONG SPEECHES MADE
Names of Bushnell, Kurtz and Othe Leaders of the Opposition Are
 Loudly Kissed.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

cpecldl blspetcn 70 The Call
 COLUMBUS. Ohio. Jan. 10.-The Re- publican mass-meeting at the Audito- rum in this city this afternoon was the largest assemblage ever known in the history of the city. The capacity of the Auditorium is 5000. All the standing room was taken and many thousands were unable to gain admit tance. The meeting lasted from to 6 D. m., with unbroken enthusiasm and intense indignation throughout it's proceedings. There were repeated scenes of missing when the names of Governor Bushnell, MT. Kurtz and others were mentioned. The terms traitors" Judas" and the like were frequently used in response from the audience. Several of the speakers re- ferred to Senator Foraker in connection with the opposition to Hanna The audience was in deep sympathy with the intense and bitter utterances of most of the speakers. The Columbus Glee Club, which refused to partici- pate in the inaugural ceremonies. con- tributed largely to the enthusiasm of the occasion by its singing As Chair man Nash and Congressman Weaver
 
 canoe Club of Cleveland and the Busi- ness Mems League of that city enter ed the hall and there was a wild scene for some minutes.
 AS soon as order could be restored Judge Nash addressed the audience as follows:
 Republicans of Ohio: For the first time in the history of the Republican party in this State, you have been called by your executive committee to meet in mass con- vention. This extraordinary action on the part of the committee can only be juSti- fled by the existence of grave danger. Such peril not only to you, but even to popular government by the people, your committee conceived, was lurking in the legislative halls in Columbus As your sentinels placed on duty by you, we de- ternined to lay the situation before you and ask you to take such action as you might deem wise.
 Last spring and summer the Republi- can county and district conventions of Ohio instructed their nominees for Repre- sentatives and Senators, if elected, to cast their votes in the election for United States Senator for the superb leader and general wko planned and organized vic- tory for the Republicans of Ohio and the nation in the vital campaign of 1896. Mar GUS A. Hanna. This was the exercise of right and privilege guaranteed to the people by our constitution. which says, ''the people have a right to assemble to- gether in a peaceable manner to con- suit for their common good and to in struct their representatives. In June the Republican party, by it's duly authorized Toledo, and made a covenant with the people that, if successful, the Republicans would return MT. Hanna to the Senate. In the campaign which followed, at every meeting held, every speaker from Gov ernor Bushnell down to the humble speaker in the log schoolhouse pledged | should be kept. On this issue, among | others. the campaign was conducted, and the people returned an ample majority of Republicans to the General Assembly. All during the campaign certain men, claiming to be Republicans, fought our candidates for. the Legislature from un- 1 der cover and from the bushes. They did not make an open, manly fight in the
 light of day and where po, the Rss33ple could see what they T were fro aooq tb Ihs a1et, charge turns on file in the office of the Secretary | of State. However much We must de- spise the methods of these men and deuEt | their party loyalty and republican prin- | ciples, we must concede that as Amer ican citizens they had a right to vote | the contest should have ended. But it | did not. The last returns from the elec- | tion had not been received when these | men disclosed the existence Of a conspir- acy with our open and avowed enemies l to bring shame upon the Republican party and to lead her trusted and hon. l ored representatives into paths of dis | honor. Behing barred and locked doors. | through which no sound could escape to l alarm the honest people, they sought 10 | have our great party, which through all | her glorious history never did 9ishon- | orable thing, break her faith. pledged to i the people of Ohio. With the whispering and insinuating wiles of dishonest poli- ticians they tempted your representa- | tives to disobey your instructions and | disregard the will of the people.
 | On Monday last they captured the out posts of our citadel in organizing the l Senate and House of Representatives of | Ohio. Then the extent and strength of the conspiracy first dawned upon the | people of Ohio. Then the question was | not whether Mark A. Hanna should con- | tinue to be a United States Senator. 1t | was shall the honor and integrity of the | Republican party be preserved unsul- | lied?" It was shall the will of the peo- | ple be done?" In this emergency we ap- | pealed to you. A storm of indignation | has swept over our great State and has | culminated in this meeting to-day. Re publicans of Ohio, you know now the | situation. It is now for you to deal with l it as your consciences may dictate. Congressman Walter l.. Weaver Of 1 Springfield, the home of Governor | Bushnell, was then introduced as chairman of the meeting. He made a
 most vigorous speech against those whom he accused with schemes for the disruption of the party. The hissing | of the name of Governor Bushnell, Mir. | Kurtz and others, that began during the address of Judge Nash, reached a much higher pitch during the address of COugresSman Weaver At the con-