The herald., 1898-01-11
A MASS MEETING
Wildly Enthusiastic But Not Product
i've of Results

i've of Results
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 10.-The mass
Republican convention at the Auditori-
um 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 admittance. The
meeting lasted from to 8 y. m, with un
broken enthusiasm and intense indig-
nation throughout its proceedings. There
were repeated scenes of Kissing when
the names of Governor Bushnell, Mr..
Kurtz and others were mentioned. The
terms, traitors" Judas" and the like
were frequently used in response from
the audience. Several speakers referred
to Senator Foraker in connection with
the Republican party. The audience was
in deep sympathy with the intense and
bitter utterances of most of the speak
ers. The ColumbuSGlee club, which re-
fused to participate in the inaugural
ceremonies, contributed largely to the
enthusiasm of the occasion by its sing
ing. AS Chairman Nash and Congress
man Weaver came upon the platform,
the Tippecanoe club of Cleveland and
the Business Mems league of that city
entered the hall and a wild scene en-
sued for some minutes
AS soon as order could be restored
Judge Nash addressed the audience as
follows:
THE OPENING SPEECH
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 convention This extraord mary
action on the part of the committee can
be justified only 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 determined to lay the
situation before you and ask you to take
such action as you might deem wise.
Last spring and summer the Repub-
Iican county and district conventions of
Ohio instructed their nominees for rep
resentatives and senators, if elected, to
cast their votes in the election for
United States senator for the superb
leader and general who planned and or
Ohio and the nation in the vital cam
paign of 1896, Marcus A. Hanna. This
was the exercise of a right and priv
ilege guaranteed to the people by your
constitution, which says, The people
have a right to assemble together in
peaceable manner to consult for their
common good and to instruct their rep
resentatives.
T,,,, l,a r.. "a
duly authorized agents, assembled in
state convention at Toledo and made a
covenant with the people that, if sue
cessful, the Republicans would return
Mr.. Hanna to the senate. In the cam
Fpaign which followed, at every meeting
held every speaker, from Governor Bush
fnell down to the humble speaker in the
log school house, pledged himself that
this covenant of the party should be
kept.
''On this issue, among others, the cam
paign was conducted. and the people re-
turned an enormous majority for the Re
publican party.
"All during that campaign certain
men, claiming to be Republicans, fought
our candidates for the Legislature from
under cover and from the bushes. They
did not make an open, manly fight in the
light of day and where the people could
see what they were about. This charge
is amply proved from the election re-
turns on file in the office of the secretary
of state. However much we must de-
spise the methods of these men and
doubt their party loyalty and Repub-
1ican principles. we must concede that
as American citizens they had a right
to vote against our legislative candi-
dates. Here the contest should have
ended. But it did not. The last returns
from the election had not been received
when these men disclosed the existence
of a conspiracy with our open and
avowed enemies to bring shame upon
the Republican party and to lead her
trusted and honored representatives.
into paths of dishonor. Behind barred
and locked doors, through which no
sound could escape to alarm the honest
people, they sought to have our great
party, which through all her glorious
history never did a dishonorable thing
break a faith pledged to the people of
Ohio.
with the whispering and insinuating
wiles Of dishonest politicians. they
tempted your representatives 10 dis
obey your instructions and disregard he
will of the people.
ION Monday last they captured the
outposts of our citadel in ORGANIZING +be
senate and the 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. II
was, Shall the honor and integrity Of
the Republican party be preserved un-
sullied?'
ut was, Shall the Will Of the people
be done?'
TN this emergency we appeal to Won
"A storm of indignation has s,vant n,.er
our great state and has eliminated in
this meeting today.
Republicans of Ohio: You know tha
situation. 1t is now for you TO deal with
the situation as your consciences NAV
dictate"
Congressman Walter L. Weaver of