The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-24
TWO SPEECHES HEARD
JOSEPH b. HEALING AND GEORGE w
sPAHR AT THE CRIMINAL COURT.
MIR. Overstreet Unable to He Present.
CiviI-Service system Arraigned
-SheIbyviIle Love Feast.

A large audience assembled in the Grim
inal Court room last night at the meeting
of the Republican Camp of Veterans and
Their Sons. The chief object of the gath
ering was to hear the Republican candi-
dates for Congress in this district. The oc-
casion was an adjourned meeting from the
one held at the same place d week ago, for
the same purpose. The adjournment was
had in order that Mr.. Overstreet, who was
out Of the city at that time, might be af-
forded an opportunity to be present. He
was still unable to be on hand last night,
and as was agreed at the former meeting
should be DONE the other candidates pro-
ceeded with their talks. Prior to the in
PRODUCTION of the first speaker, w. II. Les
ter introduced a resolution to the effect
that the candidates should be required to
clearly outline their positions on the civil
service question, which was unanimously
adopted.
Mr.. Healing was the first speaker, and he
was introduced by Chairman Hanna. The
speaker prefaced his remarks with the
statement that he felt considerable hest
fancy in addressing men who, with their
comrades, had risked life and limb for their
country's honor at time when their sons
ard he were probably in short dresses. His
address was received with close attention,
and punctuated with liberal applause Mr..
Healing said that, if the thrill which fol-
lowed the announcement of the firing upon
Fort Sumter at all resembles that which
vibrated through the heart of the Nation
when the telegraph carried the awful news
of the destruction of the battle ship Maine,
with its priceless freight of national de-
tenders, he could well understand how the
men of that time felt and the motives which
actuated them to do what they did. Mr..
Healing paid a tribute to the Dingley tariff
law, saying that since it's passage factories
had opened up all over the country and
that work of all kinds is now plentiful. He
urged the passage of a sound-money bill
drawn on lines marked out at the Repub-
lican national convention of 1896. He also
expressed himself as favoring a federal
building for Indianapolis that would COM
pare in attractiveness with the soldiers
monument. When the speaker touched on
the civil service question the craning of
necks and general air of attention over the
audience made it apparent that he was
about to discuss what they considered the
NEST vital issue of the campaign. He said:
IF L am elected, all the offices that are
within my gift shall be given to Repub-
Means, a promise InaI WIS BTeeleu Will
hearty applause and enthusiastic cheers.
He went further and agreed to give the old
soldiers their share of federal patronage,
saying that, in his opinion, such share
should be the lions share, whereupon the
applause became still more vigorous.
While Mr.. Kealing's address was well
received that of George w. Spahr seemed
to arouse greater enthusiasm because 1t
contained more bitter denunciation of the
civil service system. Mr.. Spahr also re-
ferred to the soundmOney issue, saying:
For anybody to say that a candidate ought
to be supported because he believes in sound
money is a kind of tOmfoolery. at which
/ laugh. When i see a man who believes
In any other kind of money, always think
he is too far gone to be worth noticing.
Some of Mr.. Spahr's characteristic shafts
of scorn and ridicule hurled at the civil
service system were received with much
applause.
IF the civil service law is good" said
Mr. Spahr lit is all good, and l want TO
see ii applied to every Office, from the low
est to the highest. Examine a man for the
presidency and then, IL he passes highest,
make him President for life,
At the close of Mr.. Spahr's speech the
audience was entertained by the singing
of a stirring and humorous song of the
war, entitled "Uncle Sammy's Fiddle" by
Messrs Mcintosh and Newly. The meet
ing then adjourned until the second
Wednesday in April, at 7:30 p M, a which
time the candidates for county offices will
have an opportunity to be heard by the
old soldiers.