The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-24
A CAMPAIGN OF SNEERS
LOCAL DEMOCRACY INAUGURATED 1T
AT TOMLINsON HALL LAST NIGHT.
Kern's and Burke's Filings at the War
Department-Bailey, of Texas,
q Speaker.

campaign with meeting at Tomlinson
Hall last night, where addresses were made
by Joseph w. Bailey, Texan congress-
man, and John w. Kern and Frank b.
Burke, of Indianapolis. While the prophesy
Of the Sentinel in yesterdays issue was not
realized, when it said THE Democratic
campaign in Marion county will be opened
this evening at Tomlinson Hall with a
monster meeting the crowd was little
larger than that which attended the open
ing of the Republican campaign a week
ago, when the public mind was divided with
the excitement of the state fair returning
soldiers and other things to divert atten-
ton from politics. Last night there might
have been two thousand people in the hall
the first hour The lower floor was pretty
well filled up and there was sprinkling of
people in the balcony, with none in the GAL
lery. When Mr.. Bailey, of Texas, finished,
a thousand people remained in their seats.
Negative criticism of the administration S
MANAGEMENT of the war by the first two
speakers was the order. The last, Mr.. Bal
ley. put in most of his time discussing the
silver question, although he repudiated his
own war record. John W. Kern, while dis
claiming any intention of making charges
of cruelty and neglect of the soldiers, in an
has been made in a sarcastic tone of voice
that seemed to satisfy the passions of his
hearers judging by the demonstrations
that greeted his remarks Through an hour
of monetary discussion by both Mr.. Burke
and Mr.. Bailey, there was but little enthusi-
assn. The crowd seemed to be in tolerant
rather than an enthusiastic mood when the
issues of 1896 were revamped. Anything on
ha var haf q
of the administration seemed to suit their
taste.
There were few incidents of moment
About s clock there was considerable APP
plause when the three speakers. led by
Mayor Taggart, j. E. Bell, county chair
man, S. E. Morss, Leon o. Bailey and
State Chairman Parks M. Martin. filed upon
the stage and took seats under a large pic
ture of Hendricks hanging above the speak
er's stand. Bryans picture was half con-
cealed in the folds of the flags draped from
the stage. as was that of Matthews. Large
pictures of Thomas Taggart and John w.
Kern-the latter in a frame of god-were
suspended on the balconies, while Gray &C.
cupied the rear balcony. The same flags
and banners that were used at the Battery
reception last week were still in place.
The audience seemed in a chilly frame of
mind, but the appearance of the party was
the signal for applause and cheering, which
subsidized as County Chairman Bell raped
for order and presented John w. Kern as
the permanent chairman of the meeting.
WHAT MR.. KERN SAID.
Mr.. Kern plunged in without many pre-
limnaries.
"One week ago." he began, "the Keynote
was sounded by the Republicans from this
platform. The Democratic party has passed
beyond the day Of 'keynotes' The keynote
was sounded at Chicago two years ago. 1t
was keynote enough for that campaign to
rally 100000 unpurchasable American voters.
1t will be the keynote this campaign, and.
at the next will lead American Democrats
on to victory. The Democratic party felic-
ltates itself and the country on the appar-
ent conclusion Of the war. 1t rejoices in
the triumph Of the American army, and
nolds out the chaplet wreath of glory for
every American boy that imperiled his life
mat American honor might be indicated.
Wnen the news was flashed out that that
magnificent American ordered the first shot
nred at Mania-l refer to Admiral George
DeWey-the Democracy, without the loss of
Democratic idea that it was an American
victory. and no one stopped to discover
TO what party the victors belonged. When
the news of Schley's wonderful achieve
ment came it was reported that the chair
man of the Republican committee had. in
the midst of the rejoicing of the people,
partisan spirit. that chairman is reported
TO have said: That victory is going to help
the Republican party. Republican leaders
We're wondering how many assessors and
constaDles they were going to get out of
SchleyS victory. After our boys stormed
San Juan and planted the stars and stripes
over the Spanish guns, Republican leaders
OF Indiana were specializing on how many
squiTes ana county recorders they were 60
i 1ig 10 get out OF the blood of American SOL
qlers God pity such patrotism 1t is not
Democratic patriotism When the state
convention met the Democrats of Indiana
mad no criticism of the conduct of the war
by the administration, because the party
scorned to put straw in the way There
mas been no undue criticism of the admin
criticisc. now that the war is over" said
the speaker. Then he proceeded to rehash
all the charges. that have been made, in
Guiding the exploded nightmares of an In
diana chaplain. whose interview-now much
talked of--did not conform with letters writ
ten over his own signature.
REHASHING SENTINEL'S CHARGES.
Il don't know" said Mr.. Kern. whether
charges of incompetency of quartermaster
generals, paymasters the medical depart
ment and commissary departments are true
or not. | was not there. but the private SOL
diers were there and they know whether
they are true. What 1 object to is the eff
fort OF certain Republican candidates to
stihe the voice of free speech l protest
against the imprisonment of Private Kerr
at the fair grounds because he exercised
the right of petition, right which is not
denied to the convict in the pententary |
don't know whether the bareback was full
of worms, but if it was the contractor VINO
was paid to supply good bread should be
punished. don't know whether the canned
goods was so bad as to cause the stomach
TO revolt. The private soldier knows. Let
him testify, and let no thieving contractor
raise the cry of patriotism and hide behind
the star-spangled banner. / don't know that
horse doctors were appointed"
Mr.. Kern was interrupted by prolonged
cheers.
II don't know whether horse doctors were
appointed to take charge of the health of
fever-burned boys in blue at Chickamauga.
but If horse doctors were appointed it is
no crime to ascertain how many horse
doctors were appointed and who appointed
tnem and why they were appointed We
that Judicious use of the telegraph wires
tWenty-four hours could settle that ques-
tion. 1t is not difficult to learn whether on
the transport Roumanian Is cents was
Snarged Tor lump of ice, and lemons were
neld up to fever-burned boys and offered
Tor 70 cents each. l should think that it
would not be difficult to learn if these things
are. true and then. if they are true. the
g nnlity men should be taken out and shot.
iHe democratic party makes no charges"
Mr.. Kern went on to say that he had one
grieVous fault to find. Two years ago the
Republicans said that the government ought
TO Scorn TO pay any dollar except the best
dollar, gold dollar, in settlement of ire
debts. Now / understand that this marty,
when 1t came to pay stricken and wounded
soldiers, paid in dishonest MONEY. in accent
dollars, in dollars they repudiated. Were
soldiers given the option as to the kind ~
money would Q0R6nfo n D., A.