The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-03
POINT OF RENDEZVOUS
BOARD OF TRADE WILL PETITION
THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
VIII Ask to Have the Northwestern
Troops concentrated in
indianapolis.

The governing committee of the Board of
Trade talked war last night. The subject
came up through President Kinney, who
wanted the board to make an effort to have
Indiana made a rendezvous for the volun-
teer armies of the Northwestern States. At
a subcommittee meeting a few days ago it
was suggested that inasmuch as the troops
will have to be held somewhere for several
weeks the War Department might see fit to
select Indianapolis as one place for concen-
trating the army previous to the time when
they shall be sent to the field of action.
Several members of the board, with Presi-
dent Kinney, called on Governor Mount and
laid the proposition before him. He favored
the plan, and made a request of the COM
niittee that it be laid before the governing
committee for it's Endorsement. Last night
a committee was appointed to draft resolu-
lions setting forth the fact that the Indian
apolis Board of Trade and the people of
Indiana are anxious that this State be made
a rendezvous for the Northwestern troops,
and a petition to the secretary of war set
ting forth the advantages of stationing a
part of the troops here. 1t will be shown
that Indiana is almost as near to the
Florida coast as Washington or Richmond,
that troops could be sent from here to
Tampa or Key West in as short a time as
from Washington on account of the superior
railroad facilities. 1t Is not proposed, how
ever, that the Indiana troops be kept here.
1t was argued last night that it is impos-
sible to make good soldiers out of the men
so long as they are at home. The Indiana
volunteers will be expected to go to another
rendezvous while the troops from other
States come here.
The proposition was brought before the
board last night through a motion by Geo.
W. Sloan that a committee be appointed to
draft the resolution and petition. There
was considerable opposition to the motion.
1t came about chiefly through a misunder-
standing of the proposition, several MEM
bers seeming to believe that it was to be a
fight between Indianapolis and Evansville
for entertaining the Indiana troops. The
idea that the secretary of war would order
the troops to Evansville as soon as they
are mustered into the United States service
seemed to prevail with a few. Mr.. Tanner
declared that such a petition as was pro-
posed would be impertinent and entirely out
of order. He thought the secretary of war
would take it as such, and would pay no
attention to it. Mr.. Sweet agreed with Mr..
Tanner, and, under the impression that the
proposition was simply to keep the Indiana
soldiers here, claimed that 1t would be bet
ter for the soldiers to be camped entirely
outside of the State.
Mr.. Kinney made the case clearer, but
1t was not satisfactory to Mr.. Tanner. He
raised a point of order that as the move
ment was in the interest of the State it was
not in the province of the Indianapolis
Board of Trade to take it up. He was ruled
out of order, and called for a division,
which resulted in the chair being sustained.
Edward Hawkins then tried to have the
whole proposition tabled, but this failed by
a close vote. The committee was then APP
pointed, as follows: Messrs. Albert Sahm,
j. W.. Murphy, d. M. Parry, r. o. Hawkins
and ]. j. Appel. The committee will meet
at $3.50 o'clock this afternoon at the Com
mercial Club. At 4 o'clock the same propo-
sition will be discussed by the Commercial
Club.
William H. Leedy, secretary of the Grand
Lodge /. o. 0. F., addressed the governing
committee of the Board of Trade at the
regular monthly meeting last night on the
subject of the establishment of a home for
aged and infirm Odd Fellows. He said the
Grand Lodge would not be able to raise all
the $4,000 necessary to carry out the project,
and asked the support of the Board of
Trade. He stated that several cities in the
State were bidding for the. home, and were
offering assistance. The governing commit
tee authorized the president to appoint a
committee of fifteen to act with a like COM
mittee of Odd Fellows in raising a part of
the money.
A communication was read from the
Louisville Board of Trade asking the In
~dianapolis board to indorse the Tawney bill
to prohibit the adulteration of -four, now
pending in the House of Representatives.
The Endorsement was given, and the In
diana congressman will be asked to support
the measure.
The secretary reported three deaths, those
of D. r.. Donough, Indianapolis: DR.: j. M.
Boyd, Thorntown, and Henry e. Eklower,
Cincinnati. Assessments were levied for
the beneficiaries of two of the deceased
members.