The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-13
MAY LOSE CONVENTION
REV. MIR. LAsBY's THREAT IN THE
GOVERNORS OFFICE.
Mr.. Mount Declines to Attend a Meet
ing-Mayor oner New Mar
ket Space.

Rev. Charles c. Lasby. chairman Of the
executive committee of the Epworth League
convention, made a threat yesterday that
the convention might not be held here, be-
cause Of the tent trouble. He called at the
Statehouse yesterday morning to talk with
the Governor about Custodian Vests de-
cision not to let the convention pitch a
tent on the grounds. The Governor said
he had examined the law carefully and he
vas persuaded that Custodian Vest had
sovereignty over the building and grounds.
and therefore ne would not interfere. Mr..
Lasby had no conference with Mr.. Vest.
Again in the afternoon Mr.. Lasby was
about the Statehouse. He said in the Gov
errors office thai he had called a meeting
of the Commercial Club for 3 o'clock this
afternoon, and he wanted the Governor to
attend it. He intended to have the Com
nercial Club and the Board of Trade ask
the State officials for the use Of the State
house grounds, he said, and then, IL the re-
guest were refused. he would probably have
the convention held in Chicago or some city
ether than Indianapolis When the Gov
ernor was told what Mr.. Lasby had said.
he replied that his time would be filled up
with work at his desk and he could not at
tend the meeting. He will go TO Oxford.
o., this evening to attend the seventy-ffth
anniversary of a college. Mr.. Lasby asked
Mr.. Wilson. the Governors private secre-
tary, to represent the Governor at the
meeting If the Governor could not attend
it. Mr.. Wilson said he must decline the in
vitation because Of his duties in the office.
Custodian Vest said suggestions hat the
tent might be pitched on the east side Of
the grounds. or on the west side. were USE
less, because he had determined that the
grounds should not be used at all. Il
burned my bridges Saturday" he said. land
I shall not go back. AS long as 1 am Gus
tcdian 1 hal care for the grounds as the
law requires me to do. The tent shall not
be pitched on the Statehouse grounds"
In the morning members Of the convention
committee called on Mayor Taggart with
a request that they be allowed to use a
part of Capitol avenue. The committee had
an idea that the east side of the Statehouse
grounds could be used, n the tent could
be extended out into the street. Last night
it was suggested that the best place for
the tent was on the open market space east
before the space Is paved" said Mayor Tag
CART last night. but that will be in time
for the convention Yes. the tent could be
pitched there, and we would be glad TO let
the convention have the space" The mem
bers of the committee had argued that the
the use of the Statehouse grounds
was essential was because they were near
English's Opera House and Tomlinson Hall.
Mr. Taggart's offer OF the space next to
Tomlinson Hall. it is expected, Will clear
the whole matter, If Mr.. Lasby can be
around"
Members of the convention committee said
yesterday that the loss Of the c~onvention
would mean the loss of between 5000 600 and
500, 900 to Indianapolis, because the dele
gates would spend that much 1t is said
the merchants of the city have been some
what cautions in contributing TO the fund
of 1000 the Commercial Club promised to
help pay the expense of the convention.
II is related that a skilled solicitor was
engaged on a high commission to go after
the merchants contributions, and after a
work he threw up the job. The mer-
chants said they lost money on the l.. "A. w.
ard knights Of Pythias conventions last
what chary OF conventions as money max
ers. The project to get the Christian In
deavor convention for indianapolis in 1SOl
has not met ardent ENCOURAGEMENT, because
of the apparent indisposition among pus-
ness men.
II was said a. meeting of the assemblage
CO mmittee had been called for 3 o'clock this
afternoon. AT the Office of the Board OF
Trade nothing seemed TO be known OF the
to-day. Those who knew OF the
yesterday said thew had no doubt
Epworth League convention would be held
happily. including the tent. even though
the Statehouse grounds were denied 10 the
Fpworthians. The matter continued 70 De
a tonic Of interest, and Custodian vests
telephone was rung the better part or the
day by Observation-Disclosures and followers
of other notwithstanding congratulated him
on the stand he had taken.