The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-10
LEGISLATORS AS GUESTS
RECEPTION GIVEN BY THE CONNER
CIAL CLUB LAST NIGHT.
Compliments Exchanged Between the
Entertainers and the En-
tertained.

AT a reception given by the Commercial
Club last night the members of the General
Assembly and the board of governors of the
Board Of Trade were guests of the evening
The assembly room a the Commercial Club
building was crowded all evening Light
refreshments We're served. cigars We're en-
joyed and the affair was pleasantly in
formal. 1t might be appropriately termed a
smoker" President D. NJ. Parry, of the
Commercial Club, and a large reception
committee received the gentlemen and made
them feel at home. Speeches were made in
the assembly room, Mr.. Parry presiding
Everything is informal; there is to be no
politics and no great speeches of any sort"
said the president in announcing what the
character of the oratory was to be-
Governor Mount was the first speaker, and
he began by paying the Commercial Club
high compliment, and speaking of the fame
of the Indiana Legislature The Governor
said this was illustrated a few years ago in
the mountains of Colorado. An Indiana
man went out there and staked off claim
for himself. About the time he was
through with this rugged mountaineer ap-
preached.
you'll have to get up and git" remarked
the mountaineer, you are on my ground.
Where's your authority, and how did you
get it?" inquired the Indiana man.
Here's my authority" replied the noun
taineer, producing a gun.
How dare you talk like that to me?" ex-
claimed the Indiana man. You would not
if you knew who 1 am" The mountaineer
asked to be enlightened, and the Indiana
man replied: I'm a member of the Indiana
Legislature" The mountaineer put down
his gun. Shake, pard," he said. Lets
pool our interests and we'll hold these dig
gins against anybodys claim.
Gov Mount said that some one had once
asked: What is this Commercial Club?'
The reply was: ITS board of progressive
men whose purpose is to pummel nonpro-
gressive men into the line of progress"
The Governor spoke of the active interest
the club has taken in the affairs in which
all the people of the State are interested.
AS 10 the Legislature, he ventured to say
that in the last six or seven years the law
makers of Indiana have compared favorably
with those of any other State in the work
they did and the measures they passed.
mayor Iaggart was called on and greeted
the members of the General Assembly with
an invitation to take the city while they
are here. indianapolis" said he has
not been backward in asking the Legislature
for what it wanted, and the Legislature has
not been backward in giving US what We
proud of indianapolis, and we people of the
city are proud to be called HOLSTERS"
Lieutenant Governor Haggard said he had
never attended a smoker" before, and did
not know what kind of a speech to make.
He knew there were other distinguished
men present who could speak on the slight
est proVocation, and he had known some
of them 10 speak without provocation The
Lieutenant Governor gave way to Frank l..
Ldttleton, speaker of the House. Il had
letter last week inviting me here,'' said
Mr.. littleton, and since that time l have
had troubles of my own" He thanked the
club for the invitation rendered the mem
bers of the House. He said the members
were an intelligent set of men, who would be
glad to meet the Commercial Club and rea-
son with 1t as to what is best in the way of
legislation.
THE CLUB COMPLIMENTED.
There's no body of men," declared Sen
ator Shea, in his opening remarks, that
has more influence in shaping and directing
the legislation of the State than the Com
mercial Club, and L don't think the city of
Indianapolis will ask for anything that she
does not get, Judging the future by the past
The reason is that the people of the State
take a pride in Indianapolis" Senator Shea
was followed by W. II. Eichhorn, of the
House He said he spoke IN behalf of the
members of the lower house when he said
that the Commercial Club is recognized as
a body OF men that leads and represents
the best business interests of the State
You constitute one of the most progressive
clubs in all the country" said the speaker
But in the northern part of the State we
are progressive, too We have got rid of
the ague, but haven't yet reached the grip.
We are proud of Indianapolis. 1t is fit to
be the center of the State and the center
OF the whole country. But don't forget
there are others Mr.. Eichhorn, said that
Indianapolis people must not ask for too
much that is of purely local benefit.
John, L. Griffiths recalled that it has
been the privilege of the Commercial Club
{ oat
ings. The club believes in the ''open door"
1t believes that the best results can be ac-
complished by cooperation County lines are
mere boundaries, the speaker asserted, and
they are eftaced by such fellowship as pre-
walls here Tonight" Mr. Grifiths declared
that in the last decade Indiana has made
more enduring progress than any other
State. He spoke of Indiana's record in the
last war-of the fact that the State was the
first to respond with its regiments at the
call of the President. Mr.. Griffiths spoke
also of what Indiana has given to litera-
ture and of the statesmen she has furnished
the country. You are custOdians of sacred
trust" he said in closing. and the people
expect much at your hands. Many great
sion of the Legislature and l believe they
will be wisely solved"
John w. Kern was the last speaker. He
spoke of the Commercial Club as 1.-The salt
of the earth hereabouts' and of the men,
bers of the General Assembly as the pick
and flower OF their neighborhoods" Mr..
Kern was rather inclined to criticise the
press OF Indianapolis for it's occasional at
tacks on the Legislature. In the face of
these attacks, he observed, the city comes
to the General Assembly and asks for some
needed legislation, and nearly always gets it
Mr.. Kern asserted that Indiana has never
had Legislature that she need be ashamed
Of ''rhey have at all times" he said, been
a body of sincere and honest men who have
done all they could for the State" In clos
ing Mr.. Kern placed his hands on the flag
above his head. I'VE may differ" he said
con the tariff and on the financial question:
but we do not differ on this platform" His
sentiment was loudly applauded.