The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-18
MADE R SPEECHES
REPRESENTATIVE OvERSTREEr
GREETED BY HIS FRIENDS.
Two Excellent Meetings Held on the
South side and the Other
at rader Point.

Representative Overstreet addressed
three Republican meetings yesterday. Two
of the speeches were before fourishing
South Side clubs last night. The first
evening speech was at a meeting of the
o. p. Morton Club at Shelby street and
Cottage avenue. From there Mr.. Over
street visited the South Side Republican
Club at $40 Virginia avenue. At both meet
ings he was we'll received, and his remarks
were listened to with marked attention.
Before the Morton Club Mr.. Overstreet
first touched on the inancia issue of the
campaign, and then passed to the Philip
pine question, or the question of 'imper-
ialism." which is agitating the mind of the
Bryan Democracy. Mr.. Overstreet handled
the topic in a clear and f~orceful way. One
of the points he made was that years ago.
when Florida and southern California were
purchased, and it was sought to annex
them to the United States, not all Of the
inhabitants of each were consulted about
the matter, and some Of them rebelled
against being brought under the rule OF
this government. 1t was even necessary
to curb these rebellious spirits by the use
of arms. Mr.. Overstreet spoke of the pur-
chase of Alaska. In buying Alaska the
United States signed a treaty which Is
similar to the one signed In the purchase
of the Philippines, in that the civil and
political arrangement to exist in each coun-
try was to be determined by the congress
of the United States. The treaties on &C
count of the purchase of Louisiana, Florida
and southern California were different. The
people Of this annexed territory were 10
become citizens at once.
Mr.. Overstreet pointed out where the
Fflipinos will flourish ana be happy under
the protection of the United States govern
ment. When the rebellious ones have laid
down their arms ard peace is restored in
the island ali will enjoy the civilization and
progress that follows the American flag.
The public schools which the United
States government will establish In the
islands will be of inestimable benefit to the
natives, and these schools will go there
with the flag. Mr.. Overstreet showed the
absur dity of the claims of the Bryanites
that the country is In danger OF becoming
an empire.
Although covering all of the issues of the
campaign, Mr.. Overstreet's remarks before
the South-side Republican Club were chief
ly devoted to the Industrial and financial
dismal warnings of William j. Bryan In
1896, when he declared that. until the silver
standard had taken the place of gold, labor
would continue to be unemployed. Mr..
Overstreet pointed to the record of the
present administration In the last three
years in bringing about prosperity, as a
fitting rebuke to the unwarranted declara-
tons of Bryan. The speaker warned his
hearers that, although the country now has
safe g~old-standard legislation. such legis-
lation would be comparatively useless In
the hands of Bryan and his party, were
they inclined to misinterpret II. Mr.. Over
street asserted that. although Mr.. Bryan
has much to say about trusts and silver
aud imperialism being the Issues in this
campaign, the Nebraska candidate himself
is the real issue.
Mr.. Overs,reet had something to say
about trusts at this meeting and he made
his meaning clear. He made the assertion
that the Democracy, although II has
howled and rallied against this evil, Is re-
sponsible for the absence of legislation to-
day to control and regulate great combina-
lions Of capital. The present Congress, the
speaker explained. endeavored to adopt a
resolution which provided for a constitu-
tional amendment that would give the gov
ernment power to deal with the trust evil.
The resolution was defeated by the Demo-
Gratis. Mr.. Overstreet said that the first
plank in any platform seeking to regulate
trusts was placed in the Republican ma
tional platform of 1888 at the convention
which nominated General Harrison for
President. That plank was written by Will
liam Mckinley, who was chairman Of the
committee on resolutions. I'VE want to
cripple the real culprit who is trying to
cripple business" said Mr.. Overstreet, IL
Illustrating his idea Of dealing with trusts,
but we want to do 1t without injuring an
innocent bystander. We don't want to dis
solve all legitimate business merely to Grip
pie a gigantic monopoly. Mr.. Bryan has
asked where there are good trusts. We
answer that all are good trusts that are
giving opportunity to labor and are not in
creasing the cost to the consumer"
Yesterday afternoon Mr.. Overstreet adj
dressed a gathering of farmers at Traders
Point and made the question of trusts one
of the prominent features of his speech.