The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-27
A NATIONAL GATHERING
PLANS FOR RECEPTION OF REPUB-
LICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION.
President of Philadelphia's Allied
Clubs Outlines Projected Hos
FATALITIES to Delegates.

| Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal
PHILADELPHIA, May 25.-"That's my
opinion of hospitality sang George Gros-
smith, jr, in once popular opera, after
rhythmically enlarging on his views of the
subject from every conceivable standpoint.
We people of the Quaker City have not
stopped to consider the correct Websterian
definition of the word when applied in par
ticular to a great national convention, but
have simply arranged to cast convention
atty to the winds. so far as the welcome to
our visitors is concerned, and throw our
doors open, hand over our latchkeys and
bid our guests enjoy themselves as they
will with the ample facilities that We are
arranging to place at their disposal. We
neither aim to kill with kindness nor freeze
our guests to death with an overawing
display of municipal dignity. When man
has social gathering in his own home it
is conducive to the success of the party
that the guests be made, so far as 1t is
possible, to entertain themselves and each
other. for then the flow of soul flows evenly
and tremendously and each guest feels that
he or she has co-operated to make the
evening an enjoyable one. In our sys-
tematic plan for the reception of our guests
we have proceeded on the principle that
freedom and hospitality are synonymous,
and that ceremoniousness and enjoyment
constitute an anomalous conjunction Of
words. -
The details of a city's welcome to an
army of visitors are easy to arrange. The
art of the thing is to enlist as many public
spirited, energetic men possible on the
committees and then give them carte
blanche to make their own arrangements.
Meetings arc being held almost daily, and
have been going on for long time, by
those who will undertake the work of re-
ceiving and entertaining the delegates to
the convention. The mayoralty hand has
necessarily to be at the helm, but the ship
glides along easily and smoothly with such
an enthusiastic crew as has been enlisted
for the work 1t is all done systematically,
as a great business, the business of rum
ming the municipal affairs of great city,
for instance, is conducted. The Allied
Republican Club, made up of the active and
aggressive young Republicans of Philadel-
phia, have organized great welcome COM
mittee, with subcommittee for confer
ences and courtesies," reception and en-
|
tions," demonstrations" press and print
ing" transportation "hotels and board
ing houses Every detail of the work of
welcoming the delegates is being briskly
arranged by these committees, so that ev-
cry visitor, whether lonely delegate who
arrives unaccompanied or a big political
club that fills whole train will be sure
of a reception that will change the "stran-
er-in-a-strange-land' sensation insepara-
BILE from the arrival in a new city to one
of homelike warmth of feeling.
ATTENTION TO DELEGATES.
He must be very shy and retiring dele
gate or visitor who succeeds in eluding the
vigilance of our reception committee on
Monday, June is, the day chosen for the
welcoming of the city's guests. Promptly
upon the arrival of every train the visitors
will be met and whisked off to the head
quarters of the various clubs and organiza-
TONS The committee will see that each
visitor is supplied with badge and card
admitting him to the courtesies of all the
local political organizations. Open house
will be kept at all the political headquar-
tiers, and catches down. will be the rule
everywhere. If the guests wish to see the
find the services of some good fellow
placed at their disposal and everything
that they wish for that the city provides
for their comfort, from carriage down to
a good cigar. If the visitor prefers to flock
alone and sec the city without guidance he
will be allowed to do so. There will be no
ostentatious and over-friendly pressing of
assistance on those who do not desire it.
Our notion of hospitality draws the line at
| cordiality of so warm variety that 1t
singes the recipient.
| While the reception and entertainment
| committee is busily engaged in welcoming
| the delegates the committee on hotels and
| boarding houses will be taking care that
no visitor wanders around looking for a
| place to lay his head. There have been
| times when the descent of an army of Wis
| itors upon a city of limited accommoda-
| tons has compelled the late corners to
sleep in the trains and improvised shelters.
! The practice is Objectionable from sanitary
| and other reasons, and will not be counte-
| nanced here. There will be no occasion
for improvising shelters for guests.
| The city has ample accommodations for all.
| A GREAT PARADE.
The evening of the Monday of convention
| week will be the most interesting from the
| viewpoint of the general public. for.
promptly at o'clock the Republican hosts
| will gather on Broad street for the great
parade. A reviewing stand will be erected
| in front of the Allied Republican Club
| headquarters and it is hoped that President
| Mckinley will find it convenient to visit the
| city for the purpose of Witnessing what, it
| is expected, will be the greatest outdoor
| demonstration in the history of the Re-
publican party. Besides the President, 1t
| is expected there will be on the reviewing
| stand Governor Stone, of Pennsylvania;
| Governor Roosevelt, of New York, and the
Governors of New Jersey. Delaware and
other States. In the procession the visit
ing clubs will have the right of the line
and, except in the instances where any OF
the Philadelphia clubs are acting as es-
corts, the local organizations viii occupy
the left of the line. Some of the most IA
| nous marching organizations of the coun-
| try have announced their intention OF par
ticipating in the parade, including num-
| Der OF clubs from Ohio, Indiana and New