The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-10-04
SWIFT GROWTH OF CLUBS
Organizing at the Rate of Five
Hundred Day.
MEMBERSHIP NOW OVER TWO MILLION
Vice-Pr,sident Stevenson Makes a Short Ad-
dress. Mayor Jones of Toledo on The
Right Of SeIf-Government.
Indianapolis En- Fete.
(By the Associated Press.l

Indianapolis, Ind, Oct. 3.-The city of
indianapolis tonight presented a scene Of
Democratic festivity. From the various
buildings in the business portion Ameri
can flags and streamers of bunting were
flung to the evening breeze while prCm-
nent among the decorations portraits,
framed in electric bulbs, of distinguished
leaders of the Democracy were displayed.
At s o'clock a parade Of all the Demo
cratic clubs and delegates marched
through the streets while people lined
the sidewalks.
The program for the opening session
of the convention, as officially announced
was changed just prior to the hour OF
meeting. President w. r. Hearst was
expected to be present to preside, but
telegraphed that he was i'll and unable
to attend. The convention was therefore
called to order by Senator j. K. Jones,
Chairman of the Democratic National
Committee. Mayor Taggert was intro
duced and made an address of welcome,
which was briefly responded to by j. r.
Rice, Canton, Ohio.
Senator Jones in opening the convention
said;
I'm the absence of President Hearst,
who has been unav0idably detained from
this meeting, / have been requested to
call this convention to order and / do
so now.
During the last two or three weeks
clubs have been organized and have been
reported to headquarters at the rate of
over 500 day, until there are now by
actual count 1858 Democratic Clubs with
an average membership of more than 200
already organized in all the States of this
Union. With an organization of this
kind consisting of more than 1000 900
members, thoroughly organized and thor
oughly awake to the necessities of the
situation at work in their localities every
where, there can be no reasonable doubt
of the result on the 9th of November
next"
Organization was then effected by elect
ing Thomas Taggart temporary chair
man. r. II. Ihmsen New York, Secretary;
W. Jefferson Pollard, St. Louis, Reading
Clerk and Myron d. King, Indianapolis,
Sergeant-at-arms
At this juncture Adlai r. Stevenson
was escorted into the hall by a band and
his appearance sent the convention into
a pandemonium of applause. He said:
my fellow Democrats: / thank you
for this cordial greeting. l would not un-
dertake now to address you but at later
time, in accordance with the program, l
will have the pleasure to address some
remarks to my fellow Democrats of the
United States. / can only say to you now
that / bring you words of good cheer from
the great Democratic State of Illinois"
The next speaker was Mayor Samuel
NJ Jones, of Toledo. Ohio. Mr. Jones
spoke IN part as follows
'No matter what may be said to the
contrary, l think that the only real ques-
tion that is now before the American peo-
pie in this campaign is the question of
right of self government.
"The only difference between q repub-
lie and an empire is this: IN republic
all the people are sovereign and equal:
in an empire subject and dependent COL
onies are ruled by the home government
without their consent or participation.
Which principle shall we adopt9 l be-
lieve that we will be true to the Demo-
cracy of the Golden Rule rather than to-
the autocracy of the rule of gold, and /
believe that the American people will re-
affirm the doctrine of the right of self
government as set down in tie Decara
tion of Independence.
At the conclusion of Mayor Jones adj
uASoo, SdhSS I1dululOu Lewis, VI inc oIdIC
of Washington, was introduced
According to the program Governor
Denton McMillin, of Tennessee, was to-
have been the concluding speaker, but
while he was present, a heavy cold rem
dered him out of voice and he did not at
tempt to speak.
The convention at o'clock took re-
cess until after the parade at night.
The parade ended at $3.50 O'Clock and
Tomilson Hall was thronged with those
who had participated in the jollification.
The meeting was called to order by SEN
ator James X. Jones who introduced Cap
tain Patrick 0'Farrell, of Washington, d..
c. Captain O'Farrell denounced the war
in the Philippines and condemned stand
ing army. He was followed by Hon. Sig
mund Zeisler, of Chicago, who spoke in
opposition to Imperialism"
1t was the intention that Hon. James r.
Sovereign former Grand Master Work.
man of the Knights of Labor, should make
the closing speech of the evening, but
owing to the lateness of the hour his
speech was deferred until tomorrow The
convention adjourned until tomorrow
morning.