The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-28
Postmaster General Smith Says Ii Is
Time for a New Declaration
of Independence.
COL. A. K. MCCLURE SPEAKS
DENOUNCES 'PUBLIC ROBBERY BY
CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY"
Revolution Against the Giving Away
of Street-Railway Franchises-
ROthermel Nominated.

PHILADELPHIA, June 27-What prom
ises to be fierce local political war was
inaugurated at the ACADEMY of Music to-
night, when five thousand citizens in town
meeting nominated District Attorney P. F..
Rothermel, jr., to be candidate for the Of
flee of district attorney against the candi-
dacy of John Weaver, who was nominated
for that Office last week by the Republican
organization of this city. The speakers of
the evening severely arraigned the present
city administration and the state officials.
telegram from Postmaster General
Charles Emory Smith was read and was
enthusiastically cheered. 1t follows: Can
you Use my name as a vice president? 1t
is time for a new Declaration of Independ-
ence. Philadelphia ought to rise in her
might against jobbers in her public rights
and the ravishing of her sacred safeguards
of law"
The principal speech of the evening was
that of Col. A. X. Mcclure the retired edi-
tor of the Philadelphia Times. Mr.. Nc
Clure did not mince words, and his arraign-
ment of the whole Republican organiza-
ton, both city and State was extremely Sc
we're. District Attorney Rothermel, he said.
was nominated by the Republican organi-
cation three years ago and elected. Now
this same organization, controlled by the
same men. refuse him another term. They
have named a man, he continued, who is
untried and an unknown quantity. Mr..
Rothermel sent to prison ballot box
thieves. the masters of whom are the po-
litical leaders of the city to-day He had
also made 1t so uncomfortable for others of
the same stripe that they are living in dis
tant lands and cannot come home until Mr..
Rothermel is out of office. That is the rea-
son. he said, why Mr.. Rothermel was not
named.
Colonel Mcclure then told Of Mr. Weav-
ers unknown quantities and said: Mr..
Weaver has been nominated by these men
because they have been assured or reason
ably believe that he will prosecute or not
prosecute crime as their interests might de-
mand. The issue has been intensified by
the most bewildering public robbery ever
witnessed in the State. and the men most
interested are Mayor Ashbridge. Insurance
Commissioner Durham, Contractor Nc
Nicol and their associates. They are COM
mitting public robbery by criminal conspir-
acy.''
Colonel Mcclure told how the street-rail-
way bills were rushed through the Legisla-
ture and how the Governor had signed
them at convenient hour, so that the
gangs representatives could be first at the
| door the next morning to get their char
| ters." He closed by saying the battle was
| not one of party, but one of self-preserva-
| tion against organized crime, corrupt bal
| lot and the lootng Of the public treasury
| Former District Attorney George G. Ora
| ham, who served eighteen years in that
| office, followed Mr.. Mcclure. He strongly
| urged the citizens to stand united. and he
| felt confident the patient and suffering
| public will rise and annihiate the robber
crew and give back to the people the civil
government
Addresses were also made by ex-Post-
| master John Field, Rev. DR.. Henry G. Nc
| Cook and others.
| The resolutions adopted by the meeting
pay a tribute to Mr.. Rothermel for his
| fidelity and integrity and formally nomi-
nate him as a candidate for district attor-
ney to succeed himself. The resolutions
also instructed the chairman af the meet
| ing to appoint committee to conduct the
| contest and confer with all organized
| friends of reform in completing an inde-
pendent ticket"