The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-01
which Was Held i'm Hotel Bedroom,
ic Party" Was Christened.
STATE TICKET NOMINATED
WITH DIR. RUDOLPH REEMELIN, WHO
WILL NOT RUN, AT THE HEAD.
Bolt by n Populist Who Didn't Like
the Name of the New Party
GOrmnn's Democrats.

COLUMBUS. o., July S1.-"The Progress
sive Democratic party was organized
here to-day. The attendance was so small
that many doubted, up to o'clock p. m,
whether any attempt would be made to
hold a State convention.
The week following the recent Democratic
State convention a conference was held at
Cleveland protesting against the present
Democratic State platform in ignoring
Bryan, free silver and other issues and in
not reaffirming either Of the national plat
forms on which Bryan made his campaigns
for President. At that conference call
was issued for a State convention OF
Bryan Democrats" and others opposed
to both the Democratic and the Republican
State platforms, TO meet here to-day. Cir
culars containing copies of the call and
the platform of the proposed new party
were sent out by mail and they were also
published in the papers. But less than
dozen responded TO them and to-day at
tended the christening of the new party.
George y. Groot, who called the confer
ence at Cleveland and presided over it on
July H. was both temporary and perma-
nent chairman to-day and was made chair
man of the State committee of the new
party. His name was presented for Gov
ernor, but he said he did not want any
nomination. He was afterward put on
the ticket for supreme judge, but he de-
cined to accept it, The convention was
held in his room at the Great Southern
Hotel and in that small room he delivered
his keynote speech of a half hour in
length.
Those who met with Chairman Groot
were J. w. Lindsay, of Delaware; DR.. Abb
ner l.. Davis. of Findlay; Bernard Hubert
of Toledo; Richard Inglis, of Youngstown
r. b. Connell. of Columbus; George w.
Moore of Greenville. and II. NJ. Huber, of
New Richmond
The reporters, who were perched on and
about the bed. outnumbered the delegates
two TO one. A few spectators stood at the
open door. The total attendance did not
exceed thirty, while the forms of state
convention were carried out between the
hours OF and p. IN.
RACES MORE ENTERTAINING.
A delegation from the Hooking valley,
headed by Henry Leonard, of Logan. and
consisting of Hiram Lanning. w. =. Bates,
George Guthrie and two gentlemen from
New Lexington. reported tonight that they
had come 10 the city to-day to attend the
convention, and OH being unable to find it
they went to the races.
1t is doubtful if there ever was more
amusement at a convention than in the
little gathering this afternoon. Even the
promoters of the movement, who did not
disguise their disappointment over the small
attendance. enjoyed the participation of
the reporters. who used the chairman's bed
in the absence of chairs, and who were
allowed to take part in the proceedings
with suggestions. At the conclusion of the
proceedings the reporters. who were in the
ma jority, were given "A vote of thanks, and
they returned the compliment to the MI
nority.
engaged for the occasion, but when the
hour of o'clock arrived the delegates and
reporters took the elevator for Chairman
GrOOtS room, the reporters suggesting
that the Populist conference last night
kept cool on the fire escape and that the
convention to-day might be held in the ele-
vat0r.
Bernard Hubert called the convention to
order and at once announced George o.
Groot as temporary chairman and Or. Abb
ner l. Davis as temporary secretary. Order
was restored at once when Mr.. Groot was
introduced. His speech was four or five
thousand words long. and consisted mainly
of a denunciation of the regular Demo-
cratic convention and an Endorsement of
Bryan's ideas.
The following ticket nominated
Governor, DIR. Rudolph Reemelin; leuten-
ant governor. Henry c. Cordery; supreme
Judge. Rial NJ Smith: state treasurer. j. c.
Sheppard attorney general 5. l.. Clark
member of the Board of Public Works. r.
Il. Connel The only one of the nominees
in attendance at the convention was Or.
Connel. who lives in Columbus.
Ii was decided to call the organiza-
tion 1.-The Progressive Democratic Party"
other names proposed were: THE Bryan
PemoeratiG s PartE Reform Tbe Indspenden
prevailed throughout the proceedings till IL
came TO the selection of a name. J. w
Lindsay. who met with three other Popu-
f.. 1Iaf ,f..I.t
wanted to call the organization THE Inde-
pendent Party so as to include all who
were opposed to Hannaism." He insisted
that the last Democratic State convention
In Ohio had veered around into Hanna s
lines" When Chairman Groot announced
that the convention had voted to name the
Party" Lindsay said he would not cooper
ate any further. Lindsay wanted the Popu-
lists last night and the convention to-day
10 support Mayor Jones' of Toledo, for
Governor such Independent lines as in
the campaign two years ago.
DR.. Reemelin. who heads the ticket has
free silver man. He is president of the Bi-
metallic League OF Hamilton County. and
entertained Bryan during the campaign
last year.
THE PLATFORM.
1t was announced that the platform sent
out from Cleveland on July II in circulars
and published at the time in the papers had
already been adopted on the referendum
system by many subscribing TO the same.
The features of this platform are the
laudation of Bryan. the reaffirmation OF
the Kansas City platform and the following
planks:
I'VE demand that all public utilities be
owned and operated by the public.
We demand that all money that is
manufactured to be used In this country
as a medium OF exchange, whether IL be
gold silver paper. shall be coined by
the government and distributed among the
people without the Intervention OF banks
and that every dollar OF II shall be a legal
tender for all debts public and prfvafe