Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-27
ROOSEVELT CONVENTION.
Republicans of Indiana Will Endorse
Present Executive.

indianapolis. Ind, April 26-The In
llama Republican convention wa;
opened, today, by State Chairman
ioodrich There will be q vigorous en-
!orsement of President Roosevelt's adj
ministration, and the delegates at large.
Senators Fairbanks and Beveridge,
iov. Durbin and State Chairman Good
'ich, will be instructed for him.
The speech of Congressman ]. F.
Watson, temporary chairman. was as
follows:
What will the issue be- Who
'Znows? Isn't it true that the Demo-
ratio party is utterly without an issue
in this year of our Lord 1904? Without
| platform, without n principle, with.
nut All issue, without a leader. Such
is the present sad estate of the once
great Democratic party. And that is
the penalty they pay for being always
wrong. That will disintegrate any in
Stitution on earth. Permanent organ
Zation can be effected only by the
standard of the right The Democratic
1arty dare not roaftirm single vital
issue it has had in any platform in the
last eight years. And when they hold
l convention it is their principal bust
ness to dodge the issues and the can
iidates they last had. When they come
20 write platform the first thing they
discard viii be the last thing they
adopt.
They will not dare to renominate the
only man they have ever been able to
elect as President since the Civil war.
They will not dare renominate the candi-
date they had in the last two presidential
campaigns. And they are now engaged in
doing their level best to find someone for
a candidate who has never exhausted the
taln;est opinion on any question that is
now or has ever been before the people
of this country for the last quarter of
century.
From having candidate who did moth
ing but talk. they are about to nominate
a man who never talks at all. Who is
Parker? Doubtless an upright man and
an honorable gentleman. But what does
he believe? What are his views on the
tarlit! Is he a free trader, Il tarii. for
protcctionist? How does he stand on 16
to L.. 1t is said that he voted for it. II
SO. dld ne believe in it? If he did: he
without believing in it. he ought not to
be President.
Thank God. We are not so impoverish-
ed. We know what our principles are.
We know what our platform will be. We
know what candidate we will nominate
There is not a man here. today, who
would be willing to change single plank
in any platform ever adopted by the Re
publican party in ali the years of its his
tory; in all the years since the patriots of
other days whose presence so inspires us
here We're aroused to- heroic action.
venerable fathers. You builded better
than you knew; for you planted your feet
on the enduring rock of human liberty
and with the accumulated results of so
years all about you. fndreamed of then,
are you not, today, filled with pride be-
cIuse YOU aided in the organization of a
party devoted to the freedom of man and
the fullest possible development of our
land?"
indianapolis. Ind. April 25.--The con-
vention met. this afternoon. with one OF
the largest and one of the most enthusiasts.
tic gatherings of delegates ever seen in
Indiana The report of the committee on
permanent organization named Repre-
sentative James f. Watson of Rushville.
for chairman. and Harry Strohm of Kent
land. for secretary.
Representative Watson was followed by
Senator Charles w. Fairbanks. Senator
BevcIidge and Governor Durbin.
The convention selected by reclamation
the following delegates at large to the ma
tiOnal convention: Senator Charles w.
Fairbanks. Indianapolis; Senator Albert
G. Beveridge. indianapolis; Governor w.
r. Durbn, Anderson: State Chairman