The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-30
LANDIS RENOAINATED
BY ACCLAMATlON AFTER
MAJ. STEELE WITHDRAWS
Eleventh District Republican Con-
vention a Band-Wagon Affair,
with Harmony as Driver.
HELD IN THE OPEN AIR
Opera House at Peru Is Not Big
Enough to Accommodate the
Enthusiastic Crowd.
SPEECH BY MAJOR STEELE
Significant Allusion to Next Cam
paign-Characteristic Address
by the Nominee.
SPEECH BY MAJOR STEELE
STAFF Correspondence of the Journal.

Staff Correspondence Of the Journal.
PERU. Ind, March 29.-The Eleventh dis
trict Republican congressional convention
proved after all to be a bandwagon affair.
both figuratively and literally-figuratively
because the denomination of Representa-
tive Frederick Lands was made by accla-
nation. and literally because the conven-
ton was held in the open air in the court
house yard and an old bandwagon that has
inquired In numerous parades was used as
the stage and speakers stand.
After wrestling for many hours last night
with schemes and plans to encompass the
defeat Of Landis by a combinat ation with
Huntington or Wabash county in the in
terest of Dr. Good or Carey Cowgirl. the
Steele forces threw up their hands and
conceded the nomination of the Logansport
man. a combination could not be effected
because Good and Cowgirl stood pat on
their agreement with Lands and refused
10 yield to the temptation. and because
Lands had a safe majority of the dele
gates who could not have been taken from
him under any circumstances. Major
Steele yielded TO the inevitable with the
grace of the old-time politician who is both
good winner and a good loser. His name
was presented to the convention by his
loyal Grant county friends. but he immed-
lately withdrew and asked that Landis's
nomination be made by acclamation
MAJOR STEELE'S SPEECH.
Major Steele's brief speech. one of the
best he ever delivered. contained one sig
niticant feature that presages the trend of
the congressional contest in this district
two years hence. MY young friend from
Cass is in every way worthy of this nomi-
SafH h. az
he will be worthy two years hence as
he is now and that denomination will
come to him then as unanimously as it
comes now" This is taken to mean that
Grant county will stand by Lands in the
next campaign to defeat Good and Cowgirl,
who are prospective candidates.
IL is one of the ronies of politics that
while it makes strange bed-feIlows it
brings about frequent changes of bed-fel-
lows. and 1t need not be surprising if Good
and Cowgirl, who have twice enabled Lam
dis to defeat Steele. are in their turn de-
feated by combination of tie Lands and
Steele forces.
There were two sessions OF the conven-
tlon one IN the opera house and one in the
open air. not because two sessions were
necessary, but in order TO give the hun
dreds of visitors a run for their money. The
crowd was far too large for the opera
III.
GO from Cass and 800 to 400 from the other
counties. not To speak of the Miami county
throng- All wore Sayre badges and most of
them wore ''Buckskiu'' Lands badges. Two
or three bands were in evidence.
IN THE OPERA HOUSE.
The district chairman called the conven-
tion to order in the opera house at IL
O'Clock After prayer by Rev. Harry Nice,
of Peru, II. b. Geisler. of Hartford City
was named as temporary secretary. III. p.
Loveland, Miami. reported for the creden-
tials committee that there were no con-
tests. an announcement that was greeted
with applause. The morning session was
tnen devoted to speeches by Lieutenant
Governor Gilbert. of Fort Wayne one of
the visitors. Warren q. Sayre. of Wabash,
the districts candidate for Governor. and
robert j. Loveland, of Miami, the perma-
nent chairman.
The convention reconvened i'm the court
house yard at 80 O'Clock and the business
was speedily trapsacted. DIR. j. W. G.
stewart OF Wabash. presented the resoIu-
tions, the feature of which was a vigorous
Endorsement of Mr.. Sayre's candidacy
T. Il. Mcconnell. of Cass. placed Represen-
tative Lands in nonina ton. while John
X. Hadiey. of Grant. presented Major
Steele's name
The major was recognized at once To
make his withdrawal and on his motion the
nomination was made by acclamation
Steele was given three rousing cheers at
reigned again in the Eleventh district