The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-27

Nomination OF state TICKET, DeSfh-
ming with Offices for which there are
no contests.
Indiana Republicans in state convention
assembled have made a magnificent begin
ming for the campaign of 1904 Their key
note has been sounded; they have rallied
again about their leaders with evidences Of
affection, admiration, unswerving loyalty
and unbounded enthusiasm, the men whose
names will stand at the head Of the ticket
as presidential electors at large have been
chosen and the men whose duty it shall be
to represent the State in the national
council of the party have been designated.
And all this. fair share of the work to
be done by the biennial convention of In
diana Republicans was disposed Of under
conditions most auspicious. The men who
did it were truly representative of the par
ty and of the State. Harmony and unity
prevailed. Party ardor was at the highest
pitch. Faith in the party leaders, state
and national, devotion TO party principles
and confidence of an overwhelming victory
at the polls in November were unmistak-
ably demonstrated by the great crowd that
filled Tomlinson Hall to its utmost capacity
yesterday afternoon.
ADDRESSES OF LEADERS.
The opening session of the convention,
which lasted little over three hours. was
given over for the most part to oratory.
The feature of the afternoon was the key
note address of the Hon. James E. Watson,
member of Congress from the Sixth dis
trict, who was made the permanent chair
man, but others of the party leaders were
heard-Senator Fairbanks. Senator Bever-
idge, Governor Durbin, Representative
Frederick K Landis of the Eleventh dis
trict, Representative Elias S. Holiday of
the Fifth. and the Hon. John C. CLANCY.
Republican nominee for Congress in the
Second. All the speeches were notable. and
all were of a nature to stir the great audi
ence to repeated demonstrations of ap-
plause.
e The actual business transacted by the
convention was disposed of briefly. The
permanent organization was effected in a
few minutes, then came almost three hours
of speechmaking, and then three minutes
of actual business, and the session was at
an end. Upon motion of the Hon. William
Z. English, of Marion county. the follow
ing nominations were made by acclamation:
For presidential electors at large-The
Hon. George A. Cunningham, of Wander
burg county, and the Hon. Joseph ID.
Oliver. of St Joseph county.
For delegates at large to the national
convention-Senator Charles w. Fairbanks,
Senator Albert j. Beveridge, Governor
Winfield T Durbin and State Chairman
James P. Goodrich.
For alternate delegates at large-The
ID fo(Tl Of cro opt 49,.
the Hon. Ephriam Marsh of Hancock
county; the Hon. Howard Maxwell, of
Parke county, and the Hon. j. l.. c. Nc
Adams, of Jay county.
A MAGNIFICANT ADDRESS.
The address o. Representative Watson
upon assuming the gavel permanent
chairman of the convention is recognized
as one of the most mastery efforts ever
made from a political rostrum In Indiana.
In it Mr.. Watson sounded the keynote for
the Republican campaign this year. Elo-
quent, convincing, inspiring, the speaker
left nothing unsaid that might have been
said of the principles, policies and record
of the Republican party, and yet when
he had finished the audience was reluc-
tant TO have him yield the floor. Barely
half a dozen persons left the hall before
it is recalled that Mr.. Watson spoke for
two hours and twenty minutes. no higher
tribute to mis- power could have been paid.
Senator Fairbanks, when he responded
to the calls of mis- name at the conclusion of
the chairman's address, paid Mr.. Watson a
graceful compliment that voiced the senti-
ments of the great crowd. The senator
said:
as il is my first pleasure. to congratulate
your chairman and to convey TO him the
thanks of this magnificent audience for the
splendid address he has given us. / feel
il is due Mr.. Watson to say that I regard
his address as one of the greatest, most
eloquent and best speeches that has ever
been delivered in this historic edihce."
This tribute from the senior senator pro-
voked a demonstration so prolonged that
Mr. Watson was compelled TO rise and
bow his acknowledgements
SPEECH A MASTER EFFORT.
Mr. Watson was in magnificent form. and
il was the unanimous verdict of his friends
that he never appeared TO a better advan-
tage Knowing his reputation as an orator.
his hearers expected great things of him
on this occasion-and they were pleasantly
surprised, for his address exceeded their
expectations Aside from the personality OF
the speaker, the address was remarkable
Republican argument. a mastery expos-
ton of what the party has accomplished.
what ii stands for. the soundness OF its
principles and the reasons il should be con-
tinued in power by the American people.
Added TO this. il was a scathing arraign-
ment of the record of the issueless, leader
less Democratic party. the party of oppo-
sition negation and denunciation. Indeed,
the address might be characterized as a
convincing argument that every American
citizen should espouse the principles of Re-
publicanism and an irrefutable presenta-
ton of the fallacies and follies OF Democ-
racy.
But it was the personality OF the speaker
that made the address what il really was
and gave Mr. Watson his remarkable hold
upon his auditors. He was in splendid voice
and the audience. the occasion and the con-
viction that what he said was right inspired
him TO a dramatic intensity that enabled
him 10 sway the great crowd at will. One
moment he had his hearers cheering and
applauding in a fervor OF patriotic ardsr
and the next he had them laughing and
shouting with an appeal TO their sense OF
humor and the ridiculous. AT one time
without a word. with a gesture that ex-
pressed volumes he provoked demonstra-
ton that was prolonged fully one minute
He was speaking of the sad dilemma OF
Democracy this year, when the party has