The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-10
FFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTYS FIRST
NATIONAL CONVENTION TO BE OBSERVED IN Pf1LADELPf
oh nHxoncMu Pl
Il Convention ReidS vwrdEe tCanpmnn There

back TO the history of the first republi.
can association formed in Philadelphia
John 9. Fremont was chosen as the
standard bearer of the new party on
Wednesday, June Is, 1856, and on Sat-
urday evening of the same week, June
21, 1856, number of patriotic Phila.
delphia citizens with progressive ideas
and hatred of slavery in their hearts,
got together In a practical way to as
sist in carrying out the work the con-
vention had mapped out for its adher-
ents to do. One of the prime movers
and active spirits in that primitive lit
tie band of Philadelphia republicans
was Charles Humphreys of 621 West
York street. He is still living and thus
describes the way in which the first
republican association in Philadelphia
came to be organized:
Positively the first republican asso-
citation formed in Philadelphia after
the nomination of Fremont and Day
ton for president and vice president by
the republican national convention was
organized on the night of June 81, 1856.
The following gentlemen met for con-
ference and organization at Clarkson
at that time: William E. Thomas,
fourteenth ward; Charles Humphreys,
fourteenth ward; William S. Pierce,
tenth ward; James Alcorn, fourteenth
ward; James Trueman, tenth ward;
William Kenney, tenth ward; Joseph
Trueman, thirteenth ward; John NJ.
Kennedy, ninth ward; George A. COT
fee, eighth ward; Alexander Walken-
shaw, eighth ward; BENJAMIN 1. Huekle,
fifth ward; James Waterhoue, third
ward; David Foy, first ward.
"The republican organization organ
president and Joseph Trueman secre-
tary. They Endorsed the nomination
and platform made by the national re-
publican convention. A committee was
appointed to canvass every ward in
Philadelphia and organize republican
clubs. A committee of five to visit the
newspapers and see which would in
dorse the nominations and the plat.
form of the republican party. This
committee visited all of the papers;
but one paper would indorse the repub-
lican nominees and platform. After a
long conference with Morton Nc
Michael, proprietor of the North Amer
lean, he agreed to place Fremont and
Dayton at the head of his paper and
support the platform of the republican
party. From this time and date com.
menced the great struggle for the vic
came in four years after. There are
but two members Of this association
now living. They are Charles Hum
phreys, 621 York street, and James
Trueman, 1895 Chester avenue, Phila-
delphia. - --.. f..
| Among the many letters of interest
Mr.. Moore has received in relation to
the jubilee, is one from Major Francis
P. Fremont, a son of the first presi-
Dental nominee of the republican party.
Major Fremont is the commandant at
Fort Jay, Governors Island, opposite
New York city, and expresses his inten-
ton to be present at the opening exer-
cises of the jubilee on the afternoon Of
June II.
The transparency shown herewith is
now in the rooms of the Fourteenth
Ward Republican club, COL North Thir-
teenth street, Philadelphia. 1t is one Of
that organization S most cherished pos
sessions. and was carried in Fremont
parade in 1856 by James F. Freeman.
He is still living, and retains lively
recollection of those stirring times.