The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-06-18
REPUBLICAN PARTY
REACHES ITS
50TH YEAR
Golden Jubilee of Birth Of
Great Party Being Held at
Philadelphia.

Philadelphia, Pa, June 1S.-The
bone and sinew of the republican party
were represented by the gathering
that filled Musical Fund hall this
morning at the opening of the biennial
convention of the national league of
republican clubs. Despite the fact
that this is an off year politically, the
attendance is the largest in the
leagues history. and is likewise re-
markable for the number of prominent
republicans present. An explanation
of the unusually large and representa-
tive attendance is found in the fact
that The convention this year partakes
of the nature of jubilee celebration
OF the 50th anniversary of the republi-
can party. The convention which
placed the first republican presidential
ticket in the field met just fifty years
ago in the same hall where the pres
ent gathering is held. BE-.
prominent among the party leaders
taking part in the convention are
Governor Pennypacker of Pennsyl-
vania, Governor Stokes of New Jer-
sey, Secretary of the Treasury Leslie
NJ. Shaw, ex-United States Senator
John M. Thurston of Nebraska, Speak
er Joseph G. Cannon and Col. Alex
ander K. Mcclure.
1t was few minutes after 10 o'clock
when the national president, ]. Hamp-
ton Moore of Philadelphia, called the
gathering to order. After brief well
comes and responses, Hon. Sid B.
Redding of Arkansas, vice-president
of the league, read the call for the
gathering and various paragraphs of
which were lowdly applauded. In
part it said:
Both the time and place of holding
this convention should appeal to the
sentiment of republicans in a nation
grown rich and prosperous under re-
publican rule, and tend to renew the
common faith Of republicans in the
principles underlying the great party
to which they have pledged their al
legiances.
"The first national convention of
the republican party was held in
Musical Fund hall, Philadelphia, June
II, Is and 10, 1856. 1t was the ma
tional beginning of that tremendous
movement destined to revolutionize
the politics of the country. Men are
living who attended it's stirring ses-
sions, and hundreds of those who
voted for the candidates then selected
are prepared to join in the golden
jubilee celebration.
All the forces then contending for
freedom and progress united upon
John c. Fremont vice-president, re-
spectively. The name of Abraham
Lincoln was modestly proposed as a
RaniHofo ryino
was balloted for.
1T was the amalgamation of forces
against the slave-owning power, which
subsequently followed Lincoln in the
grim struggle for liberty and union.
The convention foretold the bloody
years of 1861 to 1865, wherein the
chivalry of nation was dedicated to
the happiness Of its people, and opened
the way for their marvellous progress
in the commercial and Industrial ac-
tivities of the world
The intervening span of half a
century has been glorious to men and
measures. First, the great pathfinder.
Fremont, raised aloft the standard of
leadership; then the martyr, Lincoln,
the saviour of his country; Grant, the
irresistible silent man; HAYES. the
Christian. soldier and statesman:
Blaine, the plumed knight of a re-
public: Harrison, the soldier, states
man and lawyer; the beloved and
lamented Mckinley; and, at the end
OF the golden crescent; inaugurating
an era of worldwide influence for the
peace of nations-Roosevelt, the fore
most American of his time. A wealth
of material for the student republican.
An inspiration for the youth of the
land!
I'm the old hall in Philadelphia,
where the best political minds of a
troubled country framed a national
declaration or undying party prin-
ciples; where the champions of liberty
and union assembled; where the
friends of Fremont, of Lincoln, of
Chase, of Seward. of Lovejoy, of Cid
dings, of Mclean. of Sumner, of Will
mot and a host of the country's ablest
statesman. met to cement and
strengthen the scattered efforts of the
nations patriots. it is the proud priyi-
lege of Pennsylvania republicans to
welcome their associates. of the ma
tlonal republican league"
The annual address of President
Moore, the appointment of committees
ana the transaction of other routine
business occupied the remainder of
the forenoon. This afternoon there
was meeting of the Pennsylvania
republican league, at which the prin-
clpal address was delivered by ex-
Senator John M. Thurston of Nebras-
ka. Tonight. in the Academy of Music,
there takes place one of the series
OF great mass meetings which make
up the golden jubilee programme.
Secretary of the Treasury Shaw and
other distinguished republicans are
slated for addresses Great arrange
ments are being made for the big par
ade of republican clubs, which will
be the feature of tomorrow's pro-
gramme.