The Topeka state journal., 1908-07-16
Given an Enthusiastic Welcome
by indianapolis Citizens.
FAIRBANKS PRESIDES
And Makes a Speech Expressive
of Good Feeling.
The Candidates Reply Punctur.
ed With Much Applause.


reception given John w. Kern, the
date for vice president of the United
States, held in the court house yard
at $3.50 O'Clock last night was as
nearly and generous and spontaneous
as the citizens of Indianapolis, re-
gardless of politics. could make it.
Fully 5000 people gathered in Della
ware street and in the court house
yard, and gave Mr.. Kern hearty
welcome and cheered him enthusiast
tically.
The crowd which received Mr..
Kern was in a cheering mood. Re-
publicans applauded as loudly as the
Democrats.
Mr.. Kern arrived In the city little
after s o'clock and was escorted to his
home by a large crowd.
Two hours later he went to the
court house with Vice President Fair
banks. When the carriage with
Mr.. Kern and Vice President Fair
banks arrived the band started play
ing when Johnny Comes Marching
Home" This was the signal for tum-
ultuous applause and when the two
distinguished men alighted they were
greeted by round after round of ap-
plause. Mayor Bookwalter with a few
brief remarks presented Vice Presi-
dent Fairbanks.
I'VE have met" the mayor said. ito
do honor to a fellow citizen who has
brought honor to all of u.s.
Vice President Fairbanks spoke
about ten minutes, paying a fine trib-
ute to his friend and neighbor, John
w. Kern. aT, ~
Perhaps in all his career as pub
lie speaker John ". Kern never was
I'D
than he was when he faced the crowd
of five thousand people.
Fairbanks Address.
Vice President Fairbanks said:
Mayor Bookwalter and Fellow Cit
liens: The duty which you have as
signed to me is a very unusual and
very agreeable one. The occasion
sity of indulging in any extended ut
terance. My function is to preside
and not to engage in speech beyond a
word of greeting and felicitation to
our friend in whose honor we are as
sembled.
I'VE have gathered here without
regard to party alignment to welcome
and congratulate a fellow citizen who
has been greatly -honored. We appre-
ciate fully the fact that an honor
which comes to one of our fellow citi-
zens is an honor to our entire citf-
zenship. 1t is gratifying fact that
although our city has grown in popu-
lation and industrial and commercial
strength we have not lost our neigh
borly spirit We still have an inter-
est in one another's welfare and 1
hope that no matter how great our
city may grow, we shall always con-
tinue to rejoice in one another's good
fortune.
Mr.. Kern, 1 shall always remember
with sincere appreciation the generous
and hearty welcome extended to me
four wears ago. 1t is particularly graf
flying now to meet this assemblage TO
perform a similar office for you.
The honor which the Denver con-
vention bestowed upon you is one OF
the two greatest which can be confer
red upon an American citizen by his
political associates. Honor came TO
you in a manner to enhance 1t. 1t came
the unanimous judgment OF a
great convention.
while we owe allegiance to dinerent
political parties, our differences have
never disturbed our friendship or mar
red our personal relations. l admire
you as friend, neighbor and fellow citl-
zen and rejoice with you in the great
which your party has been
pleased to confer upon you by NOM
mating you for vice president of the
United States. Here political partisan
spirit frequently runs high. Our cam
paigns are usually waged with ardor
upon both sides, but we never fail to
applaud our neighbor though he differ
ed with us, if he wins distinguished
honors. We never withhold from him
an expression of our neighborly ap-
Your neighbors know that no mat
ter how much men may disagree with
your political views, they respect your
ability as a lawyer, your eminence as
an orator, your integrity as a man,
your uprightness as a neighbor and
your admirable life within the sacred
circle of home.
II cannot wish you success in your
cause. can, however, express the
certain conviction that you will be
crowned with the increased respect and
personal confidence of your neighbors.
~