Evening journal., 1911-03-30
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
An Unsolicited Tribute That
Amused Senator
Voorhees,
By @HOlIand..

The survivors in the State of Indi-
ana Of the exciting political campaigns
in which Oliver p. Morton, War Gov
ernor Of Indiana and Republican
United States Senator: Joseph e. Nc
Donald. United States Senator;
Thomas A. Hendricks, twice candi-
date for President Of the United
States and once elected, and BENJAMIN
Harrison We're among the great cam
paigners and political managers speak,
after all, with the greatest reminis-
cent interest Of the campaign In which
Blue Jeans" Williams was the Demo-
cratic candidate for Governor, in 1875.
Indiana at that time was an October
State-that Is to say. IL elected its
State ticket IN October preceding the
Presidential election OF the same year
Therefore, II was regarded as Of the
highest importance both by Repuhli-
cans and Democrats that the State
should be carried for their party.
None of these campaigners, however
and IL used 10 be said IN Indiana
not all of them put together-gained
and held such vast crowds as did Dan
iel w Voorhees,, who already had be-
! come widely known as the Tall Syca-
more Of the Wabash" No great barbe-
cue was considered complete unless
the Tall Sycamore" was present 10
address the crowds. He had a superb
voice for outdoor speaking, and he
knew how to use lt effectively.
During the campaign a barbecue
WAS held in one Of the towns OF the
southern part of the State. The an
nouncement was made that Thomas A.
Hendricks, who had been Governor
and United States Senator, would ad-
dress the meeting, and that Joseph r.
Mcdonald, then chairman of the Dem
ocratic State Committee, and newly
elected United States Senator, would
also speak The people came into town
by thousands and all business was sus-
pended Eight hundred maidens, wear
ing simple dresses of blue jeans, made
a most impressive spectacle They
symbolized, in that way, the popular
ity of blue Jeans" Williams, the
candidate for Governor.
Senator Hendricks spoke The vast
throng listened patiently and respect
fully, without making any special
demonstration. Then Senator McDon-
aid was introduced. The people of
Indiana liked to hear Mcdonald, es-
pecially If his address were not very
long. He spoke soberly, earnestly, and
to the minds of his hearers, not to
their passions or emotions
Far back on an improvised plat
form sat the Tall Sycamore Of the
Wabash" His head was plainly Wis
ihle overtopping those of all the others
who were seated on that platform.
There We're occasional calls for Voor-
hees but he paid no heed to them. for
/ it was not his time TO speak. At last.
the chairman rose to present their dis
tinguished fellow citizen. Daniel w
Voorhees,, saying that he needed no in
PRODUCTION Instantly that great throne
let free it's restrained emotions. For
some moments Voorhees, stood patient
ly and calmly receiving these tributes
Then he raised his hand and the storm
Of applause ceased suddenly The sill
ence was impressive by reason Of III
contrast 10 the vociferous acclaim o
a moment before
Voorhees, had Just opened his moutl
10 speak when farmer who sat in th'
first or second row Of improviseC
benches rose. and turning TO the gres
audience, shouted. in a high. squeakl
voice
And now feller citizens. we srs GO
/ lNN 10 nave WVhl we We OefO WdlOn
these two hours for We are going tC
have some speechifyin' that meant
husinessi"
Voorhees, could not contain himself
He burst into laughter The great audi
enoe was convulsed. and yet il showed
it's approval Of those plain-spoken sen
timents When quiet was at last re
stored Voorhees, did give them som,
speechifying that counted; and Of thi
demonstration Senator Mcdonald AZ
terward said that II was without OK
ception the greatest tribute 10 a stuml
speaker he had ever seen or heard. AM
that Dan Voorhees, did Justice 10 it. II
his speech.
(Copyright. 1911. by u. y Edwards AL
Rights Reserved
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tel
"HOW Famous Senator Put a Frien
on His Feet Again.