The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-17
THE DIRECTOR WINS AGAIN.
MIR. Holman Secures His Twelfth Nom
ination as Candidate for Congress.
The Convention Manipulated in His Interest
by Federal Office Holders, Who Win By Bull
DOING and Bullying the Opposition.
THE FOURTH DISTRICT.
Holman Renominated on the First Ballot
How the Convention Was Manipulated


How the Convention Was Manipulated
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
GREENsBURG. Ind, June 16 The habit which
has prevailed of referring to the political event
here to-day as the "Holmap convention was
eminently proper, as the result of the conven-
ton proved most conclusively. 1t was essen
TALLY Holnan's. The opposition which seemed
to have developed unexpected strength yester-
day was short-lived, for when the great OBJ
jector came upon the field inp person there was an
immediate weakening which gradually led
to its petering out completely and
ingloriously before the meeting was called to
order this afternoon It is conceded by all who
were informed on the situation of affairs that
Mr. Holman's political fences were in bad re-
pair week ago, and his sudden and unexpected
abandonment of official duties in order to en-
gage in the conflict in which he had SO much at
stake is a tribute to his keen perception and sa-
gacity as manipulation of men and conventions.
His opponent, Hon. John r. Cravens, of Jeffer-
son county, although laboring under many palpa-
bic disadvantages, showed remarkable strength,
under the circumstances, and had he been in the
field few weeks earlier might have been vic
torious. 1t is worthy of note that Mr.. Cravens
to-day experienced the sensation produced by
chickens coming home to roost The selection
of Greensburg as place for holding the conven-
ton was peculiarly unfortunate for the gentle
man from jefferson, for be it remembered that
Mr.. Cravens who was Republican up to about
1872 was one of the members in the State SEN
ate in 1868 who bolted the caucus and defeated
the election of Hon. Will Cumback to the Sen
ate of the United States. The friends of Mr..
Cumback in this part of Indiana, and especially in
this city have never forgotten or forgiven that
action, and it was somewhat mystifying spec
tacle to the uninitiated to see prominent Repub-
licans ardently at work in the interest of Judge
Holman. 1t was not because they loved Hol-
man more but because they loved Cravens less,
and they materially assisted in scalping the
Madison man with neatness and dispatch. It
was not until high noon to-day that the Holman
managers succeeded in placing their candidate
beyond the reach of possible danger. The stua-
ton last night was decidedly mixed. and the Ora
vens men had hopes of pulling their
favorite through. 1t required eighty
six to nominate and they felt assured
Of having eghty-one absolutely. Judge Holman
was perceptibly annoyed by the fact that several
delegates from his own county of Dearborn per-
sistently declined to vote for him, and in burst
of indignation at late hour he declared that un-
less his county decided to 60 for him as unit
he would withdraw from the race and refuse to
allow his name to be presented to the conven-
ton. The Judges little bluff had the desired eff
feet on most of them but two or three of the
Dearborn men stood out tenaciousy against the
the horde of Office holders until noon to-day,
when their final capture was COM
pleted. Il is but truth to state
that there is manifest feeling of intense bitter
ness against Holman in the rank and file Of the
Democracy of the district and especially in
Jefferson county, but the delegations so
manipulated by revenue collectors, store keep
ers, postmasters, ETC., that the opposition was
throttled from the beginning The member of
the central committee who called the convention
to order followed the example of jackson Ian
ders and refused to permit the selection of
committee on credentials, reserving to himself
the authority to decide who were rightful
delegates Notwithstanding earnest pro-
test was entered against his action
From that moment it was painfully
apparent to the opposition that they were bound
hand and foot, and they submitted to the re-
mainder of the farccal proceedings with Chris
tian resignation. 1t was queer sort of conven-
ton, anyway. 1t was intensely business There
was no sentiment or enthusiasm at any stage of
the proceedings Not single flag fioated any
where. There was not heard the sound of drum
nor the blare of brass. DIR. Hunter, revenue
collector, serene as a seraph, sat front seat
and made the motions Indian Agent Bannister
stood by the side of Judge Holman ready to do
his bid and CALL and the other federal officers
were distributed around among the delegates
where they would do the most good. Thus by
systematic espionage. the recalcitrant delegates
were coerced into acting against their own i'm
pulses and casting their votes contrary to their
wishes. The ballot the only one taken, may be
useful as matter of record. Here it is:
Counties Holman. Cravens
Dearborn. Observation-Disclosures. SO .
Decatur % 9
Franklin Observation-Disclosures. 80
Jefferson Observation-Disclosures. Fl
OnlO.
Ripley. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 20
Switzerland ............ 2 ID
Union. -...----........-..-..-... S 8
Total. so