The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-13
A TAME CONVENTION.


A TAME CONVENTION.
Nearly All of the Candidates Nominated or
the First Ballot.
The Democratic county convention yester-
aay was decidedly tame and uninterest
hg. There was nothing more remarkable
b its character than the striking con
tsast between it and the recent congress
siOnal convention in this district. Less than
half the space in the City Hall was occupied, and
there was little enshusiasm. The nominations
were made in a careless, hopeless way, and there
was 80 little spirit in the contests between the
candidates that the nominees were all named on
the first ballot. with the exception of three or
feur, who were nominated on second ballot.
Much confusion and disorder prevailed during
She proceedings, owing to q disposition among
The delegates to talk among themselves and
smoke, to the neglect of the business of the con-
vention.
It was 1890 o'clock when Chairman Coy rap
yed with his slender stork headed cane for order,
and at that time only about one-half the seats
On the first floor were occupied. The stage, how
ever was crowded, nearly as many Republicans
occupying seats upon it as Democrats. Austin
H. Brown was proposed by delegate for chair
man of the convention. and Mr.. Coy quickly put
She motion to vote, declaring Mr. Brown elected
without calling for the nays Mr.. Brown came
forward to the presiding officers chair
from q seat on the stage, and re-
marked that he would make no attempt
TO infiict a speech upon the convention" and
stated that business would at once be begun.
The organization was completed by the election
Of Richard o. Johnson, W. F. A. Bernhamer,
W. A. Peelle and Peter Gall as secretaries.
A committee on credentials was appointed on
. motion by Will E. English, consisting of Thos.
Cottrell John Carbon, VIM. Sproule, DR.. Lock
ridge and Martin Anderson. A committee on
resolutions consisting of John A. Holman, W.
W. Spencer, DIR. NJ H. Field. Otto Frenzel and
DR. G. N. Metcalf was also appointed.
While the committee were withdrawing from
The room delegate moved that the nomination
Of the legislative ticket should be postponed four
weeks, when the delegates composing this con-
vention should meet and name the candidates.
The sentiment of the convention was apparently
about evenly divided on the proposition. The
Chair was unable to decide the vote q mo-
tiOn to table, and the roll was called, result
ing, as the chairman announced in the
proposition being tabled by majority of over
ninety, not counting the votes of the contesting
delegates. While the secretaries were counting
che votes row occurred in the Twenty first
ward delegation. One of the delegates claimed
that man who had no right to a vote in the
convention, was trying to take his seat. The
alleged usurper refused to give up his place on
the delegation, and violently threatened to an
Rihilate the complaining delegate, who, al
though advised by the chairman to retain his
seat, allowed himself to be intimidated, and
Was kept out of the delegation.
TO save time the chairman decided that names
should be presented, without comment, for the
different nominations. while the convention was
waiting for the report of the committee on cre-
dentials. The wards were called and the names
of candidates Were presented, as follows: For
elerk-Charles W. Bridges, Second ward; John
T. Sullivan, Eighth and John a Lang, Twenty
fourth. For sheriff-George Carter, Ninth;
Twenty-hrst. For auditor-Simon Schmalholz,
First; John Ostormau. Second, and Thomas
Taggart, Fifteenth, For treasurer-John Oster-
man, Fifth, and Sample Loftin, Wayne town
ship. For recorders. L. Morrow, Twenty
fret; John l.. F. Steeg. Twenty. second Chris
tisn Brink, Twenty fourth. 1t was decided at
this point, upon the motion of t. p
Harlan, to suspend the call of wards for names,
and to proceed to the baloting. the committee on
credentials having presented its report, recon-
p@s';~ p"lc'"- Herman Habch. G.. d. Hall, O.
B. Hord, George Werbe, T. B. Messick, w. b.
Walls and J. E. Ball as delegates, and E. Deitch
and S. e. Perkins as committeeman. During
the call for the presentation of candidates fo-
nomination for auditor, the chair "a. .he
ia.tar fro,n Simon g.. :. To the convention a
..Esa,;no o'''0 ,enmalholz, in which he said:
e. : sense of gratitude toward my many
..nds who have coupled my name with the of
fee of county auditor in the coming Canvass /
here with tender my hearty thanks. and most re-
spectfnlly decline the proffered honor of nomna-
ton for that or any other position on the county
ticket about to be placed in the field, hoping
that the material already in hand may prove of
sufficient weight and merit to carry that victory
necessary to success in the final issue. The
chairman Of the Fifth ward delegation protested
against the presentation OF Mr. Ostermans
name for the nomination for treasurer, stating
that he had made the canvass for auditor and
desired no other place on the ticket Judge
Holman replied that the convention had right
10 select Mr.. Osterman as the candidate for
treasurer if it desired to- and the objection OF
bis friends was urged no further.
The ballot for the nomination for clerk pro
eeeded with little manifestation of interest or
enthusiasm, as ii was evident that Sullivan had
an overwhelming majority. The ballot showed
that he had received 33l votes, against l02 for
Charles w Bridges, and 58 for John A. Lang.
Mr. Sullivan having received 40 moro votes than
the required majority. his nomination was on a
motion by Captain Madden, seconded by MIR
Bridges made unanimous.
A little more interest was manifested in the
ballotng for the nomination for sheriff, anc
when it became apparent that King was in the
lead his friends became somewhat demonstrative
The announcement that he had received "a.
votes against ISL for Carter and 14l for johnson
was loudly cheered. He gained from both of thu
other candidates on the second ballot, receiving
90 votes against 156 for Carter and ll6 fol-
johnson. His nomination was enthusiastically
applauded, and was made unanimous by the con
yention. The spectators evidently had little in
terest in the subsequent proceedings, as at th
point about one-half of those on the stage and IL
The galleries withdrew.
The ballot for auditor was overwhelmingl,
enc sided that it had no interest, Taggart receiv
ing $50 votes against 60 for Osterman.
Before the beginning of the ballot for tn
nomination for treasurer delegate pro
posed that Sample Loftin should be unan
;mo ssly declared the nominee. but Their