The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-04
BAILEY.s ANSWER TO BYNuM.

BAILEY'S ANSWER TO BYNUM.
The Congressman's Proposition Declined, and
One Submitted for His Acceptance.
After great deal of consultation, comforting
and advising on the part of Mr. Bailey and his
friends, for the past two days, mis- reply to Mr.
Bynums proposition was made ready for the
press last night. But this completion of the
work did not occur until the original draft had
been passed upon by William H. English, John
w. Kern aud John p Frenzel. They met Mr.
Bailey in the first-named gentleman's Office last
evening, and were two hours or more ged in
curtailingsa paragraph here, shaping a phrase
there, and throughout looking for expressions
that might carry damage to the canse. The
following is the reply as it was sent to Mr. Hen
dersor:
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Aug. 2, 1886.
ITO hon. Adoph Seidensticker. Hon. John j. Cooper
and Dr. A. j. Thomas. indianapolis, Ind
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to Experimentation
OF yesterday, | would respectfully say: / agree
with you entirely in the opinion that the con-
gressiona controversy in this district ought to be
speedily settled. 1t is not my fault that it was
not terminated long ago. On June Is / published
letter Offering to withdraw from the canvass if
Mr. Bynum would do likewise, thus proposing to
remove every impediment to Democratic sue
cess, but this eminently fair proposition Mr..
Bynum promptly rejected, and said that
when the county central committee attempted to
cast cloud upon his title they should be sub
jected to the scorn and contempt of all fair
minded persons Subsequently, when the Me-
ridian Hendricks Club earnestly recommended
the withdrawal of both candidates, Mr. Bynum
replied in the same defiant spirit saying that the
request of 'one in thousand was not sufficient
toscause him to change his mind, and declared
that he only wished to emphasize the fact that
be could neither be bought coaxed or fright
ened off the track. Coercion cropped out
of every sentence; not one word did
Citation or compromise. No one knows better
than you very gentlemen, of the heart burn
ing attempt that was made, by sef-consti-
tuted committee of Mr. Bynum's leaders, to
county in the controversy, and this too, when
there was not the slightest division in relation
to the county ticket.
ION July 20 I again repeated my offer to
withdraw if Mr. Bynum would do likewise, add
Ing thereto three other methods of terminating
our differences, namely: A new convention,
popular primary election, OF the reassembling of
the old delegates under the temporary chair
manship of the next State central committeeman
from this district. All these offers have been
treated with similar indifference and neglect.
Mr. Bynum, in the copy of his letter trans
mitted to me says This submission of the
question is voluntary upon my part and is in no
sense an acknowledgment of the right of the
committee, of its own voltion, to decide or refer
the matter for decision According to this the
power exercised by the committee would be
merely conferred one. You gentlemen, acting
under authority, however, state that
it would undoubtedly raise heart burn
ings to submit the whole question to
bur1ings to permit new convention
to determine our differences; that it would
have similar effect upon that vital organ to al
low the old convention, reassemb;ed, to dispose
of the controversy. This / stoutly deny. Ger
tainly sufficient power for the adoption of any
one of these popular methods might be conferred,
and az easily so as it could be upon the State
central committee, the Seventh-district member
of which, Jackson Landers, was the chief cause
of the disruption.
by your committee is: Which of the two, you or
Mr.. Bynum, is the regular nominee for Congress
in this district You insist that the committee
must per force, conclude that 'Bynum is the reg
ular nominee or that Bailey is the regular nom
inee,' even if the facts (which / do not admit
should indicate that neither was the regular
nominee.
You do not propose to submit the broad and
all important matter to the arbiters to determine
what is best to be done to secure the success of
the Democratic party in this district, but mere
technical question, the solution Of which can
never materially change divided public opinion
and might in no degree contribute to the proba-
bilities of success.
with which you would circumscribe your pro-
p..sAd body of arbiters, but not for the purpose,
at this time of discussing the genuineness of our
respective claims. The question ofinterest to the
Democratic party is not personal TO Mr. Bynum
or myself. 1t is of little consequence to it
whether ris.er sI;.sooeeds oS fais but is matter
of interest that Democrat should be elected in
this district; and thatis the paramount subject
that must be considered. The tribunal'to which
this controversy is to be referred should not, and
If my consent be necessary, will not, be confined
in their deliberations to a personal matter be-
tween the two contestants 1t should have COM
plete and penary power to do anything and
every thing which appears essential to the party
supremacy in this district.
1.-THE isolated proposition which you present
must be extended to meet the popular demands
and needs of the hour. am anxious that when
a settlement be made, it be done on basis su6i-
GENTLY broad to give Hbsolute satisfaction to the
entire party, including any factional elements
which may exist therein. You must know that
the plan you suggest, whether purposely so or
not, gives no evidence of having been framed
under the junGence of the solely important ques-
ton: WHAT is best for the success of the Dem
ocratic party in this district
In addition to the several propositions which
/ have here made, any one of which, with
mr. Bynum's consent, would have speedily
settled our difficulties long ago, | now add the
following:
'sIf Mr. Bynum will Join me in clothing any
fair aad disinterested tribunal with full and am
pie power to consider the congressional complica-
tions OF this district, without condition or mita-
ton, and will consent to their consideration of
the whole subject-dong what under all the cir
cumstances would be best for the Democratic
party, and would most tend to re establish
ment of absolute harmony within its ranks and
success AT the polls, he will be met by me prompt
IL and cordially.
land to that end name Hon. w. H. English,
Hon. John P. Frenzel and Hon. John w Kern
equal in number to your own committee-upon
whom confer full authority to act for me in the
arrangement of all details, whenever NJ. Bynum
shall have definitely accepted this proposition,
and agreed to abide by any decision which the
tribunal agreed upon may make.
Very respectfully
LEON o. BAILEY"
TrSa nj tho fyi4v noM