The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-24
Candidate Bailey Will Fight.

l
| Yesterday afternoon Journal reporter called
upon Leon O. Bailey. the other Democratic nom
| inee for Congress from this district, and asked
him what he thought of Mr.. Bynum's letter.
| Mr. Bailey had not seen the letter, and the re-
| porter had the pleasure of irtoning it to him,
putting the emphasis with nice discrimination
| where Mr.. Bynum evidently intended it should
be placed. Mr.. Bailey, at first, expressed him
self as having nothing whatever to say, but in
| quired ITO whom is that Addressed Oh, yes, l
see, to Arthur V. Brown, secretary of the CEN
| trail committee. WE'LL" continued Mr.. Bailey,
''the issue seems to be entirely made up. 1t is
very certain that Mr. Bynum does not begin to
| comprehend either the extent depth Of the op-
position against him, if he does, he is ALSO
lutely void of any interest in Democratic sue
cess His criticism, it seems to me, is made
| from technical standpoint, rather than from
that of patriotic member of party. It is true,
| that IL neither Of us was fairly nominated
neither could be so withdrawn, yet he is pretend
| ing to hold the nomination and claim to be
| nominated. But it seems that it is perfectly
| proper that the county committee should have
| the right to pass a resolution requesting the
| withdrawal of both candidates. The committee
do not demand, but request the withdrawal, in
the interest of harmony He is building up an
argument upon foundation that is wholly i'm
| aginary
| cit is very certain that the first Endorsement
| from county committee came from Shelby
| county. He was Endorsed by his earnest sup
| porters there. / have not heard Of Mr. Bynum
| writing to that committee any letter claiming
| that its members 'usurped' power that did not
| belong to them.
''He claims that he received ISL votes out of
| 49, In former communication he explained
| that that vote arose from the passage Of
motion in the convention that any delegate pres
| ent representing ward or township should cast
| the whole vote of the ward or township. very
| small minority of convention might cast such
a vote and, great wonder to me is that Mr..
| Bynum and his friends, manifesting the greed
they have formerly shown. did not cast the
| whole 1l9 votes for him. If they have the right
| to cast for number of absentees, why didn't
| they cast them for alll
'Mr. Bynum's biography here"-pointing to
| part of the letter-"is very well written. The
biographer is a little partial to his subject,
| though. He assumes an undue amount of credit
| in claiming that he carried the district in 1884
One might be led to think that his name upon
| the ticket was the only force that brought about
that rather remarkable victory, whereas the
whole ticket was elected with vote averaging
about the same as his own. 1, myself, ran ahead
of Mr.. Bynum some few votes, Notwithstanding
his Office was greatly more important one than
mine. and one to which, il candidate had
strength votes would be added.
Another thing has seemed unusual to me in
this whole contest, from beginning to end, and
that is, that a man. recently coming into our
| midst, with every possible favor heaped upon
him, and that, too, without his first having won
it by merit or party service. should have made
80 many enemies and conducted himself in
manner 80 Objectionable that denomination
which, under ordinary ruling and courtesy
IL. 1~l1t = Al g.
would indicate there is something wrong some
where There is an opposition against him so
bitter that he would be defeated if he were in
the field by himself, would say, taking the
whole district by from three to five thousand
voters. That the dissatisfaction toward Mr.
Bynum is widespread is shown by the fact that
every Democratic paper in the district with the
single exception of the Times, of Shelbyville, is
for the withdrawal of both candidates
eff Mr.. Bynum feels that he has been fully
indicated by the congressional convention and
his past course in this district justified am sat
isfied that he is easily pleased. The final vindi-
cation will doubtless not be so satisfactory. He
comedies that his presence in the field will en-
danger and probably divide his party, yet
| through some false idea that his selfrespect
| and honor might suffer. he is willing to plunge
on even to the absolute destruction of those
| Democratic principles which he affects to so
| dearly cherish
81 am satisfied that the county committee in
| passing the resolutions that they did, meant no
personal reflection upon either Mr.. Bynum or
| myself, but were acting in absolute good faith,
| taking AS they believed, proper step in the
| line of Democratic harmony, and am very GER
tain that the construction which MIR. Bynum
| places upon their conduct is false and unfair
| There is no disposition on the part of the COM
mittee to prostitute themselves engage in any
| dscreditable or dishonorable work. and certainly
| opposing Mr.. Bynum cannot be so considered
1t is an insult toa large and representative body
| of men-indeed, the only DemQ6ratic party ma
nIs >f hfn~ IsnAI
| ity-and is unbecoming in Mr. Bynum, especially,
as their representative in Congress. If Mr.. By
mum feels delicacy about withdra wing because
of any love which the party or its members may
entertain for him, or for fear that he might in
jure their feelings am satifed that he does not
estimate their present feelings correctly 1t
| ought to be perfectly apparent to any fair.
minded man in this district that, at present 80
per cent. of the party Is in favor of the with
drawal of both Mr.. Bynum and myself believing
that to be the best course out of our present
complication. If Mr. Bynum, however, feels
that he can shield himself against that strong
bubbles and glittering generallties with
glowing narration of what he has
done for the party, himself thrown in.
he will find himself greatly mistaken on the day
Of election. The Democratic party may have
favorites among its members, but it loves no
man much as it loves the vindicatlon and es-
adjustment of its own principles.
my proposition of withdrawal implies the
withdrawal of Mr.. Bynum. and If his letter,
which is published. is fnality, the issues are
made I'D and the fight will go on to the end.
am perfectly willing to rest my case and the po-
sition my friends and myself have taken in
this entire rather unfortunate affair with the
voters Of this district
when the people become fairly educated
upon the facts in the contest from its incipiency
between Mr. Bynum and myself. to the time
| that offered to withdraw for the sake of har-
mony, and he refused. owing to personal pride,
they will be more largely with our side than they
| now are. In Marion county / am satisfied the
| Democrats are against Mr.. Bynum nine to one
Taken as whole. am compelled to say Mr..
| Bynum. by his letter, has placed himself in
position much more unenviable than he can
| know. AS prop to his absurd claim that be
was regularly nominated, it strikes me as being