The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-04
READY FOR TO-DAY'S BATTLE
Last Nights Caucuses of the Warning
Factions of the Democratic Party.
The Anti-Bynumites Weaken in Their Support
of Candidate Myers, but Finally Decide
Not to Withdrawn His Name.

The congressional convention, this afternoon;
will have within it all The elements of first
class row. Neither the State central committees
action nor the congressional committees edct
for another effort of the delegates to decide by a
legal majority who is the nominee, Bynum or
the anti-Bynumites' choice; has healed the sores
Day after day the antagonism to Bynum has
been kept at fever heat by denunciatory speeches
of the factional leaders, who are willing to sup
port anyone but Bynum. This feeling was
little too literally expressed. for it impressed
some of the delegates, who voted against
Bynum and sustained Bailey, that they could
have their choice of third man if Bailey was
determined to stay out Of the contest. 1t
gave the leaders great deal of difficulty In con-
centrating their forces, and when it was accom-
plished by selecting Captain Myers break in
the ranks appeared on account of his position as
to high license and local option This feeling,
an anti-Bynumite claimed last night, did not fol-
low from the personal wish of the delegates to
oppose Myers, but because an outside pressure
had been brought to bear on them. The Ger
man Telegraph yesterday materially assisted
this disaffection by publishing the following:
"Since many who favor the candidacy of VIM.
t. Myers for Congress il this district exert
ing themselves to make out that their candidate
opposes all sumptuary laws it is duty to
state that w. r. Myers is not only not an oppo
nent OF all such laws, but very ardent sup
porter of high license, local option and prohibit
ton. In O conversation with prominent Demo
crat, Mr.. Myers expressed his views as follows
IF the Republicans declare for high license we
must overbid them. If they favor 81, 600 license
must speak for So, OOO and if they say local OPP
tion we must come out squaxely for prohibition.
'Does an opponent to sumptuary laws speak
in this manner! We have shown before to-day
that Myers is a political chameleon-today of
one color; and tomorrow of another-utterly
devoid of principle and always wishing to be on
the side of the big crowd. Like the good-il.-
nothing Hughes East, Myers has been mos
everything in his time-Repu blcan, temperance
fanatic, Greenbacker Democrat-in short,
little of everything, and as a whole, nothing.
His political reputation is of the lowest kind and
his principles so elastic that they fit every
occasion. The Germans will never take kindly
to such nomination, and the opponents of Mr..
Bynum must look around for better timber"
''There is no doubt" said one favorable to
Myers, 'but that he has talked too much; but
do not think the delegates will agree to support
any one else" However. the weak places in the
anti-Bynumite ranks became so threatening
that another caucus was held last night to make
sure of the ground on which they stood If this
OASdlL0CtlOu d41OWSO 70 AOEn uuuOtAC0Uf dS
something that would die of its own weakness,
the danger of scattered ballot right in the face Of
the enemy would always be near at hand But
another and more important element of weak
ness came up Unexpectedly during yesterday.
When the Madison county delegates came in it
was evident that Myers could not command its
solid support Bynum and his friends
the gentlemen favorable to Bailey
said one of the anti-Bynumites of the twelve
told him four and a half votes from that county
would certainly go for Bynum. This was Sc
rious and had to be overcome at any cost. So
the meeting occurred with all approaches to the
Supreme Court room carefully guarded, even
the door leading to the street being zealously
attended TO by one of the faithful
The delegates were not prompt in attendance.
They came up to late hour Chris Stein being
among the last to arrive. He had with him
friend, and asked permission to take him into
the room with him. On the Endorsement of Sam
Perkins, who stood at the front door with the
guard, permission was granted but the two had
barely reached the caucus before third man
said, THAT fellow who went up with Stein is
Bynum man."
1.-THE deuce he is" excitedly exclaimed Per
kins. "Go up and bring him out" The guard
obeyed, and the supposed enemy was asked to
retire. which he did without a protest Ii Gre
ated a futter in the meeting, the whispering
going around 'That was Bynum man." There
was cause to suspect the most faithful. for the
leaders have had proof that they were going into
the convention with an impaired strength. It
had come to their ears that delegate who had
participated in the other two meetings had gone
over to the Bynum side. It was the fufllment
Of suspicion suggested by delegate, Tuesday
evening, reading long paper against the Sc
lection by the anti Bynumite5 of any one man
for a candidate He wanted to 60 into the con-
vention without pledge.
The first order, last night, was to poll the del
egates, and a small loss appeared. 1t showed
that influences of powerful character had been
at work, for half dozen or more said they were
ready to make affidavit that they had been
offered money and place by the Bynum people.
1t was resolved that these affdavits should be
procured at once. Several speeches were deliv-
cred with intense feeling against such system
of electioneering, but all this did not reach the
main point of the danger.
About $50 o'clock Captain Myers came out of
Sim Coys place and went to the caucus. He
waited his opportunity to tell his friends that in
view of the opposition to his candidacy on &C
count of the liquor question he could rot consent
to go before the convention. 1t WAS half hour
later when Coy came out of the room hurredly
and struck at almost dog trot east Wash
ington street He was in hurry. and behind
him were waited clouds of cigar smoke, showing
that he labored under heavy breathing. His
arms had nervous, jerky motion, and his in
separable cane fourished back and forth to
add it's evidence of Sims anxiety. It was not
long before John FrenZel appeared. For some
reason he had delayed his coming, but the caucus
soon came out of its distress OF losing a candi-
date. He prevailed upon Captain Myers to
main as a contestant, and to-day, unless another
breach occurs between this and the assembling
of the convention, his name will be presented. It
was not long after this when the meeting dis
persed, each one bringing assurance that Myers
was the track to stay.
At the corner of Washington and Illinois
streets the party came across some of the Madi-
son county delegates who had not attended the
caucus. They were surrounded by half dozen
Marion county delegates. each of whom began
missionary effort his own account Said
James W. King: 1.-THE nomination of Bynum
will not settle this question. It has gone too
far for that. Do you think the people will sub
nit TO the bribery and corruption that have been
carried on in his INTEREST," No, sir; no, sir"
II tell you," said a delegate aside to the re-
porter, king is right If Bynum is nominated
l intend to vote the Republican ticket l know
of a dozan others who will do SOL eyes an