The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-28
a DOIsTEROUs BODY.

a DOIsTEROUs BODY.
The Anti-Bynnm Delegates, After Much Up
roar, Withdraw from tho Convention.
A more disgracefuly boisterous ard dsorderly
body of men than the delegates who composed
the Democratic congressional convention, held
n the Criminal Court room, yesterday afternoon,
never~> assembled for peaceable purpose For
fully two hours the room in which the conven-
ton was held was veritabls scene OF pande-
uproarous had the gathering been composed of
an equal number of yelling maniacs, and there
could certainly not have been much more con-
fusion and disorder.
For fully an hour before the time fixed for the
convention to meet the corridors of the court
house were crowded, and surging, closely
packed throng of men. held in line by the walls
and stairway raiings, stood waiting for the
doors of the Criminal Court room to open. Sew
eral attempts were made to force open the en-
frances, and the police had much difficulty in
keeping the crowd outside until the doors were
finally, fifteen minutes after the appointed hour,
thrown open for their admittance.
1t was ten minutes before o'clock when
Jackson Landers chairman of the congressional
committee, attempted to quiet the confusion in
the room and formally call the convention to
order Immediately, John W. Kern claimed
recognition, and, addressing the convention,
said that it was apparent to all that the dele
gates could not be accommodated in the Grim
inal Court room, and moved that the convention
adjourn at once to either English's Opera house
or the Grand Opera. house. The proposition
was greeted with cries OF mo! Mol" The point
of order was raised by George w. Hamm. of
Hancock county, that no body had the power of
adjournment until it was organized. DR.. Met
calf, of this city, as point of order,
insisted that the motion to adjourn
should not be debated. Judge Glessner
of Shelbyville, moved to lay the motion to ad-
journ on the table. Chairman Landers. how
ever, without submitting any Of the questions to
vote ruled that ''thers was no convention to
adjourn which was received with Kisses from
the antiBynum men and yells Of applause from
the Bynum men. The uproar continued for
fully three minutes, Landers looking on with a
smile, and making effort TO quiet the disorder.
When finally he was able to make himself heard
he said that the object of the convention was to
nominate candidate for Congress, and expressed
the hope that. notwithstanding all the bad blood
engendered by the contest between the friends
of the candidates, the delegates would try to get
along peaceably. A call Of tho counties was
made, and the delegates were all reported pres
emit, the chairman Of the Madison delegation an
nouncng that double the required number had
been selected from that county, but that each
delegate represented only half vote.
When Chairman Jlanders announced that the
election of a presiding officer was in order, Jo-
ssph L. Carson, of Shelby county, promptly pro
posed L. J. Hackney for the position, and the
Bynum men boistrously applauded, causing Win
E. English to excitedly exclain. will you al
low somebody else to be named" and G. G..
Offut, of Hancock county was proposed by him
for tbs craftsmanship. Mr. Hamm, of Han
cock county, seconded the nomination of
Hackney. and Dr. Metcalf, of this city.
seconded Offuts nomination. Frank Creelman.
claiming to speak in behalf of Marion county,
joined in the Endorsement of Hackney. John
W. Kern raised the point of order that Creel-
man was not delegate to the convention, but
no attention was given to the statement, and the
call of the townships on the vote for the two
candidates was begun amid uproarious cries for
both Ofut and Hackney. When the Second ward,
in the call Of the Marion county delegations was
reached the trouble begun. Dormau Davidson
announced the vote of the ward in which
Bynum resides for Offut and Frank Creelman,
a contesting delegate, declared that Davidson
had no right to vote, as he was the delegate,
and was for Hackney. Davidson. standing on
chair, held up his credentials in
his hand and excitedly protested
against any further annoyance from
wards delegate. A boisterous wrange over the
matter followed Will e. English raised the
point of order that the delegate holding cre-
dentials from the county committee was the one
who had prima eacie evidence Of q right to the
seat, and should therefore, be recognized.
This drew from the Bynum men deafening
chorus Of Kisses and cries of Rats" Continu-
ing, Mr.. English said that the delegate might
be unseated afterwards, but until the matter
was passed upon by the properly appointed COM
mittee, his credentials gave him the right to
vote until this was Done More Kisses and cries
of "Rats!' Mr. Hamm, of Hancock county,
claimed that the credentials entitled to recogni-
ton were those signed by the chairman of the
meeting which selected the delegates.
John W. Kern-The meetings were held upon
the order of the county committee, and the sec
retary Of the county committee Is the one who
has the power to issue the credentials to dele
gates to be recognized by this convention.
A delegate-That's not so.
Mr. Kern-I am much obliged to you. sir.
The county committee fixed the time and place
of holding the primaries interrupted by Kisses
and clamor] I'm pretty good Democrat. and
feel that ought to have the right to talk 3
little while
A delegate-What was the committeeman
elected for?
Kern continuing-Having called the conven-
ton, the county central committee must be rec
ognized as the properly constituted authority
for issuing credentials to delegates. Kisses
and cries of Rats l say to you, men
of this convention. that it is pos
sible for you to drive loyal Dem
ocrats too far. / have never done anything
to merit indecent treatment from gathering Of
Democrats More Kisses and cries OF Rats y
| want to say to you now that ii the support OF
myself and my friends is not desired by any
candidate want to know it.
Chairman Lauders-Mr Kern this Ia no slime