The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-24
He Thinks His Withdrawal Would Be an Act
of COwardice Which Should and Would
Bring Lasting Disgrace and Dishonor.
Mr.. Bailey Declares that the Fight Is On
and Will Continue to the End.
Mr.. Bynum's Friends Hold Meeting and Re-
solve to Scratch the Candidate Who
Will Not Help the Congressman.

"
lime allowed for an answer in DIR. Bailey's prop
Osition for his withdrawal he promptly declares
his intention to continue the fight, in the follow
Ing letter, received yesterday, written, as he
states, Immediately upon receiving information
Of the action taken by the Marion county Demo
cratic central committee
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WASHINGTON June 81, 1886. s
"a. v. Brown. ESQ.,. Secretary of the Democratic
''Sir-I have received notice through the col
umns of the press OF the adoption of resolu-
zion by the committee, declaring that neither
myself nor-Mr. Bailey was the nominee for Con-
gress in the Seventh district, and asking the
withdrawal Of both can only conjecture the
means employed and the motives which prompt
I'd the committee to adopt such resolution.
One or the other of the conventions was the
duly constituted body, and either myself or Mr..
Bailey was nominated. A resolution declaring
that Mr.. Bailey was the nominee was defeated
In the committee by a large majority; this was
full and complete vindication of my rights
cannot refrain from calling the attention Of the
committee, and especially some of its mem
bers, to the very contradictory and lu-
dicrous positions in which it and they
have placed themselves. The committee de-
elares that neither was nominated, and then ask
both to withdraw. If there was no nomination
there is no necessity of asking any one to with
draw Again. those who have been loudest in
their declarations that Mr. Bailey was regularly
nominated. who deliberately signed and pub
lished statement to that effect, within the short
space of week officially place the seal of
domination upon their own professions and re-
solve that such was not the fact Thirtyfve
members of the committee supported the resolu
ton declaring Mr.. Bailey the nominee. and when
the same was defeated, by large majority, in
stautly "about-faced," and as earnestly voted
for resolution which as solemnly decl AIRED that
he was not the nominee. What commentary
upon consistency, truth and manlness! If such
. display of political wisdom and leadership is to
characterize the future actions of the committee,
or aiority of it, what may we anticipate as the
result of the election in Marion county this falll
So far as Mr. Bailey is concerned, If he is will
Ing these gentlemen may play shuttie-cock
Rud battledore with his name so long they wish.
They may have him play candidate to-day and
brush him aside tomorrow, and repeat the per-
Torrance as it pleases their fancy; but when
they seek to couple my name with his. and thus
EAST cloud upon my title, by associating it with
q bogus and fraudulent claim, they shall en-
counter all the opposition can command, and
shall DO subjected to the scorn and contempt of
all fair minded persons l have been an active
member of the Democratic party all my life:
have been familiar with its organization and
government for more than twenty years, and
this is the lrst instance, to my knowledge,
where a county committee, not FIVE days old,
at its first meeting assumed to declare what had
been or had not been done by district conven-
powers, by usage, conferred upon the county
committee are: To call county conventions and
manage the county campaign. 1t is
incumbent upon the county committee
by the district and state conventions,
and any assumption that the candidates thus de.
clared are not the nominees is not only undem-
ocratic. but revolutionary. What security is
there for party organization il county commit.
tees shall arrogate to themselves the power of
1aalaTiuu null 10 Of diofr rt fota
conventions? Such conduct is treason against
the party. and calls for the decapitation of the
conspirators and their interment in the potter's
field of political Oblivion. 1t has been asserted
that the action of the committee was brought
about by some of its members who desired to
demonstrate their powers of leadership. To dis
organize requires neither talent nor ability. To
tear down is work which fools and idiots can
accomplish with greater success and rapdity
than the most skillful artifcer The Anarchist
can destroy, burn and throw dy Mantle with as
much success and precision as those whose labor
and industry have accumulated and built up, and
whose genius invented the deadly compound No
one will, apprehend, question the ability of the
committee. or majority, to lead the Dem
ocratic ticket of Marion county and perhaps
OF the district, to defeat; but the thousands
of Democrats who have for years labored to
achieve success, and have been able to realize
Che anticipation of their hopes, will not be apt
shower encomiums upon those who, to crafty
personal animosties, sacrificed the party. On
the day - of April, 1886. the Democratic con-
gressional committee of the Seventh district met
in pursuance of the call of the chairman, Mr.
Landers, and fixed the time and place of holding
the congressional convention at P. H., ON the
9th of MAY, 1886 at the Criminal Court room
in the city OF Indianapolis. In pursuance of that
cali, the delegates from the several counties met
In convention; it was duly organized, and at the
proper time ballot was taken for the nomina-
ton of candidate upon which received 75a
votes out OF 49, Having been thus regularly
nominated by the only regular and legally con-
stituted convention, / would he the most arrant
of towards to run from a field where / had
achieved signal victory over an uncompromis-
ing enemy. Up to the time of the convention,
represented my personal interests; after my
nomination. which no one honestly questions
became the representative of the party, and to
now withdraw would be to show myself I'M
worthy of the position, and confession that the
party does not possess sufficient virtue and
strength to control its organization.
Four years ago was honored with the nom
ination of the party on the legislative ticket and
labored zealously, and, think, to the satisfac-
ton of all, for complete success. The lagisla-
tive ticket was elected. and at the beginning of
the session Of the General Assembly l was
farther honored by being elected Speaker of the
House. and am not ashamed to have nv record
as such subjected to the most careful scrutiny.
Two years ago | accepted the nomination for
Cosgress when no other person seemed anxious
or willing to take the rack. AT that time the
ulbtEtct hou uCfcT Uccu CdTTltQ ny duy 0ouO-
cratic candidate, and the result seemed exceed
ingly doubtful, in view of the fact that the
national campaign would arouse every energy
of the Republican party l was elected by
a majority of l,245, having run more
than two hundred ahead of the
national ticket in Marion county. Since Con-
gress assembled have been faithfully at my
post of duty, laboring to the best of mr. ability
to truly represent the best interests of the peo-
nle, In view of this record, in Marion county,
hs action of the committee, know. does not re-
fleet the sentiment of the party. If there was
single valid objection to my record; If had
failed to faithfully and honestly represent my
constituents. or had, in any manner, proved re-
creant to the high responsibilities intrusted to
me; il the opposition to me, which has been as
malicious as it has been unjust. sprung from
any other source than spirit of jealousy and
disappointment l should, II requested by
number of respectable Democrats, rather than
hazard the success Of the principles for which