The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-15

jackson Landers Defends His Action.
Interview in Cincinnati Enquirer.
81 have had no desire to reply to any of the
criticisms made upon my rulings as the tempo
rary presiding officer of that convention, and
have up to this time declined to make any state
ment for publication, but the statement pub
lished in the Indianapolis Journal. and also in
your paper of Friday. think merits reply
from some one.
Gin the first place wish to say had taken no
active part in the congressional contest, but
stood aloof from all entanglements, and vas in
Auenced by no feeling Of favorltism, but would
have made and adhered to the same ruling as
quickly if they had defeated as nominated Mr.
Bynum The statement published by some of the
delegates to the convention is untrue in this, that
it states that there we're only twelve contests
whereas there were sixteen, the four very adroitly
omitted from the statement having been admit
ted by me and voted against the interests of Mr..
Synum. The facts are these, and in order that
they may not be controverted will give them
In detail: AS have said, there we're sixteen con-
tests-oue from the Second ward, two frem the
Ninth, two from the Eleventh, two from the
Thirteenth, two from the Sixteenth, two from
the Seventeenth, two from the Twenty third and
three from the Twenty fourth ward. Of these
received the votes in the election of chairman
Of all but two wards-the Thirteenth and Twen-
ty-third--whch excluded. Of the twelve dele
gates whose votes were contested, who voted for
permanent chairman, eight-to-wit; one from the
Second. two from the Ninth. two from the Sew
enteenth and three from the Twenty-fourth
wards-voted for Dir. Hackney the Bynum can
aidate for chairman, and four-viz.: two from
the Eleventh and two from the Sixteenth ward
voted for Dir. O6ntt, the anti-Bynum candidate.
The vote as taken in the convention was 59a for
Hackney and "a for Offutt, Madison county hav-
sng failed 70 cast half the vote to which she was
entitled. II the eight whose seats were con-
tested who voted for Hackney had been ex-
cluded he would have has hl3 votes, and If the
feur who voted for Offutt had been likewise ex-
cluded his vote would have been so, so that the
Statement that II had not received any votes
from delegates whose seats were contested the
Bynum men would have been in the minority.
was and is false The Bynum men would have
organized the convention all tho same, though
by small majority.
1.-THE claim that my determination as TO who
had the right to vote in the preliminary organi-
cation was wrong easily be settled by any
fair and reasonab BILE minded person without any
thing more than a mere statement of the facts
That il is not only the right. but the duty of the
ward committeeman to organize the primaries
in'their respective wards no one will controvert
This being an admitted fact. who is more compe-
tent to certify to the results than the commit
teemnn organizing the meeting. and whose cer
tifcate should be received over hist 1t is claimed
bnhS Tie cnAlrmhn Oh tn6 county cominittee nhu
the right to issue the credentials upon the certii
cate Of the chairman and secretaries OF the pri-
rnaries in their respective wards. Suppose two
ehairmen and secretaries should certify different
results. how could the chairman of the county
committee know which presided over the proper
and regular primary
the ward committeeman were and arc the
only persons competent to certify to the facts.
They are and were the only officials of the
party having information as to who were the
ehairmen and secretaries of the legal meetings,
and any other course would open the door to