The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-13
A FIGHT FOR LEADERSHIP
Governor Gray's Ambitious Move Sure
to Cause Trouble in the Party.
How the Voorhees, and Mcdonald Factions
Look Upon His Candidacy-A Discreetly
Brief Meeting Of Democratic Editors.

With ali its spiritednesss and seeming unan-
unity the Democratic gathering of Wednesday
has wide ned the breach between the Mcdonald
voorhees, faction and that following Governor
Gray. The first delegates lad hardly registered
their names at the hotels before Harry Smith,
n a. Francis and others of Gray's 1ieutenants
began their work towards having Gray Endorsed
for the vice presidency. They were assisted
byM d. Fansler Of Logansport who had
active part in defeating Mr.. Mcdonald in
the Democratic last winter and
since then has been active
supporter Of the Governor in all his political
aspirations Fanser was the committee on
resolutions, and the Tenth district delegates
say they instructed him to oppose any formal
Endorsement of Gray; but the committee, it is
claimed. was thoroughly instructed in the Gov
ernor's interests and beat down the antagonism
of Frank B. Burke. OF Floyd, r. C. Bell, of AL
len, and Thomas r. Cobb, of Knox. Charles
Kilgore, of Delaware, went into the committees
meeting favoring Endorsement. but came out
an anti-Gray man. There were two influences
represented by Col John S. Williams
and Chester r. Faulkner back of this opposi-
tion, or rather one absorbing the other. These
gentlemen came here to keep Indiana Democrats
from committing themselves as to the vice pres
idency. ostensibly in the interest of Black, but
Democracy. The Gray men recognized this. and,
relying on the majority they knew they had
threw down the gauntlet. Senator Voorhees,
adherents, when the resolution came to the
vention foresaw their defeat, and rather
than preeipitate then let
the indorse ments go through with only silent
protest. As the managers of the convention
began TO develop their scheme the friends of
the Senator and Mr.. Mcdonald saw what a trap
they had been led into on plea that the con-
ference was merely to arouse the party for the
campaign, and put before it's representatives a
plan for organizing clubs. The sole purpose
they now charge was to place Gray irrevocably
in the field as the Democratic leader of Indiana,
and to urge his nomination Vice president
But directly after the convention adjourned,
sevepty-two chairmen OF county central
mittees fell into the hands of James III. Rice,
I chairman Of the State central committee, who
called them together to ostensibly consider the
plan adopted for club organization Colonel
Rice however, was charged with another mis-
zion, concerning which he talked an hour, and
his friends say it the speech of his life.
Ore of them remarked yesterday that cit has
been said that Rice would not make a
good candidate for Governor because
he could not make a speech. He can longer
be put aside on that account, for when he began
trail committee needed to make its management
of the campaign and party affairs perfect,
the majority was against him. Before he had
completed his seeech the majority were with
him. His object in this was to prepare
the Democratic county chairmen for what
the State central committee intends do at
its next meeting. The plan he submitted after
he had said good word two for the club
system, contemplates making the chairman of
the State central committee the arbiter of all
local differences aud controversies. the
preme director of the campaign and the abso-
lutte boss of the party. Democrat a little
more farseeing than the suggested that
lnder such direction it would be best to
Abolish the State central committee altogether,
rs nothing was left for il to 40 but
20 come together whenever the chairman saw
1t. This plan endows him with ell power, not
pnly relative to the State organization, bnt in
regard TO those in the districts and counties
The ring in the central committee who concoct-
d the plan had it's strongest argument in re-
iewing the difficulties the party experienced in
1856 with the discussions in the Third Seventh
and Twelfth congressional districts mo cen
trail power could settle Them" said the promoters
of the scheme, ''and as the local factions would
not come to an understanding. The internal
troubles continue until this day"
II is expected that the local dssens ons this
year will be widespread. especially since Gray's
Endorsement has brought him into direct con-
hict with the old leaders of the party. The
Governors ascendency, of course, means the |
nomination OF his followers for Congress- and |
the State and county offices. Mcdonald and |
Voorhees, adherents do not propose to carry the
submissiveness they showed Wednesday into |
the primaries and nominating conventions. Con- |
servative Democrats see the coming of innumer- |
able contentious and broils as it explained |
to the county chairmen. hence the necessity for |
some rbiter to keep the iDharmonious elements |
from wrecking the party in the State this fall |
But the antagonism TO Gray has gone just far |
enough to indicate a fierce struggle to possess |
this power of arbitration with which the chair |
man OF the State central committee is to be |
dowed, il that body adopts the plan, which it no
doubt will If Gray places his man in as char
man it will complete his victory and de-
stroy forever the party rule of McDon-
aid and Voorhees,. If the latter sue
coed, and it is probable they will, for the |
plan of reorganization has been arranged
co that end, Governor Gray will not be the
nominee for the vice presidency. for, in decid-
ing whatever controversies likely to
arise between the factions. the chairman and
his committee of advisers, If one is adopted,
will be expected to overthrow the county and
ongressional nominees of the Gray faction.
AS the State will probably be held before the
national convention, the central committee, if
1t is selected in tho interest of voorhees, and
Mcdonald, will see Co it that the organization
and delegates shall be adverse to the Governors
ambition. The State central committee will
meet in about two weeks to complete this
scheme of revenge, on account of Grays slick
work Wednesday
The resolution indorsing voorhees, adopted at
the Tomlinson Hall rally was drawn up at the
suggestion OF Faulkner. It did not come before
the meeting until 10 o'clock and after half the
audience had left. This, too, is treasured
against the Gray men. who controlled the rally,
as they did the convention OF the afternoon.
The convention and rally" said a Democrat
from one of the southern counties, ''portend a
conflict for leadership. / am not ready to say
how far 1t will affect the campaign beyond max
Ing the Voorhees, men lukewarm, but every step
taken by either side from this on will be closely
watched 1t means danger, and I do not see
how 1t can be averted. Senator Voorhees,
friends regard the actions OF yesterday as a
sore defeat for him, are they ready to for
give and forget. The resolution indorsing Gov,
Gray hxes beyond doubt his desire to lead not
only the Indiana Democrats, bat to extend his
power beyond the State. It defines MS pur-
poses more clearly than they have before
appeared He has burned his bridges and must
take the consequences of the struggle that is to
come 1t WAS the worst defeat Senator Voor-
bees ever had. and ne realizes it. He and his
frieads are not the men to submit tamely to it
and fear the result"
IL was told to a young Democrat who believes
tnat political purity is only possible among the
leaders of his party that the Voorhees, men were