The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-25
Matson Has Advanced His Chances. but Yet
There Is So Much Uncertainty No One
Will Make Confident Assertions
SulliVan's Efforts to Become National
Delegate Are Breeding Trouble.
With the Shifting and Conflicting of Schemes
Centering Around Gray, Candidates Are
in COnfusion-The Contests Phases.


The Shifting of Candidates in Making AiIi-
and schemes.
While there were only few delegates to the
Democratic convention in the city yesterday
afternoon, enough could be ascertained from them
to show that Matson had slightly the call. Yet
there remained evidence that the contest be-
tween him aud Myers was maintained with
equal conditions, and that matter what
either party might claim. the race would proba-
bly, be continued down the home stretch neck
and neck. The Matson coloring observable in
the groups about the hotels was due to the pres
ence of Gray men, nearly all of whom expressed
preference for the Putnam county colonel
This was sufficient to prove the expressions Of
observers the night before that Gray had
changed his tactics and left Myers. whom he
had been supporting, in the lurch. But the
Myers men were not in position to
antagonize the Governor for this act
of treachery, and what reference they made
to it was with something of mild
apology. Gray has ends to achieve and he is
making everything connected with the conven-
ton subservient to his purpose Both Myers
and Matson recognise this, and neither is conf
dent of how long any arrangement with the
Governor can last But Matson evidently has
ad vantage in his influence with the Washington
contingent. If there should be the least sign Of
a Gray movement again in favor of Myers the
ofice-holders from Washington would break
loose with the cry of quarter against Gray,
and try TO accomplish at the risk of violent
disorder what they after. Gray was
sh rswd enough to see that contingency two or
three days ago when Ed. Henderson and others
of Matson's Washington friends appeared
the field. From that on he began couquetting
with the Putnam county colonel, and wherever
yesterday one could see a Matson man of
influence q Gray follower would not be
far away. Their unanimity of purpose kept
coming to the surface every now and them but
in no more significant manner than in the read
mess of certain Gray men to tell how their del
egations were going. For instance, Gray has
always had strong hold on the Cass county
Democracy. and representative OF it and an
ardent admirer of the Governor said: s9Our
delegation is all for Matson, but two or three
inclined TO for Myers account OF
Judge Nielsen, who is warm admirer of the
Madison county candidate But bellows all OF
them will go to Matson." Harry Francis saws
the Porter county delegates will support Mat
without exception. Monroe county is
going in this same direction, but it holds res
ervation in regard to Gray. The delegation is
ready to surrender to the Governor. and
will oppose strongly any effort to indcEse him
for the vice presidential nomination
Monroe county is an instance of what Matson
stood, bs able to bring the delegates from that
section over to indorsing anybody except
Cleveland. He will find elsewhere similar diff s
Guilty. especially where the Washington con-
tiugent can work quietly in knitting the Gov.
ernor. OF this Gray is afraid and his sus-
picons disturb the unity that 10 necessary 20
and those of Matson thoroughly effective. Il
leaves an opening for Myers. which his man
ayers are not using, and they are doing
it with an Adrotness that promises success
They say IL would be injudicieus for Gray to
espouse the cause of either candidate. aud that
mhle bo mats tss maae on 10 ob nin
the Governor hiss gone only
far in accepting it az to refrain from any direct
efforts either for or against the two candidates.
Myers's friends appear to be satisfied, and claim
nearly 600 votes. 1t disgusts Myers's managers
more to have Dougherty's friends going to Mat
sons assistance, than does the failure of GRAY
to keep faith. This, of course, throws Munson
to Myers. and yesterday, when the success
of one was maintained, that of the other re-
H. Rice, ST Sheerin and Ed Hawkins, who
doing the work for Dougherty, ara ready 10
sacrifice anything and everything in his inter
est. They want to make the ticket and their
movements yesterday were in the direction OF
Matson and Green Smith
Smiths candidacy for Attorney general was
the disturbing factor yesterday afternoon. Up
to that time John R. Wilson had the chance
his own popularity and the combination with
of getting the nomination. but tne Matson and
Dougherty men began to talk about Smith SIS
one whom the convention would not ignore. It
caught the delegates. and Wilson's candidacy
from that on lost the frmness it possessed. But
Matson did not lose sight of Wilson. Il il
sential for the Putnam county colonel to have
him with him, but he is also anxious to hold
the favor Of Smith. Again the Myers people
showed their shrewdness in dealing with
this condition. They know they can
gain nothing by carrying Wilson or
combining with him, so they, too began to push
Smith. and. with both Matson and Myers men
for him. the Jennings county politician doomed
mp with somewhat overshadowipg prominence.
Glessner and McCabe, the other candidates for
Attorney general were passed unnoticed in the
strong probabilities of Smiths nomination. he
has been brought into the canvass by Dougher-
tys friends. ALI this time the crowd of dele
gates was being increased by new arrivais
Affairs for time would become unsettled, and
then again turn upon the conditions as they
have been described. leaving over all uncer-
tainty that nobody attempted to solve.