The Indianapolis journal., 1888-01-07
TOOK WHAT THEY COULD GET
The Democrats Make No Fight in the
Joint Convention of Municipal Bodies.
resentation on the Boards-Mr. Hicklin
Praises Sim Coy as Party Manager.

with the one held two years ago, when the Demo
Gratis. on the strength of the Republicans hav-
ing but majority. threatened to block all
business if John Rail was not elected President.
1t is at best an empty honor, but gives a cer-
tain political advantage in decisions, to points
of order and the like. The Democrats wanted
it badly and the Republicans succumbed al
though they had both law and custom their
side in continuing the Mayor in that position.
Last evening. the majority against them being
decisive, the Democrats made nothing but
formal effort in contesting the Mayors
right to preside as permanent president.
of the convention. They had nothing to say,
except at rare intervals, and then only n a
weakness of spirit that suggested an indlffer-
to how the majority should manage the
affair. When Councilman ThaImau moved that
Mayor Denny be the permanent president of the
convention, nobody seemed desrous of put
Nng in an opposition candidate until
Councilman Kelly moved to substitute
in the motion the name of John Rail-
This made necessary an election by ballot, the
withdrawal Of The motion and the nomination of
the candidates. The Mayor received nineteen
to Rails eleven votes, and was declared the per-
manent president by Alderman Wright, who
presided temporarily.
very uttle was SAID oy the Mayor on taxing
the chair beyond the statement that he did not
seek the place. and was only there in accordance
with law. With this he announced that the pur-
pose of the convention was to choose the three
city boards improvements hospital and dis
pensary, respectively. but before this matter
came up the convention selected by unanimous
vote. as it's secretary, John W. Bowlus, the city
clerk. The board of public improvements, as
all ed hv tha
Clelland, W. e. Wilson and w. j. Parkinson.
the latter Democrat, received the
unanimous vote of the convention,
a motion to have the secretary cast it to that
effect Before it was done, however, Council
man Trusler said these men were named by the
caucus of his party, and he proposed to abide by
its decision but ne did not think it necessary to
put a Democrat on the board. He did not deem
it an act of courtesy to the Democrats. for they
had not asked for representation, and as far as
he knew they were willing to let the majority do
as it saw fit 1t is done TO please cranks and
mugwumps, to whom he was opposed making
necessary to make certain compromises. but no
cause for them existed now, and he would vote
for the board named under protest
Councilman Kelly did not think that he would
find occasion to speak about the matter of repre-
sentation. The Democrats had not asked for it,
but he did not say what would have occurred
had they been excluded from city boards. IF
the majority saw fit to deny them places he
would be satisfied.
Alderman ConuelI was like Councilman Trus-
Ter. He would vote for the caucus nominees.
and follow its ruling in regard to allowing the
Democrats a representation on each of the
boards, but saw no good that could ever come
party. The Republicans, he thought, were do
ing an injustice to themselves. He opposed
from a matter of principle permitting the DEM
ocrats to have ANYTHING. In their party he had
many personal friends whom esteemed but
when it came to politics he their enemy.
Councilman Hicklin is liable to become the
leader of the Democrats in the Council. as his
party colleagues expected him to do most of the
talking for them last night. His side of the
Council, he said, had held no caucus did it
have any ticket to put in the field. The Demo-
Gratis relied on the fact that the Republicans had
such a majority to enable them to do they
pleased. All he and his party associates asked
was that the Republicans would recognize them
now and then Democrats who were doing bus
in ess at the old stand. He did not know what
Republicans were in the custom of doing in
such matters, but when his party caucuses de-
cded on doing certain things, he always abided
by the decision without question complaint.
The protests entered by Councilman Tuser
standing of the caucus, which in deciding to
give the Democrats representation the
boards granted those opposed to that action the
privilege Of explaining their votes in the Joint
convention. After this the other two boards
were voted as was the first by the secretary
casting the ballot for the convention. The hos
pital board consists of Henry L. Smith, VIM E.
Davis and John OConnor. the latter Demo
crat, while that on dispensary is made up of
Edward Dunn, Wm T. Long and Thomas Mar
key, the last named represe nting the Demo
Gratis.
Councilman Swain said that the fact that he
was not appointed either the fire or natural
gas committees after be had introduced the reso-
lutions providing for them. called for personal
explanation from him, some criticism had
been made relative to the matter. He did not
write the resolutions The Mayor did, and re-
quested him introduce them. It was under
stood between them that he was not to be a
member Of either committee. The Mayor
roborated the councilman and the convention
adjourned.
A Democratic Councilman Praises Coy.
Immediately after the joint convention. the
call therefor having been arranged during its
session, the Council had specialc meeting to
act on the finance committees report
cerning the contract between the Police Com
missoners and the Central Union Telephone
Company to establish a police patrol telephone
system. The report was approved, and the
Council proceeded to complete it's organization
by electiog a vice-president. Councilman
Thalman named for that position
inclined to resist it, but Councilman
Hicklin. without consulting his Democratic
colleagues. said that as there had been
signs of hberality on the part of the Republic
ans, he proposed without caucus action to ask
them to vote for Simeon Coy for vice president
of the Council He lauded Coy as frst-class
party manager, and one that the Republicans
might obtain If they treated him rightly.
Councilman Thalmau said that while Mr..
Coy was a sociabls fellow the Republicans did
not want him organizer, in light of the
events of the past year Tie Democrats did not
wish this use of Coy's name, and Councilman
Stuckmeyer relieved their embarrassment by
saying, Il hope Mr.. Hicklin will withdraw that
He complied with the request,
and Councilman Pearson elected by accla-
nation.
Charitable Work of German Ladies'.
The annual meeting of the German Ladies'
Aid Society was held yesterday afternoon. and
the reports of the officers showed that it had
been very active in the cause of charities dur
ing the year. The roll showed q total of three
hundred members gain of nearly fifty since