The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-07-26
The Democratic Scheme to Get Col0red
Votes Leads to a Disgraceful Row.
Two Factions in the Convention Of Alleged In
dependent Negroes Carry the Proceedings
from the Uproarious to the Riotous.
Character and Honesty of Intentions
Are Questioned all Along the Line.
A Free Fight Occurs. In Which Revolvers Are
~Drawn-Two Leading Delegates Are Ar
rested and Others Leave in Disgust.

The Fifty or sixty eolored Democrats
who have some to indianapolis from
different parts Of the country labor
ing under the delusion that they were to sstin
motion q new political movement Of great i'm
portance. may congratulate themselves if they
all get away with their lives. There have been
conventions and conventions In Indianapolis,
but the counterpart of yesterdays session OF
the Democratic gathering has never been wit
messed. There were in the gathering a few men
OF superior intelligence and refinement, but
their influence was completely lost in the tur-
MOL created by the great majority, who were
actuated by no motive that did not
result in personal advancement The two ses-
sions yesterday were characterized by a contin-
uous uproar. and that. too. on points of COM
parativsly minor interest. and when the last ses-
sion closed last evening, at 6 o'clock, many un-
douotedly felt relieved that the day had been
passed without bloodshsd.
IL the convention has any particular business
more than to determine whether j. Milton Tur-
ner or Peter 81. Clark shall bs a leader, it did
not develop yesterday. There was but one
question before the meeting the entire day, and
that was whether Turner or Clark should tri-
umph. Turner. acting on authority from the
national Democratic committee, called the meet
Ing, and, in doing so, attached to the official call,
without being authorized to do so. the names Of
quite a number of colored Democrats in different
parts Of the country. As the instigator of the
movement. he claimed he should have the honor
OK being permanent chairman of the
convention. Unluckily for the distinguished
tool OF the Democratic national committee ne
was late In arriving, and when he reached In
dianapolis he found those whom he had looked
upon as his friends had formed a plan to take
the leadership OF the con vention from him and
put 1t into the hands Of Peter y. Clark, of Gin
cinnati. The fight against Turner vas made on
and that he had called the convention at the re-
quest OF the Democratic national committee with
the understanding that he was to be we'll paid
II MS movement was successful. Charles II. j.
Taylor, of Missouri. ex-minister TO Liberia. led
the opposition to Turner. and as far as was in
his power made the fight a personal one. Since
be came to the city he has constantly charged
Turner with every sort of dishonesty. He
said to q Journal reporter yesterday
that he had seen a telegram sent
by the secretary of the national
Democratic committee to Turner Yesterday
morning stating that a man from tie national
committee would be here with his (Turner'sl
Doodle tonight. and requesting Turner to meet
him at IL o'clock. Turner, OF course, denies
that such q telegram was received by him. but
Taylor says he can prove his assertion. What
ever truth there may be in Taylor's charges
they were used against Turner effectualiy.
The plan OF the meeting. as it was matured by
the Democratic national committee and Turner,
was that it should be called as an independent
affair. Under that euise IL was hoped to get to
the meeting many colorsd Republicans
ence regardless Of political ties. Tho call, as
sent out, called for such Q gathering, and q num-
Der OF colored men who never voted the Demo-
cratic ticket, and never expect 10. were brought
here by it Among them were fifteen colorsd
men from Philadelphia and Harrisburg. Pa.
They included Chris j. Perry, editor of the
Weekly Tribune. Pbiladelphia; j. 2. Needhan,
]. K. Jones. Stephen B. Gibson. Ferguson Bax-
ter, Con r. Hubert. Thomas Murry. Robert G.
Still. William p. Almond, David K. Chester, j.
W.. Simpson. William Harley. G.. Taylor. J. H.
Butler, and others. When the mask was re-
moved. and these men and others saw the real
nature and purpose OF the convention, they re-
fused to have anything at all to do with it, and
pearly all returned to their homes yesterday.
Those interested in the scheme to defeat
Turner began declaring early yesterday morning
that they would bolt the convention il be should,
by hook or crook, become the permanent chair
mao, and his supporters began to say they
would do the same thing in case Clark should be
selected. Early in the day it looked like Turner
was whipped, but determined to win il possible,
he rssorted to all sorts Of schemes and promises
10 RoL VOJos. II lrleuOs II Sldrk openly
charged that Turner was offering to share his
doodle with all those Gho would support him.
and, strange to say, after that charge began to
DO circulated, Turner's strength grew more rap
idly than ever. Such was the state of affairs
when the convention was called to order at 10
o'clock in the Hendricks Club rooms. Before
admittance could be obtained credentials had TO
be procured from DIR. {. N. Metcalf, secretary of
the State Board Of Health, a Coy Democrat, who
wasinvolvedi in the recentforged tally sheet trials
as A dafendant- INIT who WAS ar0uitfed ONLY
those whose Democracy could be vouched for
were furnished with credentials. There were
about fifty persons present, and seventeen Of
the delegates were from Illinois. sixteen from
Ohio, four from Indiana. aud the remainder
were scattered among several Eastern States.
The most prominent negroes present were T.
Thomas Fortune. of New York; Peter II. Clark,
Cincinnati; Chas. Fl. j. Taylor. Kansas City;
W.. Il. Scott. Of Illinois. and ]. Milton Turner.
of st. Louis. Mr.. Turner presided, and he
opened the contest by stating that he called the
convention to order in accordance with the in
structions OF the Democratic national commit
tee. he stated that the convention would 60
into executive session, aud all persons not dele
gates, with the exception of representatives of
the press. would be excluded. Mr.. Fortune OBJ
lected to the newspaper men being permitted to
remain, because he feared there might not be
harmony and be did not want the true proceed
ings TO go to the country. HIS position was not
supported, however, and the reporters were per-
mitted TO remain:
Mr.. Turner explained why the convention
had been called. and Charles Shelton. of Evans
vile. the temporary chairman. was then intro
duced and took charge of affairs. AS he was a
Clark man there was considerable opposition TO
his presiding. but he was permitted to take his
seat Clifford H. Plummer. Of Boston, repre-
eenting the Turner wing Of the convention. was
announced as the temporary secretary. After
q resolution, introduced by W. IT.. Scott, of
Cairo. III. indorsing Cleveland and Thurman
bad been passed, the convention went into a
Cratn r 1iaorNQr nvaY tha annOinfppa IS N .o-
mittee on permanent organization. After an
uproar of half an hour the committee was an
nounced. and as the temporary chairman was a
Clark man q committee favoring him was. of
course. selected. A COMMITTEES on resolutions
was also appointed. aud tho convention then sd
iourned until 2 o'clock.
The Afternoon Uproar.
It Was nearly 3 o'clock before the convention
reassembled. The door-keeper was even more
guarded than he was in the morning. lest some
traitor to the cause might slip in. AS soon as