The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-26
Mcdonald Disturbs the Situation by AS
sailing Governor Gray's Ambition.
His Strength-Green Smith, Manson and
Dougherty Add to the Row.
Electors and National Delegates Chosen
at ALI the District Meetings.
John E. Sullivan, After Bitter Fight, Finally
WithdraWs in the Interest of Harmony
arrangements for the Convention.
TROUBLES OF THE SITUATION.

TROUBLES OF TIE SITUATION.
The Disturbing Elemenss of Party Dissen-
sions that Astound the Democrats.
There has never been time when the rock
ribbed Democrat was SO much at sea as now, in
regard to personal fealty leaders of his party.
On the threshold of one of the most important
State conventions the Democracy has called
together he finds of the heroes of his political
admiration forced burn his bridges in the att
tack made upon him by one whose Democracy
dates back to the Greeley movement Joseph
E. Mcdonald, whose eminence as an Indiana
Democrat was only equaled by that of Thomas
A. Hendricks has thrown down the gauntlet,
but Gray refuses to take it up. That was the
condition, yesterday afternoon, in the midst of
all the turmoil and confusion attending the
gathering of delegates in the hotel Hobbies. The
Mcdonald misunderstanding vicious and some
what personal in its allusions-outwardly had
effect upon the Gray followers 1t may be
that their political acumen is greater
that that of their opponents, and
that they concluded to say as little as possible
about the Mcdonald attack, and to eliminate
from that little much possible anything
that would tend to increase the strife or incense
McDonads friends. On this account the casual
observer could find nothing to lead him think
otnerWlSe IMAM tnaG the Gray1tes were elbner the
most self-possessed politicians submissive
partisans that ever existed. But beneath the
surface there were COMBINATIONS of Mcdonald,
and also of Gray, as one happened to catch them
from the friends of either leader. Yet there was
no aggressive rushing into publicity with views
and predictions about the situation. Gray has
the younger Democrats with him, while the
true and tried from years before the war hold to
Mcdonald. The effect of the latters letter.
however. will bring about modification of
GrAy's tactics. 1t will serve him just as well.
and an indorsemant of his candidacy will.
in measure, equal an instruction
to the Indiana delegates to vote for him at ST
Louis. He afford to let the formaity CT in
strnctions go by the board, for the tenor of pre-
dlctions yesterday were that he would be In
doreed
He would not have been though, had not the
Washington crowd led by John c. Robinson.
Eb Henderson, Judge Buskirk. Archie McGin-
mis- and others been held IN check by Matson.
Coming here to support him and oppose Gray,
they found the Myers people becoming embit-
tered and the Gray influence much more force
full than they exDected The willy Governor
had fortified himself In every part of the State.
bringing TO his assistance ali elements that were
worth having. It surprised the Washington
ians to discover how far he had advanced into
the affections of the Democracy, while they were
sporting on official salaries at the national capital
The moment they reached the city with the
double purpose Matsons chances began to les
gen. 1t was a desperate condition for the Put
nam county colonel, and through John r. Cor
don, who is alike the friend of the Governor and
Matson, the truce was arranged. The Wash
ingtonans held in allegiance half th cir mission,
and devoted their energies to shouting for Mat
son. From that time on the latter began to
encroach on the preserves of the old Myers
Gray com buation. Yesterday the drifting of
chance would have given the nomination to
either Everything was uncertain, aud the
supporters of Niblack confined to the Pocket
district, began to predict freely his nomination
on the chance OF q compromise. But whether
Matson Myers succeeds the other will be
I'D fnr I.in1ta
attempt was made TO give the Bynum move
msnt new life.
the attack on John E. Sullivan created more
feeling than the Mcdonald letter. The friends
of Sullivan repeated their assurances that moth
ing could defeat him, and if his Endorsement by
the convention should fail the party must bear
the consequences. Sullivan says nothing
induce him 10 withdraw, and that the attack on
him was made because he would not
Morss,n said Sullivan, when he sent for me
Saturday night 90 come to the Sentinel Office
that was neither for against Gray. He
said friends Of mine had urged my withdrawal,
and that he had communication from them to
that effect which he intended to publish. /
replied that no friends Of mine would
do such thing. He said that ought to with
draw for the sake of the party il had enough
to carry in this cam paign without adding other
burdens TO it. / plainly told him that l had
lived in Indianapolis seventeen years and had
tried to conduct my business so as to gain the
respect of everyone I reminded him that all the
money and property had was made by hard
business integrity. AS for politics, told him
that man had given his time and spent more
money for the party with less hope of official re-
ward, than had done. But you are not for
Gray be said. Il am neither for, nor against
Gray l replied. In has been my ambition to go to
q national convention determined TO do so long
before the indictments returned against
me and I going there matter what
opposition is brought against me. It
from men who envious of my success There
is ST Sheerin, Irish Catholic, who does not
like to see me advanced; Ed Hawkins, fed
eral Office holder and carpet bageer who wants
to control the party and with Jim Rice is will
ing to sacrifice anything and everything to nom
mate Dougherty. That is what / told Morss,
the editor of the Sentinel Had given pledge
for Gray that attack would not have sp peared.
but the matter has done good and / am
stronger to-day in the belief that I will be
elected than was Yesterday"
The other features of the wrangle during the
Cay-for that what it became the excite
ment increased-referred to Green Smiths can
didacy, which the friends of Wilson, his
petitor for Attorney general, denounced an
interference and mere sentiment Wilson's
and Matson's supporters we're working in the
same direction, while Smith attended the line
pursued by Myers, though Smith and friends
would at times say they thought Matson had
slightly the best chance. Bynum, NibIack and
Cobb were still talked about, and the intensity
of the Munson-Dougherty fight was kept up
with no particular change in the situation the
claims for each being urged with equal strength
which now aud then amounted to vicousness.