The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-27
Twelfth District Convention Resembled
Modern Democratic Scramble
Captain Whites Friends Assumed to
Instruct Delegates for Blaine.
New Way to Choose Anti Harrison Delegatea
but 1t Will Hardly Meet with the Appro-
baton Of Republicans Generally.
PRETTY BADLY MIXED.

PRETTY BADLY MIXED.
Conventions Have Been More Harmonious
than that at Fort Wayne Yesterday.
Special 10 the Indianapolis Journal
Fort WAYNE. Ind. May 26.-The Repub-
ican convention for the Twelfth congress
sional district, called for the purpose Of
nominating a candidate for Congress. met
in this city this afternoon, and. after two
hours wrangle, ended in disgraceful row.
The convention. In the absence Of the dis.
trict chairman, was called TO order By w.
j. Vesey, of this city, chairman Of the
Allen county committee. Before the vote
for permanent chairman was taken, Judge
Woodruff ed that the convention adj
journ until the 4th OF August. as all the
counties we're not fully represented. Chair.
man Vesey ruled this motion out of order.
and on an appeal his decision was sus-
tanned.
Messrs. j. w. Baker, Of Columbis City
and L. w. Welker. of Noble county. were
placed in nomina nation for permanent CHAIR
man. Before the voting began George w.
Wilson, of Fort Wayne, whose attempts to
establish himself as the boss of the Repub.
lican party in Allen county have resulted in
serious dissensions. moved that the election
be made by ballot. The object of this motion,
Of course. was to disfranchise the other
counties by establishing a rule that would
allow Allen county, with delegation
nearly full. to outvote all the other coun-
ties whose representations were small.
Judge Woodruff. of Angola. objected to
this, saying that 1t had been the uniform
custom of all conventions Democratic and
Republican. to accept the votes of all dele
gates as presented by theirs chairman. and
Mr.. Wilson has himself, time and again.
cast the twenty-five votes of Allen county
in State and district conventions when not
half that number of delegates were pres
ent. The scheme. pure and simple, was
one to capture the convention by tho
minority. This last view was supported By
delegates from all the outside counties.
AN ARBITRARY DECISION.
After much wranglIng the convention
proceeded to vote. the counties outside Of
Allen voting by delegations. while Allen
county and few delegates from Whitley
county voted by ballot. The vote result
ed: For Baker, individual ballot, %,
&c. dSr CSair@an Ssns1 Gsss Tsssy dsoarsS % oonis Bss
er elected. Great confusion and
excitement were created by this announce
ment, and Mr. Welker, rushing TO the plat
der He was pushed off the rostrum by
Mr.. Vesey, and harmless bout at fisticuffs
ensued between them. At the same time
Mr. Baker began addressing the conven-
tion. SANDY" Drummond. Wilson's first
lieutenant, moved that Robert Hanna be
made secretary. The motion was put
by Mr. Baker. and Hanna was declare
| elected.
| that the convention adjourn till Aug. 4.
| The motion was put by Mr.. Welker and de-
| clared carried. Pandemonlum now reigned
| and the excitement was great, while tho
| Wilson made n motion TO adjourn for one
| hour. which pIotiOn was put by Mr. Baker
| and declared carried.
Mr.. Welker then mounted q table and
tion of the Allen county minority in sosth-
! ing terms. He dared them to
proceed with their 'illegal convention"
| and nominate 10 candidate for Congress;
saying if they did the outside counties
| would leave it TO Allen to elect him.
Mr.. Baker followed in a speech, saying
| that the proceedings had been legal, and
| called upon the delegates TO reassemble at
| the appointed time. All the delegates out
| side of Allen county then left the hall and
went home.
At 4 o'clock the Allen county delegates
| met again. Mr. Baker presided, and the
| proceedings took place as arranged by the
| Wilson crowd. The following resolution
was passed:
| Whereas, The district convention OF the
| Twelfth congressional district. which met in
Auburn March ), 1892, for the purpose OF choos-
ing two delegates TO the national convention at
Minneapolis. failed OF its purpose through mis-.
understanding as TO the number OF votes that
were necessary TO constitute amajority, whereby
Hon. w. l.. Penfield. OF Auburn, was declared
| elected when be only had eighty-seven votes,
which is fraction OF seven votes less than ma
| jorty; therefore, be IL
Resolved, That this convention now proceed
to choose second delegate 10 represent, IN con.
xr-ffh Dnh Rnrr ~ fh0
Twelfth district in the national Republican con-
| vention to be held in Minneapolis June z, 1892
Mr. r. T. Mcdonald. of Fort Wayne. was
| placed in nomination for delegate and
| elected by acclamation.
| The following resolutions were then
| passed, and the convention adjourned with.
| ont making a nomination for Congressm an.
subject TO the call Of the district chair.
| man."
Whereas, The condition of public opinion
| seems to have undergone a remarkable change
| during the past two weeks in reference 10 th @
| candidate for the presidency, and
Whereas. The demand for the nomination OF Hon,
James q. Blaine appears to be urged by very
large proportion OF the Republican party, both
| East and West; therefore, be IL
Resolved. That we recognize in James @.
| Blaine the man who, above all Others, utites in
having the highest order OF statesmanship. the
popularity seldom, II ever, equaed In the history
| OF this country.
| Resolved That the delegates of the Twelfth
congressional district. in the national Republic
an convention at Minneapolis, are hereby re-
| quested TO cast their votes for Hon. James q.
| Blaine as long as there is any hope that he will
| BE- nominated.
The feeling of hostility against President
| Harrison. as indicated by the resolutions.
| WAS not by any means iDdorsed by all the
delegates from Allen county. J. III. Eckles,
of Maysville who had voted for Baker.
! publicly announced in a neat speech that
| he mad voted for that gentleman believing
| him TO be for the administration. He
asked that his vote be changed. and want
ed IL understood that he was for Harrison
because the ring LEADERS and bull-doZers
were against HIM. The common people
were for Harrison.
The Daily News independent, of this
city. scores tho action OF Mr.. Wilson IN
mercifully. and winds mp its report of the
convention in the following manner:
| viewed from any standpoint the con-
yention of this afternoon was the most dis
graceful. disgusting. and altogether un-
| cailed-Or exhibition of petty political
trickery and chicanery that has ever been
held by either party In this city. and II will
De very long day before Its effects upon
the Republican party will have been oblit-
Grated"