The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-12
TO CONTEST PROXIES
Commercial Club Independents
Will Challenge Such Votes.
Both Factions Are Confident of Success
in the Election To-Day-The
Annual Meeting.

1t is pretty safe to say that in the his
tory Of organizations like the Commercial
Club there have been few, If any. cleo
tons that have attracted the attention or
excited the interest that the one Of to-day
has stirred up. Even those who are not
actively interested will watch the result
with far more than ordinary curiosity.
The disposition OF the encampment fund
has been made an issue, and to-day's vot-
ing will set the clubs seal either of APP
proval or disapproval on this action While
probably the masses of the people regard
with more or less disfavor the action IN
this matter. it is not known just where
the club members stand in regard to 1t.
There are nine hundred and more of them
entitled TO vote, and both sides appear
confident Of the result. That some one is
going to be surprised and disappointed is
quite apparent.
The supporters of the regular ticket have
never entertained the slightest doubt of its
success and the consequent vindication of
the present administration They can see
70 chance for anything but a big ma
jority for their ticket. The opposition
movement has never been regarded by them
IS at all formidable. and they will be great
ly surprised If 1t influences any consider
able number Of votes. The Independents,
however. claim that their strength has been
underestimate and that they will elect
their ticket by enough OF a margin TO
make the victory a notable one. They do
not mind, one of them said yesterday,
being regarded as a mere handful, for such
an impression has thrown the regulars off
their guard, and thus increased the chances
OF the Independent ticket. 1t Is fortunate
all around, however, that the campaign is
a short one, for it has already developed
just as it is becoming what politicians
woul regard as lively enough to be inter-
esting. Such a fight is unfortunate for the
best interests OF a. useful. organization like
the Commercial Club, which has been Of
value to Indianapolis in more ways than
one.
9Th election of our ticket" said an ar
dent independent last evening, docs not
necessarily. mean the retirement OF Col.
Lilly. In fact, / believe IL is the DISPOSE
ton Of some Of our directors, If successful
at the polls to-day, to re-elect him PreSi-
dent. In SUCH event. however there VIII De
a change In the secretaryship. We propose
TO see that the election to-day is conducted
strictly according to the rules of the club.
and If any attempt is made TO vote proxies
for the regular ticket such votes will be
challenged. 1t has not been the clubs. pol
icy In the past to vote proxies. and we have
II upon the authority Of several good attor-
neys that none can be voted, as votes must
be cast in person"
night that he felt confident the. Colonel
would not accept the presidency Of the club
unless Secretary Fortune. was reelected.
He feels" continued the friend, that Mr..
Fortune has been as greatly wronged as he
himself, and even more so, and / do not
believe he would, under any circumstances
accept a reelection unless Mr.. Fortune
was similarly favored"
The election WIN take place in the as
sembly room in the Commercial Club
Building to-day. the polls opening at 10 a.
m and closing at 6 p m. The officers in
charge of the election are F. w. Hamilton,
judge; Col. William NJ. Cochran, Inspector,
and Louis A Shore and Louis H. 1evey,
clerks. The nominees on the regular ticket
are Col. Eli Lilly, Chaplin c. Foster, Albert
Lieber. Charles E Coffin. Nathan Morris;
w. b. Burford, DIR. W.. N. Wishard and
James r. Carnahan. The Independent
ticket is composed Of w. III. Armstrong,
John j. Cooper, J. S. Lazarus, John W.
Hoffman, N. F. Dalton, A. p. Hendrick-
son, James Il. Carnahan and Albert Krull.
The requirement of the clubs bylaws
that any member who has not paid his an
nual dues or installments of stock shall not
be entitled to vote will be enforced. The
annual meeting of the club tonight will be
one of the most interesting in its. history,
and the attendance is likely to be very
large. All the members who can be on
hand will probably make it a point to at
tend. The annual reports of the officers
will be submitted and the result of the cleo
ton made known.