The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-24
Hon. Richard Thompson, of Terre Haute,
May Be Chosen Permanent Chairman
of the COnven tiOn To-Morrow.
WORK OF THE CANDIDATES
Outrageous Attempt to Sound
Candidates for Supreme Judge.
Ex-President Harrison Will Probably
Be Called OH for Speech Report
of Committee on Contests.

The real ante-convention contest for
places on the Republican State ticket is
now on, and if anyone thought for even
moment that it would not be a hard-fought
contest. with many phases to 1t and legion
OF combatants, that one needs but take
peep into the Denison House lobby to be
undeceived. He need not ascend to the
floor above, which has been given up for
lobby all is hustle and excitement. The
friends of the various candidates have
taken possession of the lobby and are vain
ly endeavoring to "size up" the situation
with even very small degree of certainty.
There is a great deal of careful feeling for
pointers from delegates as they arrive In
small groups from different sections of the
State. With the field of candidates before
them and the very high probability of sur
prises from many quarters, the delegates
are not inclined to commit themselves, un-
less it be for some particular candidate
from their county or district for which the
county or district is solid. There are sever
al candidates who will go into the conven-
ton with the solid support of their entire
district behind them. In the race for Audi
tor of State there are two such candidates,
following from the State at large.
At an early hour yesterday all of the
candidates had opened their headquarters
on the parlor floor of the house. and all the
furniture, save tables and chairs. had been
removed. The corridors and rooms had
been laid with canvas and the entire floor
was converted into recruiting offices where
the candidates waited for the friends and
supporters to bring to them the delegates
and persons who might have influence with
delegations. All of the rooms were swarm
ing with Republicans during the entire day,
and each candidate had few of his strong
est supporters and stanchest friends at his
headquarters to explain TO delegates the
particularly strong points of the candidate.
Although it is yet early to in any way
forecast results, the opinion was expressed
yesterday that this would be a convention
fought by individual candidates, and that ii
would be utterly out of the question 10
think of forming combinations, and if any
were attempted they would probably be
fatal to the candidates that were in them.
There are now forty-thFee candidates for
ten Offices and any combinations that might
be formed would have TO resist the on
slaught of the combined forces of all can
didateS not in il. 1t is not possible to form
any combination that could withstand any
such an attack, and there is small likeli-
hood that any will be formed. Several have
been spoken of, but only in the way of
hints that such and such combination
assumed tangible shape, and in all prob
ability will never reach further than the
limiting stage
A large interest is centering in the ques-
ton OF what will Marion county receive.
The field Of candidates from this county is
large and the candidates themselves have
from the county may. perchance, result in
the county receiving only what the other
counties are disposed to concede it. There
is no fight in the county OF candidate
against candidate, save in the office of At
torney- general where there are three can
didates. The friends of each candidate,
however, are looking anXiously at the con-
test for the places that come above their
favorite the ticket, and hoping that the
Marion county candidate for that office will
not develop sufficient strength to interfere
with their favoriteS chances for success in
the convention. The vote of the Marion
county delegation was pretty nearly fixed
by the Saturday night primaries, and il is
hardly probable that candidates will sue
ceed in making any changes until after
there has been at least lea one vote in the the
and there a delegate who is undecided as
TO what particular candidate he will sup
port the delegation from this county will
probably vote, at least upon the first bal
lot, In accordance with opinions formed be-
fore the primaries. The Marion county can
didateS working hard for these scatter
ing delegates, however. though not a great
many OF them are appearing at the hotel.
y little talk is indulged in about the hotels
concerning the "Old ticket and the new
one. This talk comes mostly, however from
persons neither candidates nor delegates.
The inadvisability Of entering into any sort
of a combination will probably prevent any
inclination to form one of the ''old tickets
against the new. The candidates who have
been before previous conventions and who
received nominations do not place much
strength in a combination with other candi-
dates similarly situated. They do not care
to invite the antagonism of the friends of
the new candidates for the other offices, and
are making their contest upon a question
of merits and deserts.
There is already some talk OF who shall
preside at the convention. EX-PreSident
Harrison was asked to preside, but declined,
although he will be present and will prob
ably address the convention. Ii is not inn
probable that Il. w. Thompson, of Terre
Haute. will be asked to preside. He has
presided at many preceding State conven-
tions, and ii has come to be looked
upon as a foregone conclusion that so long
as Dick" Thompson is able to be present
al a convention he shall preside. Mr. Allen,
of the Terre Haute Mail and Express, saws
that Mr.. ThOmpSons health is good and
that he will be here for the convention
1t is understood that Republicans in the
southeastern part of the State favor Hon
James N Huston for permanent president
of the convention.