The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-04-25
INDIANA POLITICS.
Biggest Republican Convention and
Largest Number of Candidates In
r the States History.
Ex-President Harrison Is Expected
to Address the Meeting ON Ma
tional Issues.
Not Expected That Any Bitterness
Will Be Engendered by the Con-
tests-The Platform.

INDIANAPOLIS. April 25.-Numerically
the state Republican convention which
convenes at noon in this city will be by
tar the largest ever held in the state.
Seventeen hundred and fifteen delegates
will vote for the candidates, the largest
previous convention having comprised
], 300 delegates in round numbers. The
increase in the number Of delegates was
deemed advisable in order to give the
constituencies an opportunity to express
their choice more directly, and to equal
ize more thoroughly the entire vote of
the state. All the forces are now
Arrayed on the Field OF Battle,
including delegates and candidates.
Not only is this true. but they have been
here for two days, and the Denison ho-
tel on Pennsylvania avenue, the place
that has been chosen as headquarters,
and where 80 many candidates have
been created, and where others have
been irrevocably removed from the
arena of Indiana politics, has been since
Sunday night a human hive. The nine
offices for which candidates will be
chosen are confronted with 43 candi-
dates. This, too, excels in number all
previous records. The Office OF clerk of
the supreme court heads the list with
nine candidates. Then comes the
authorship. Indianapolis has three
candidates for attorney general, with
apparently equal strength. They are
William A. Ketcham, Thomas Hanna,
ex-lieutenant governor, and William L.
Taylor. The
Contest for Secretary of State
is attracting the widest attention, as
that office is regarded as containing
greater possibilities than any other, and
by precedent Is the resting place just
before gubernatorial honors. A con-
spicuous candidate for the office is
Aaron Jones of South Bend, who
headed the ticket two years ago. Jones'
opponents say if he is nominated il
means at least Eve ''old ticket names,
and this they do not want. Notwith-
standing the unprecedentedly large
number OF candidates little inharmony
has thus far been observed, and the
candidates finally chosen will, the lead
ers say, poll the full party vote, and
factions and discomfort will not result
from failure Of any nomination. The
present programme calls for but two
speeches, and one of these will be by ex-
President Benjamin Harrison. Ex-
Secretary of the Navy Richard w.
Thompson of Terre Haute will likely
be chosen as president of the conven-
ton. His name. it is positively stated,
will ha TSyoaarfaI Fpw &ha&
is not considered probable that he will
be opposed.
Harrison to Speak.
General Harrison is expected to make
some remarks concerning national af-
fairs, and his close friends say that he
will talk unreservedly and plainly.
The platform is causing much specu-
lation. The committee will be engaged
in its preparation all night. 1t will un-
doubtedly arraign both the state and
national administration, and condemn
in strong terms the Democratic reappor-
tionment of 1893.
The A. p. A. will be considered by
the committee by request of certain
Catholic Republicans, but whether it
will be mentioned in the platform is not
certain. Tomlinson hall, where the
convention will be held, has seating
capacity of 5000.
This congressional district, the
Seventh, will choose candidate to op-
pose Congressman Bynum. The candi-
date will be Hon. Charles l.. Henry of
Madison county, who was the candi-
date two years ago. Hon. Charles w.
Fairbanks will preside and the nomina-
tion will likely be made unanimously.