The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-15
IT'S AN UGLY AFFAIR
Fight Between Friends of Lands
and Johnston More Bitter.
Henry Koch Played Crazy and Escaped
from PrisOn-Drake Murder Trial
Now on at Greensburg.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Speclai 10 the indianapolis journal.
HAMMOND, Ind, May 1.-THE bitter
feeling against the Johnston men who stole
the train chartered by the friends Of
Charles b. lands to take his delegation
to the Crown Point convention last Satur-
day has by no means lessened. Letters
from all parts Of the district have been re-
ceived by the Lands workers asking for
full particulars. Many persons who were
formerly Johnston supporters denounce the
act as an outrage. and declare that If they
had known the facts they would not have
supported him in the convention. That the
scheme was prearranged there can be no
doubt, as persons have come forth since
with statements proving the fact. The
Johnston workers themselves acknowledge
that il was disastrous to his interests, and
fear the result will be the nomination of
Lands. An indignation meeting was neld
in this city tonight and a Lands club was
organized, with Stephen Ripley as presi-
dent; c.. c. Griffin, vice president; George
n. Moson, recording secretary, and w. G..
Friedley, corresponding secretary. A COM
mittee on resolutions, composed of +. F.
Friedley, L. H. Johnson and p. III. Lowle,
was appointed. who presented resolutions
condemning the actions of the Johnston
men In stealing the train; declaring that
the issuing Of the call for the convention
at Crown Point was invalid and not is
sued in accordance with the Instructions
of the district central committee; denounc-
ing "the actions of certain corporations in
packing the convention with their en-
ployes," and appealing TO every true Re-
publican In the Tenth congressional dis
trict to use his personal efforts toward
the nomination of Charles B. Lands, and
by so doing forever put the seal of Repub-
lican disapproval on the tactics that smack
so loudly of Democracy"
The meeting was largely attended and
15l signed the roll of membership. An
other meeting is called for Wednesday
night, when it is expected that at least
five hundred of the representative young
business men of North township will have
become members Word reached here TO-
: night from Whiting station that a meeting
was also in progress for the purpose of
forming a Lands club at that place.
The Chicago Inter Ocean has the follow
ng as the Johnston story of the affair
last Saturday: '"The special from Ham
nsond regarding the Republican convention
at Crown Point did great injustice to
Judge Johnston and the nine hundred Re
publicanS from Hammond who supported
Judge Johnston for Congress. The facts
are that the friends of Judge Johnston
engaged a train of five coaches to carry a,
delegation of four hundred to leave Ham
mond before noon. When the crowd ar
rived IL was found that the train would
not commodat more than half the
crowd, so four more coaches were at
tached TO the train, and were soon filed
with men wearing Johnston adges. The
lands side had engaged a train of three
coaches, which was to leave Hammond an
hour later. The Johnston delegation was
taken to Crown Point and the train re-
turned 90 Hammond Immediately. At a
few minutes past noon the agent of the
Erie rendered the train to Mr.. Lands
himself. and was told that they did not
want IL, as less han two hundred men
were on hand to accompany lands"