The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-08
WHIPPED INTO LINE
DEMOCRATIC EDITORS BROUGHT TO
TINE ny THE LASH.
Adverse Criticisms Of Mr.. Cleveland
SqueIched by SmOOth-TaIking
Party Leaders.

The Democratic editors of Indiana are
much displeased with the Cleveland admin
istration. At the meeting of the State
Editorial Association at the Grand Hotel
yesterday these disseminators of Demo-
cratic fallacies had a great deal to say
about the present Democratic management
of national affairs. c.. w. Wellman, editor
Of the Sullivan Democrat. is president of the
association. He came with an ugly CLEAN
in his eye and a big bundle Of manuscript
which comprised his annual report. The
presidents report was called for at once.
1t was there the members expected to find
solace. Mr.. Wellran read for an hour. His
reading absorbed the attention of the meet
ing because somebody was being criticised.
The Sullivan county editor said some dread
full things about his national President.
Nearly every official act Of the unfortunate
executive was criticised. Cheers and ap-
plarse flom the gratified editors ~punctuated
the sentences of the report. Mr.. Cleveland
was charged with having on every hand
swerved from the line laid down by his
Indiana people. His administration was
entirely unsatisfactory to the Hoosier con-
tingent and President Wellman's report rec
commended that the sentiment of the Demo-
cratic editors, assembled in annual session,
Nc AA1AG ~ RoAl ~ kNS -
If there was a member in the meeting who
disapproved the harsh things said about the
administration in the report of the president
he failed to enter an objection. The mat
ter was referred to the on reso-
lutions. which body speedily drew up the
Proper form of resolution and
that 1t be recorded as the official act of the
Democratic Editorial Association. There
was some delay about this and in the in
term the rumor that the editors were on
the rampage reached the ears Of Thomas
Taggart. That gentleman at once set about
to pacify the edit rial wrath. He impaired
to some of the prominent members of the
party the news he had received and it was
at once conceded that the resolution adopted
by the editorial association must not go on
record The afternoon session of the editors
was graced with the presence of Mr.. Tag
CART and q committee of mediators whose
mission it was to appease. The committee
found the association rather unwieldy to
handle at first, but did not despair and was
finally able to get the odious resolution
tabled.
This manner of whipping the Democrats
into line by some unknown power very
much resembles the method used in the
last Democratic State convention, when
Senator Brice sent his friend and henchman,
S. p. Sherrin, here to squelch any platform
plank that reflected upon him or his asso-
ciates in the famous sugar deal. At that
time the plank was in the platform and
the Senators were named, but through some
inexplicable influence the names were
stricken out at the last moment, and al
though the convention clamored to nave the
question shut off all DEBATE ana the plat
form was adopted before the convention
realized what 1t was doing. That, how
ever, was done by bringing into play par
liamentary usages, with which the majority
in the convention were unfamiliar; but this
last case Of whipping into lire cannot be
explained in that way. 1t simply shows
that the leaders hold a whip over the heads
of the editors.