The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-26
BY WAYS THAT ARE DARK
EFFORTS TO GET POPULISTs TO RE-
sCIND THEIR RECENT ACTION.
Local Gang on Democratic Pay Roll
Working ard-Watson. of Geor-
Eia, to BE Here Soon.

The Hon. Tom Watson will be here some
day between Oct. 10 and 13. and will de-
liver speech. Then the Populsts and
Popocrats will probably know where they
are att in this fusion business. 1t goes
without saying that Watson will have
something interesting to say, and it ism t
likely to be any the less interesting coming
Immediately after the Georgia election, in
which his party will be counted out, as
usual. and the figures of the Democratic
majority placed at any point that may
strike the fancy Of the people in charge
of the count
Charles x. Matthews, editor of the Non
conformist, yesterday received word from
Watson that he would fill appointment
to speak in indianapolis at about the time
mentioned, but he could not name the day
definitely. He is likely to be in the State
about the same time Bryan comes, and
the two notable leaders of the Popocratic
combination may have the opportunity Of
shaking hands.
The Populists and silver Democrats are
"dickering'' about in a fashion well cal
culated to dissipate whatever strength the
Populist party has left. When the commit
tee of thirteen last week put full electoral
ticket in the field, the Populists who had
gathered here left for their homes be-
lieving that the question had been settled.
Immediately thereafter S. M. Shepard and
one or two other Populists who had been
committed, by methods best known to
themselves, to the Democratic managers in
behalf of fusion, sprung fiimsy charges of
alleged efforts to bride them into keeping
in the middle of the road, thus putting the
imputation upon the committee of thirteen
that it had been bribed to take the action
that it did in putting full electoral ticket
in the field A plan was then Matched up
between the silver Democratic managers
and those PopuIists leaders who favored
fusion to bolt the action of the committee
and to that end a meeting was called for
this city last Sunday afternoon.
1t was the intention that this meeting
should issue manifesto, declaring that the
committee of thirteen, in putting out
ticket, did not represent the sentiments of
the Populsts of the State and calling upon
all Populists of the State tc vote for Bryan
and Sewan electors. This scheme. how
ever, was forestalIed by a meeting held last
Saturday night at the rooms of Chairman
Martin, of the Silver Democratic State com
mittee, at the Grand Hotel. This meeting
was attended by Martin, J. G.. Shankln,
Indiana member of the Bryan national
committee, s. NJ. Shepard, d. F. Kennedy,
Harrison Ogborn and two or three local
Popocratic county committee speakers.
At this meeting the information was given
that the influence of Morton G.. Rankin,
treasurer of the Populist national commit
tee, had been secured and that he would
come and straighten matters out. Accord
ingly the Sunday meeting was not held. On
Thursday Rankin, l.. w. Hubben and one
or two other leaders slipped into town, did
not register, and held conference with
the silver Democrats. Before leaving town
Rankin authorized a statement, which was
given to the Associated Press through the
Popocratic organ to the effect that the
Populsts, after consultation with their
committee of thirteen, had decided to put
ten Democratic electors upon their ticket.
thirteen had been held and what the mem
bers of the committee will do in the prem
here next Tuesday. The local mddle-of-
the-road Populists, however, express great
indignation at the surreptitious action of
have assumed to commit the party to this
course and they are making. suggestions
of mysterious influences having been at
work to accomplish this enc.
HAD NO AUTHORITY.
julius Rosenheimer, chairman of the Pop
ulist State committee and of the committee
of thirteen, was asked yesterday by what
authority Hubbell and Rankin had issued
their statement to the effect that the Popu-
lists had decided to put out an electoral
ticket containing ten Sewall electors.
None whatever" he replied. He fur
Their stated that he had no knowledge that
such q statement had been made until he
saw it printed, and he then supposed it was
simply bit of instrumentation. A special
from Washington says:
Indiana is giving the Democratic and
Popuist managers heaps of trouble. The
situation. according to Chairman Butler,
will shortly be improved. The Senator said
to-day he believed fusion in Indiana will be
effected shortly. He has received several
kilograms and letters from the Populist
managers in that State saying that every
thing will probably turn out right for the
silver people. Fusion may be arranged. but
it is not likely TO give the silver managers
overconfidence as to that State. Indiana
has come to be regarded lately by the sill
yer people as one of the very doubtful
States. The Bryanites do net claim any
certain thing in Indiana, as they do about
some of the other Western and middle
Western States.