The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-27
THE SECRET MEETING.
Such Details as Crept Out OF the
Barred Chamber Yesterday.

Such Details as Crept Out Of the
Barred Chamber Yesterday.
The Democratic free-silver conference was
held yesterday afternoon at the Agricultural
rooms. in the Statehouse. with about one
hundred members of the party present. The
important action of the gathering was the
adoption of a resolution calling for an ex-
PLANTATION from Chairman Sterling r. Holt,
OF the State committee. This resolution was
offered by Judge McNutt, of the Fifth dis
trict, and was passed by acclamation Judge
McNutt prefaced the resolution by a little
talk, in which he declared that 80 per cent.
Of the Democracy of Indiana were for free
silver and it was known that Chairman Holt
was for the gold standard and had entered
into the sound-money conference held here
Saturday night. He had been reported to
have said that he would rather see the State
go fifty thousand Republican than to see
silver win. He was therefore out OF har-
mony with the party and ought to step down
and out. In case a free-slver plank appears
in the platform he may voluntarily retire
The resolution going after Hollis scalp was
followed b. one offered by j. /. Strouse, of
Rockville demanding the resignation Of the
Hon. S. p. Sheerin, Of Logansport, as men,
Der of the national committee from Indiana
on the same ground. 1t did not carry, how
ever, largely because Sheerin has been so
active In pushing the Matthews presidential
boom. The conference listened to reports
from each district. and all except the Sew
enth reported that free silver would win In
the delegation TO the State convention Judge
Buskirk, who talked for the Seventh district,
said that he thought they would probably
be beaten here.
The hosts began TO gather early yesterday
morning, and as fast as they came in thew
Stafan0fIQQ
into the parlors of Governor Matthews.
Among the men of prominence Of the State
shiyeiy S 's and John B. i' stoli Of south Bend.
Colonel Johnson of Elkhart, ID. Il. William
SON Of Grsencqstls se1 D e WI W.. H. Eysrrcad of c.
in fact. more than hall. the men who at
tended the meeting. All donned Matthews
hadses and tns p9sa, p arS gS0ss that fly
onel Johnson. of Elkhart was particularly
bitter in his denuncation of w. F. Harrity.
chairman OF the national committee. "Har-
rity," said he, "cares more for gold great
deal than he does for the Democratic party.
know 1t TO be fact that he defeated three
Democratic nominees in Pennsylvania In or
der that he might keep them as orphan dis
tricts and control the patronage" This was
but sample of the denunciation flung at ev-
erything that had a golden tinge.
THE GUARD AT THE DOOR.
The meeting had been called at the Grand
Hotel at 1:s0 O'Clock. but they decided to
hold II in the Agricultural rooms in the
Statehouse. Tim Griffin locked and barred
all the doors but one. and here the ceie-
brated Romus Stuart was stationed as inner
| guard and the equally famous Sidney Moon
| was set on the top Of cuspidor outside as a
| scarecrow TO all reporters and other inouisi.
| tive persons who might come around. Their
| the densely secret meeting, With much noise
| and hubbub. proceeded to transact its bust
| ness. Franklin ;-anders, Of this city wa,
| made chairman and all the Democratic ed;
| tors present, which included pretty nearly
] everybody, were made secretaries ExDres
| sions were called for from the districts anf
| a gentleman with a piping voice arose anu
said that ne didn't know much about the SIT.
uation in the First district. but rather
thought the Democrats down there were 70,
| silver. Parks NJ. Martin, clerk or Over
| county. spoke for the Second district. ana
/ said everybody there was whooping il iio fol
/ silver. Hal A. Ellsworth, OF English. CAV.
| the same report fer the Third district. Ther
| w. III. Everroad, Of Columbus talked for tn,
| Forth district and wasted half an hour n
/ telling In very dramatic way how he ha,
beaten out the goidtes OF Columbus by hav
| Bartholomew county delegates. instead o
| having them elected by primaries Ju5g.
| NcNutt was the first man who spoke for tn
| Fifth district. ard most OF his speech VA
! devoted 10 roasting Chairman Hclt hecaus,
| he was goldite and demanding his resgna
| ton. He offered a resolution. which wa
adopted, asking that committee be ap
| pointed 10 demand from Chairman Hot al
| explanation OF a remark ne was reported I.
have made 10 the effect that he would ratne
than to see free silver win. Allen Clark de
clared that he had talked with Holt abou
the subject. and Holt had denied that he hat
ever said II. Nevertheless the resolution wa