The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-02

Townships That Vote for Watson May
Not Obey County Resolutions.

been good deal of quiet talk here for sew
eral days, and there was more of it heard
during the last twentyfour hours. to the
effect that to-day's primary election in
Henry county may leave the congressional
contest between Henry u. Johnson and
James Z. Watson still unsettled. Should
Watson carry the county, the johnson peo-
pie will be forever done for. and they may
as we'll surrender and hand over their arms
If Johnson carries the county by decided
majority, of say from four to five hundred,
Watson will be as clearly out of Ii, but
should Johnson carry the county by mar
row margin ii is possible for Watson to re-
main in the race with some show of landing
this congressional plum in the long run.
The only way in which the candidate de-
feated in to-day's primary can remain a
factor daf, IN the race. nowever' VIII De through
mass convention held Feb %, which pro-
vided that the candidate carrying the coun-
ty should have the solid delegation of the
county. This resolution was adopted over
the protest and opposition of Watson's
friends. The congressional convention,
which meets in this city on ADril 16, will
consist of 221 delegates. The number neces-
sary to nomination will be I'LL All the
counties in the district except Henry have
has carried Wayne. with ffty-eight dele
gates; Fayette, with twenty, and Union,
with eleven. giving him a total Of eighty
nine. Watson has carried Franklin, with
seventeen delegates; Hancock, with twenty
one; Rush, with twenty-eight, and Shelby,
with bs thirty giving him total Of ninety
will nominate either candidate and give
him votes to spare Or If fifteen Of these
votes should go to Watson they would
should go to Johnson they would nominate
him. There are thirteen townships in the
county Of Henry, among which these thir-
Wayne. six; Franklin, two; Dudley. two;
Liberty. two: Henry, six; Greensboro, two;
Mo MS oar tw1 sne
River, one; Stoney Creek, one; total thirty
six:
should he carry enough townships TO give
him twenty-five delegates, the number nee
essary TO nominate, Johnson would, of
| course, carry the county. But Watson might
| be defeated in the county by small piu-
| rality and still carry townships enough to
| give him fifteen delegates, the number nec-
| essary TO land him winner. Here, then, Is
| the contingency that might continue Watson
factor in the race. even after the county
ral, nau declared TOT Sennson ai,s oy small pin-
main factor in the race after this county
| has declared against him, except through de-
lance OF the s.au resolutions passed by the Henry
| that there are enough Watson townships to
| elect fifteen delegates, and should these town.
| ships elect Watson delegates and instruct
| them to vote for Watson, defylng the county
| convention and deriving ITS right to control
| the action of the townships, there would be
III.
| delegates would doubtless be selected with
| reference to their preference for Watson, and
| when 1t came TO choosing between county
| and township Instructions the delegates
would doubtless choose those In harmony
| with their preference for candidate. The
right of delegate. or any. number Of dele
| convention would probably not be questioned
| In the convention which meets here April 10
Even if it should be questioned, the issue
| being one affecting the vote of Henry county,
Henry county would not be allowed to vote.
| and the Watson counties eligible to vote
would outvote the Johnson counties and de-
| eide the question TO suit themselves.
FORKNER'S MISTKE.
As having direct bearing on this SUBJ
| ject, it is recalled that something very much
| like this occurred at the convention held in
| this city six years ago when Mr.. Johnson
received his first nomination to Congress.
| Judge Mark l.. Forixner was the candidate
| Of Henry county. A mass convention held
| by the Republicans Of the county had in
| structed the Henry county delegation to
| vote for Judge Forkner as unit so long as
ne was a.. candidate. That there should be
| ner was authorized to select his own dele
gates. Judge Forkner declared himself CRATE
be satisfied with Republican delegation Sc
| lected in the usual way. Right here was
where Judge Forkner overlooked a very i'm
/ portant act. For ballot after ballot the
Henry county delegation stood by the Henry
| county candidate, but the critical ballot
came. Henry county slipped q cog and three
| OF her delegates landed In the Johnson col
umn and nominated the man from Wayne.
Had these three votes remained loyal to Fork
ner ne. instead Of johnson. would have been
the privilege frequently accorded a candi-
| date to name his own delegates cost him
the nomination and changed the political
county was then in the district and 1t is
of interest to recall that the chairman of
the Randolph delegation, who voted 1t solid
| johnson, was James Z. Watson, Mr.. John
| sons opponent to-day.
| Evidently sins Of this sort are not laid
up by Henry county Republicans against
| Offenders, for one of the men who flew the
track six years ago Was John A. Deem,
decided Se andaas %
! the county should have the solid vote Of the
| county. 1t has been frequently urged since
| in series OF resolutions adopted by a con-
vention presided over by man who six
yeaIs ago proved himself a traitor to SIM
| The Johnson people assert very positively
| that IL the full returns from to-days cleo
tion show that Johnson has carried the
| county by one vote that he will have the
thirty-six delegates OF the county, no matter
| what the Watson people may be able TO
figure out by townships.
| will meet tomorrow The committee Is
| dominated by the friends OF Johnson. The
/ plan is IL Johnson mas Carried the county
| to adopt a resolution authorizing Johnson
| to name the thirty-six delegates from the
county. Should Watson carry the county he
| will be accorded the same privilege. Should
| the Watson people decide to elect delegates
| by townships II would have to be done
through a call from the township or pre-
cinct committeeman and here would appear
| a possibility for a contesting delegation.
The Democratic leaders are apparently in
terested spectators Of recent events in the
take advantage OF any opening that this
| spirited and acrimonious contest may have
\ offered One frequently hears remarks
| dropped here to the effect that this contest
| has opened up such breach as to render
| impossible the election of either Johnson
| or Watson. The Democrats have even got
| their interest up to such pitch that they
are talking OF candidates and one hears
mention OF David Gooding; OF Greenfield,
Democrats: OF course; have no expectation
! lican plurality Is not less than 1850 and the
| drift is still in favor. Of the Republicans.
| 1t is the business Of the Democrats to
| chirp occa sfonally and look cheerful when
| they can and they are going to make the
L fcn Io5av&