The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-10

intimate to me any intention of reSigninS.
HOLT SCORES THE sILvERITES.
Chairman Holt, when seen last night at
the Grand Hotel, admitted that he intends
to resign.
Directly after the Chicago convention
said he "these free-silver cranks organized
for the purpose of putting me out, and as
long as that fight continued 1 had no in
tention of resigning. But after while
they quit on that and commenced hugging
me, and l could not stand that. Not only
myself, but every one of the eight members
of the committee that ever thought of
sound money has been villifed and abused
and our loyalty questioned on every Oeca-
sion, and then, to cap the climax, here
comes Governor Matthews and attempts to
bulldoze me on this appointment OF Nc
Not one of this whole silver crowd, from
Governor Matthews down to Phil Gapen,
has contributed a cent to the committee. L
have been compelled to hold it up and run
it on wind. l would have probably been in
good standing if L had been willing to spend
d lot of money in getting the stuff that is
usually furnished by the national commit
tee, but where would / have been? There
another source of criticism that was
probably honest, though unjust. This was
from county chairmen and others who have
been writing in and demanding literature
and aid for their counties. IN previous
presidential years they have not had to de-
But this year l have Written and written
again to the national committee. and have
gone to Chicago twice TO get this sort of
help for the state, and have not got it.
These men out in the counties, not under
standing the situation. have been inclined
to think that / was a gold bug and was
holding this stuff back on purpose. / had
no way of getting it, for the national COM
mittee did not have it, and our committee
has had no money to get it. l called the
executive committee together two weeks
and then offered TO be one of fifty to con-
tribute $500 each to the campaign fund, and
said that if the others wanted to make
the amount $1,000 each my check would be
ready. AS yet not man has come to the
'front.'
The resignation caused a vast amount of
excitement among the local Popocrats last
night. and they were buZzing around the
Grand Hotel like a lot of frightened bees.
The silver extremists were inclined to CEN
sure Holt severely, and to declare that he
should have resigned TWO months ago. All
were of the opinion that the designations
would have a discouraging effect upon the
silver forces in Indiana, though most of
them were loath to talk for publication.
Joseph t. Tanning was the only of the
State candidates present:
u believe" said Mr.. Tanning, that Mr..
committee because ne conscientousy be-
lieves that his retirement from the man
agement of the campaign is for the best in
terests of the party at this time. He has
always had the entire confidence of every
in the theory that he IS retiring: because
he cannot support the Chicago ticket. for
the very fact that he has remained at the
head of the committee for two months pro-
claims him in hearty accord with it. To
think otherwise would be to accuse hin-to
put it very mildly-of acting in bad faith
with his party l do not fear the result
Another man will be found to take up the
work so we'll begun
TAGGART AS A SUCCESSOR
AS to who shall be Holt's successor. the
crowd at the Grand last night was all at
sea. Mr. Fanning's personal choice is un-
derstood to be Thomas Taggart and he
had long talk with him last night on the
subject. When Mr.. Taggart was asked by
Journal reporter whether he would ac-
cept the chairmanship, he shook his head
coyly and said nay very softly, but Tom
Hedian, who knows him a little better than
anybody was Offering bets of 10 to 2 that
Taggart would accept if elected. When
reporter asked Charles Bridges, who once
figured in the campaign leader of ''the
push in Marion county, If it would be
Taggart, he replied: No, sir. 1t will be
some man whose heart is in the work"
Apparently Bridges aeauired an access of
information. for to the next reporter who
sought his valuable views he said he
real desire of the silver howlers, however,
is to put d. T. Allen or Allen w. Clark in
so that the committee will be controlled by
some man whose whole sympathies are
with the silver movement. Such a man
Populists. and would be subject to no ntn enc lne
barrassing criticism if the election should
go wrong. which is not at ali unlikely. If
1t is offered to Mr.. Taggart and he de-
clines it, 1t will probably be because he
realizes that he would be subject to the
same embarrassments that Holt has been
enduring during the last two months in
the constant 1nnunedoes and naggings of the
silver cranks. Before the State convention
he was the chairman of the Sound-money
League. and this fact would be constantly
borne in mind by the leaders of the silver
element. Aside from Taggart. Allen and
Clark. the only man suggested is Oscar
Henderson, ex-Auditor of State He would
be satisfactory to the candidates. most of
whom believe that none of the original
silver men" know enough about politics to
run a campaign, could inspire conf
dence enough to raise a respectable cam
paign fund.
McCullough Appointments Hangs Fire.
The resignation of Chairman Holt leaves
the controversy concerning the appoint
ment of Mccullough the election board
suspended in midair. Holt did not with
draw the recommendation .ard Matthews
has not made the appointment The mat
ter is likely to prove delicate and en-
barrassing question to Mr.. Holts success
or, unless he happens to be an Original
silver man" who can quietly turn McC,uI-
Tough down without feeling bad about it.