The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-18
SPLIT Is PROBABLE
WHAT THE v RAYS SHOW IN THE
RANKS OF INDIANA DEMOCRACY.
silver and Sound-Moncy Men Mapeu-
vering for the Vantage G~rOund-Sil-
y~erites Gaining Rapidly.

abhOA Va ~ q y W ~ 49, So /
Democracy of Indiana, to find that animal
10 have a badly fractured vertebra. The
silver sentiment of the State has struggled
frequently to find expression. but has always
been suppressed by self-constituted party
leaders. The recent meeting of the Demo-
cratic State Editorial Association furnished |
a case in point. Some of the most promi-
nent editors in the State, those who have
been most influential in molding Democratic
opinion. sought 10 make a party declara-
ton in favor of free silver. While showing
considerable strength, the movement was
defeated. That defeat meant far more than
a suppression of the free-silver sentiment,
for the resolution favoring free silver car
ried with 1t an Endorsement of Senator'S
Voorhees, and Turpie. The assumption that
these Democratic Senators had lost all in
fiuence in their party was a violent one,
and events since that time indicate that
their friends have rallied TO their support.
and that the coming Democratic State con-
ventlon will be badly divided on the silver
question.
at is apparent" said a well-known Demo-
crat yesterday, that no platform can be
devised upon which both elements can
stand. The demand will be pronounced for
an outspoken declaration of principles. and
one wing or the other will triumph. To all
appearances Senators Voorhees, and Turpie.
with their long and prominent Democratic
careers, viii control the situation"
That the battle is on is apparent from an
incident which occurred at the Logansport
primaries TO select delegates TO the State
convention. held a day or two ago. At the
district organizing convention, held at Peru
a few weeks ago, ex-senator Rufus Magee
was chosen chairman Of the district. After
a wordy contest the free silverites were
defeated, and the convention appeared to
favor sound money. The cast was largely
given to that convention by the influence OF
ex-senator Magee, who was minister to
Sweden and Norway under President Cleve-
lands first administration; by, Simon +;
Sheerin, who Is secretary. OF the nationdi
Democratic committee, and by h. H. Lou
thain, editor of the Logansport Pharos. At
the primary held recently, above referred
to. Judge Dykeman, who always has been
the Democratic leader of Cass county, who
was State Senator for that county, and
was the Democratic nominee for Congress
ago, had himself elected a delegate to the
State convention. Judge Dykeman demanl-
ed that the delegates be elected on their
declaration for silver. II am for silver"
said he. II take issue with the Pharos, /
take issue with L0uthain, and Magee and
Sheerin. These men packed the Peru con-
vention, and / propose that the Second
ward, at least, shall not be packed again."
This startling charge. made by a man
of Judge Dykeman's prominence, against
men of the national prominence of Mr..
Magee and Mr.. Sheerin, shows the deter
mination OF the silver men, and that they
will not be overridden by the Clevelandites.
1t is apparent that Judge Dykeman intends
TO be present at the convention and make
one of his vigorous fights In favor of free
silver; that he will not hesitate to declare
his opinions. and that he will have consid-
form of that convention. Mr..
Dykeman had elected with him
ward on the same platform. and ii is prob
able that he. had others chosen from the
same county. The incident shows that the
silver men are active over the State; that
they intend that their silver views shall
not longer be suppressed; that they intend
that the slap at Turpie and Voorhees, shall
be resented, and that the two Democratic
Senators and the principles they advocate
shall prevail.
1t is evident from the persistence with
which the anti-silver men have controlled
Democratic gatherings that they will not
quietly submit to the effort to practically
denounce Cleveland's administration, over
turn Governor Matthews's presidential
boom and to place Indiana in the ranks of
the free-silver States of the South and
West, and IL will not be surprising If two
conventions and two platforms be the re-
suit. Or. If not that, that "a large element
of the Democracy will affiliate with the
Populists In an effort to place the State
or the side of free silver at the November
election.
Another and even stronger Indication OF
ScIlOuS tIOuDlt llfliU lHt duh Ol III
Democracy is the stand recently taken by
Allen w. Clark, editor of the Greensburg
Era, and the recognized leader of the sill
yer Democrats in this State. His editorial
was short, but 1t contained a warning ana
a threat that may have its effect. The
| Democratic committee will meet here Thurs
day, and IL Is understood that the principal
business 10 come before IL is the conSidera-
ton of the proposition TO change the date
of the State convention from prior to the
national convention to a later date than the
Chicago convention. IL Is on this PROPOSE
ton that Clark gives his warning. He tells
the Democratic leaders to go slow in the
matter, and that IL they should decide to
change the date there may be two Demo-
cratic conventions and two tickets in the
of this great faction of the party, has
caused CONSERVATION in the camp of the
Democrats.
At the time the date of the convention
was originally set ii was looked upon as a
victory for the silver men, although IL was
claimed by the sound-money men that an
early date was set so as TO give the State
an opportunity to indorse Governor Mat
thews for the head of the national ticket.
The silver men looked upon IL from anoth-
er standpoint. They claimed that Ii was
through their votes that the early date was
selected. and that it was so as to give them
an opportunity TO make a state platform
declaring for free silver. regardless OF the
platform of the national Democracy. This
Is what is causing the Democratic leaders
to lose sleep in their effort 10 reach some
means of postponing the convention. SO
they can appeal TO the delegates TO "be
Democrats" and follow the lead of the na-
tional convention when il comes 10 make
a state platform. The free silyerites see
the great danger OF this, and viii be here
IN force Thursday TO see that the date for
the convention Is not changed.