The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-05-12
FIGHT IN INDIANA.
Harrison Men Will not Give Their
Candidate mn.


Indianapolis, May S.-The Republic
an state convention, which meets here
tomorrow, promises to bring out one
of the liveliest rows in the history of
the party in the state, and ex-PreSi-
dent Harrison and his much discussed
candidacy promises to furnish large
portion of the disturbing element.
That, too, without the ex-president's
consent. The indications are that
when the battle over delegate instruc
tons is reached, the line will be sharp
~ drawn between Harrison and Nc
kinley, and on that basis the Mckin-
ley opposition forces are laying their
plans and expanding their argument
to-day. Gen. Harrison still maintains
his emphatic refusal to be a candidate
and refuses word of encouragement
to those who would be his standard
bearers, bat his band continues to play
on him in spite of his unrelenting atti-
tude
The latest Harrison boom was helped
to-day in the shape of alleged aSsur-
anceS from the East that in the event
Of the Ohio candidate failing to re-
ceive the nOminat ton on the first ballot
the entire opposition will unite on the
ex-president. With the news from the
East, the opposition took courage and
have worked hard to-day to defeat in
structions. They argue that with the
possibility of Harrison's nomination,
Indiana, his own state, shCu be free
to turn to his aid. That they will be
successful is believed to be very doubt
full, even the opposition leaders admit
ting that chances of Mckinley instruc-
tiOns are good, while the Mckinley
people, led by State Chairman Gowdy,
are positive in their assertion that the
convention will go for the Ohio man
with a rush. Both sides admit, how
ever, that the Harrison movement is
certain to cause a fight of no mean
quality.
GOwdy Confident
'"There is no doubt at all that in
structions for Mckinley will be given"
said Chairman Gowdy to-day. "Of
course we will have to fight for it,
but we are sure to win. AS to the
platform, that will be for sound
money. There will be no fight on the
silver question"
United States Marshal Ransdell,
who is generally understood to be
closer to Gen. Harrison than any other
of the eX-president's friends, made the
following statement to the Associated
Press to-day:
'It must be understood that Mr.. Har-
rison is not a candidate in any sense
of the word. He stands firmly by his
letter to Chairman Gowdy, made pub
lie through the Associated Press sew
eral weeks ago. and will not allow his
name used in any way at to-morrow's
gathering. But we who count ourselves
I1i fU;o hoI hot oh Poi
so develop at st. Louis that general
demand for his nomination is made,
that he would accept the nomination.
Any man would. On that ground we
are opposing Mckinley instructions,
believing that Indiana should be I'M
hampered and free to go to the sup
port of the general should occasion
arise
Gen Harrison has been invited to
address the convention, but sent word
to Chairman Gowdy that he could not
give a definite answer before to-mor-
row. 1t is believed, however. that he
will make short speech, but that no
significance attaches to his appearance
before the delegates.
This Settles 1T
Later eight of the thirteen districts
in the state held caucuses and instruct
ed their representatives on the reSOlu-
tons committee to vote for the incor-
poration of Mckinley resolutions in
the platform, and one district, the
Fourth, refused to vote against in
structions. merely tabling the resOTu-
ton. This, Mckinley and anti-Mc-
Kinley forces, alike, concede to settle
the matter unless the unexpected hap
pens, and the unexpected in this In
stance is the nature of a speech which
it is vaguely rumored that Gen. Harrf-
son may make at the convention. The
ex-president has been invited to adj
dress the gathering, and what he may
do and say, providing he accepts the
invitation, is the element of uncertain
ty in the situation. 1t is generally be-
lieyed that no impending sensation is
hidden under that appearance, but dis
Quieting rumOrs, unverified but per-
sistent, are floating about Republican
headquarters to the effect that STAN
pede to Harrison will follow his adj
dress. The fact that both ex-United
States Marshal Daniel Ransdell and
John G. New are out in interviews de-
claring that no Mckinley instructions
will be adopted if the ex-president
makes a speech, is pointed to as sig
nifcant in view of the fact that he
has not refused the invitation, but the
Mckinley men laugh at the talk and
declare they will have hands-dowE
walkover. Meanwhile Cen Harrison
maintains silence and has not even an
nounced his determination to address
the convention.