The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-01
kEAU1 fUh bAllLE
CLOSE OF THE PRELIMINARY sKIR-
MIsHEs IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT.
New Castle and Knightstown the
Scenes of Demonstrations I'm Be-
half OF Both Candidates.
AN EXCITING DAY In HENRY
COUNTY-sEAT FILLED BY THRONGs
OF INTERESTED PARTIsANs,
Who Took Turns I'm Cheering Their
Favorites and Listening to Bitter
and Eloquent Speeches.
NO DISORDER AT ANY POINT
SPECIAL OFFICERS WILL BE ON
DUTY IN NEW CASTLE TO-DAY.
johnson Suffers a Notable Detection
at Knightstown, hut the Result In
the County Is Uncertain.
Who Took Turns in Cheering Their
Favorites and Listening to Bitter
and Eloquent Speeches.
NO DISORDER AT ANY POINT
SPECIAL OFFICERS WILL BE ON
DUTY IN NEW CASTLE TODAY.
johnson Suffers a Notable Detection
at Knightstown, hut the Result I'm
the County Is Uncertain.
taff CORRESPONDENTS Of the journal.

Staff Correspondence Of the Journal.
NEW CASTLE, Ind, March 3.-The night
before the day that is to settle the question
at issue between James z. Watson and Hen
ry u. Johnson finds each candidate and his
friends apparently confident of success. To-
day and to-lligna the finishing touches were
put to campaign that is a type of its own,
and that will be recalled and its incidents
recounted when the first voter of to-day be-
comes a grandfather.
To-day both candidates put in an exceed
ingly busy day. Mr.. Johnson arrived at 10
O'Clock from Blountsyille, where he spoke
last night. The rigors Of the chase that
Watson has been leading him are telling on
him, and he admitted to the representative of
the Journal that he Is tired out and is glad
the campaign is over.
Il am ready at any time." said he, ito hear
the verdict of the people of Henry county,
and shall cheerfully acquiesce In their de-
csion- / have talked with nearly all the
voters in the several meetings 1 have ad-
dressed; they understand the issue and can
vote knowingly and understandingly now. 1
believe that / shall carry the county,"
Representative Watson is not one of those
who let's his ambition and wishes run away
with his Judgment. In his race against Hol-
man, two years ago, he was always con-
servative in his estimates, and at no time
did he claim that ne would be elected. He is
not making any positive claims now.
1T Is just this way" said he. I'VE have
had an awful ugly fight. When came into
this county nine voters cut of ten were
against me. Now, I believe my chances are
better than ever. 1t has taken tremendous
work, and no man was ever under such a
burden Of obligation to his friends. 1 believe
we will win.'
The final rallies and the last charges
occurred here and at Knightstown to-day
and tonight. An envious opponent of Wat
cons said of the latter, to-day. that he be-
gan the days work by conducting a sunrise
prayer meeting at the African NJ. K. Church.
This was not literally true, but the fact was
he began his speech making at 8 o'clock, his
first audience being of the Ethiopian per-
suasion. There are sixty-five colored voters
In the township, and sixty-two of them were
in this mornings meeting. Watson has a
genius for placing himself en- rapport with
any occasion or any assemblage, and when
the colored brothers filed out of the meet
ing place they had a more exalted opinion
Of the majesty, dignity and worth of the
colored race than they ever did before.
Watson spent a couple Of hours after this
meeting in visiting the factories and shaking
hands with the employees. At noon he made
speech to the employees of the bicycle
works. This afternoon he shook hands all
round again, and tonight spoke to a crowd
at the opera house.
Representative Johnson was scarce less
diligently employed. This morning he did !.
- >f 1,o nj
from all parts of the county, and was In,
conference with his advisers. This after
noon he spoke for two hours and half at
the Opera House, then drove fifteen miles
to Knightstown. where he spoke tonight
He will return here tomorrow, when both
candidates will assist in putting the votes
into the ballot box.
BIG CROWDS OF PEOPLE
Early this morning the indications were
that the bulk OF the voting population oil
Henry county would spend the day In New
Castle. Representatives from the out coun-
ties began 10 come early. BY 10 o'clock the
crowds on the sidewalks In some places be-
came so dense that pedestrians had to take
the middle Of the street. 1t was not appar-
ent that either candidate had any advantage
There were about an equal number. of John
SON and Watson badges visible, and for every
Watson man with boast or claim or argu-
ment there was Johnson man to deny OF
refute It, AS the day wore on there was
much argument and occasional loud talk bu,
there was little of 1t that was not good
humored. AS promoter of good order, a
special force Of deputy sheriffs was sworn
in.
The Johnson meeting at the Opera House
this afternoon Was a great success. The
Opera House will seat from 1,200 to 1,4OO peo.
pie, and every seat was occupied and two OF
three hundred people stood in the aisles. John
sons appearance provoked deafening ap.
plause. to which he bowed his acknowledg
ments. The gray-haired leaders Of the party
occupied seats on the platform, among then
being General Grose and ex-Judge NJ. l.
Bundy. During lull Miss Anna livesey
marched out upon the stage, and, in behal
OF the ladies Of New Castle who are in favor
of the denomination Of Johnson, presented
the speaker with a beautiful bunch OF rec
and white roses. The Introductory remarks
were made by General Grose, who vouchet
for 1t that Johnson's constituents alread,
knew much OF him, but nothing i'll of him
The applause having subsided, Mr.. johnson
at once corrected the statement of Genera
Grose that he would address those presen
upon the issues of the approaching cam
paign. That was not his purpose In comm,
here. II the campaign for a denomination
to Congress. he said. had been conducted or
a plane OF decency and honor. he would no
have been here, but. having taken the turr
that 1t had. he was here to battle against
conspiracy TO blackguard him out of publ.
life. After the next election. dh,
speaker said. all branches of thu
national government will be in the hands
of the Republicans. and after the cheer,
had subsided and the bonflres had burned
out there would be need of experience
knowledge and intelligence to meet the de.
mand for the most important Legislation
since the war. There were nobler openings