The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-16
CONTEST FOR SENATOR
STATE COMMITTEE SAYS 1T MUST
NOT ENTER IN THIS CAMPAIGN.
Republican ENHANCEMENT in One Dis
trict Taken Up-GIoNving Outlook
in Every District.

The Republican State committee was in
session yesterday from II O'Clock in the
morning until late in the afternoon, and in
the evening a session of the executive COM
mittee was held to carry out the plans
formulated by the State committee. The
first subject taken up was the entangle-
ment in the legislative nomination in the
Clark. Floyd and Jefferson district where
the convention some weeks ago split while
in session, one faction nominating V. K.
Officer, of Madison, and the other J. NJ.
Reynolds, of Clark. This is the one 1egisa-
tive nomination where the senatorial ques-
ton has entered and caused difficulty. The
discussion Of it caused the committee to
take brief review of the field, to discover
If possible, whether the contest between
the senatorial aspirants, Messrs. Fairbanks
and McKeen, has caused or is likely to
cause any diminution of the Republican
chances of carrying the Legislature. 1t was
found that, while there had been several
warm contests for nominate upon seha-
torial lines at various points in the State
this was the only one where any Trouble
had resulted or was likely to result Never
theless, it was the sentiment of The COM
mittee, expressed by the various members,
that the senatorial question should be left
to take care of itself. and discussion of it
the unanimous opinion that the first thing
to do was to elect a Republican Legisla-
ture, which, under the Democratic gerry
mander of 1885, is not going to be an easy
matter, even though the Republicans carry
the State by heavy plurality. The mem
bers believe that there is ample time after
the Legislature iSf elected for consideration
of the question Of who shall succeed Voor-
hees. In this specific case the committee
decided that il had no power to arbitrarily
settle the matter but appointed S. e. ker-
cheYal and, j. d. Early, q subcommittee
to look INFO the matter and advise an ami
cable adjustment
AS at all meetings of the State commit
Tee, IAuch of the time was consumed in lis
teniFig to a report from each district, made
by the member representing it, 1t is a
working committee this year, and each
member had been on the road almost con-
stantly, travelling over every county in his
district and making thorough study of
the political condition. Every member was
thoroughly familiar with the poll taken in
his district. and talked from knowledge and
not from hearsay. The reports were SO
natterlng that, while each member knew
that his own district was in good condition
he was loath to believe that the others
III anything further were needed since the
smash-up in the Popocratic State organiza-
tlon 10 snow that the free-Silver movement
had gone to pieces in Indiana, these re-
ports demonstrated the fact beyond
doubt. They showed rapid growth of the
sound-money sentiment among the Demo-
Gratis, and 1T is not now confined to the cit
les and towns, as it was month ago, but
Is rapidly spreading through the rural dis
triets. The large numbers of doubtful Dem
ocrats are finding where they will land
and, while a few of them have fallen into
line for Organism and more have declared
Tor Palmer, very large number have
made up their minds to put their votes
where they will do the most good, lay aside
party for the once and vote straight for
Mckinley and the salvation of the national
credit.