The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-08
UP TO PEANUT POLITICS
GOVERNOR HOLDS UP AN ELECTION
BOARD APPOINTMENT.
Afraid j. e. Mccullough, Democrat
BaIIot-GeneraI Harrison's Plans.

Governor Matthews appears to have got
into a right pretty snarl with the Pop
ocratic State committee over the organiza-
ton of the State Board of Election Com
missioners. The ballot law of Indiana re-
quires that the board shall consist of the
Governor and one representative of each
OF the great parties, these other two men,
bers to be named by the Governor upon the
recommendation of the chairman of the
respective State committees. Some time
ago r. o. Hawkins was named as the Re-
publican member and confirmed. Chairman
Holt. of the Democratic State committee
named John E. Mccullough. Mccullough
was. before the State convention, one of
the leaders of the sound-money forces, but
since that event he has had little or moth
ing to say further than that he is in line
with his party. Governor Matthews, how
ever, objected to confirming him, without
giving any reasons therefor. Presumably
he feared that when the question of putting
the National Democratic ticket on the ball
lot sheet comes up Mr.. Mccullough might
be inclined to give the sound money men
fair chance. AT any rate, the Governor
knew that Mccullough could not be de-
pended upon to undertake any peanut
methods of shutting out the sound-money
Democracy.
He has, therefore, delayed confirming the
appointment, but Chairman Holt notified
MIN yesterday morning that the nominal
ton of Mccullough would stick. He in
terprets the wording of the law to mean
thaA the Governor is required to appoint
the men named to him, and is prepared to
stand on that ground, while the Governor
holds that he Gun reject the nominations
and require that new ones be submitted
In the meantime the organization of the
board has been delayed beyond the usual
time. and if it is not organized very short
ly there will be trouble in getting the
proper paper and having the ballots printed
in time for distribution throughout the
State, as required by law. 1t is claimed
that the Governor has further object in
requiring that the Democratic member
shall be man whom he can personally
control. 1t is said that he desires to over
ride the precedent by which the clerk of
the State printing bureau has always been
mace clerk OF the Election Board, and have
the brother of his private secretary APP
pointed instead of the clerk of the bureau
Mr. Carter, who is a Republican.
Governor Matthews does not propose that
any any Democrats shall dodge the silver issue
this year. Some of the strongest leaders
of the Indiana Democracy made a hard
ngnt Tor sound money before the State
convention and since then have been TAX
ing their time about thinking it over
Among those are Hon. A G. Smith, ex-At-
G1ornev-general; Hon. John w. Kern, State
ex-member of the Legislature. A few days
ago, the story goes, the Governor called
upon Chairman Holt, of the State commit
tee. and demanded to know why these
men 0were not participating in the cam
palgn Mr. Holt did not know and the
conference ended thus unsatisfactory.
The Governor then called John Roche
ford. chairman Of the Popocratic county
committee, to his office and wanted to
know what Smith, Kern and Mccullough
We're doing in the campaign. Mr.. Roche.
lord had not heard. of them doing any,
thing. The Governor then stated that it
was time all these men who had been
identified with the gold side of the fight
We're showing their colors. Mr.. ROCKFORD
said that he had verbal assurances from
each of them that he would support the
ticket, as he also had from Mr.. w. r.
Myers ex-Secretary of State, who had also
participated conspicuously in the gold side
of the fight before the convention.
Myers is all right said the Governor.
He appeared on the same platform as me
and talked at the ratification meeting
But he was not satisfied with any word of
mouth from Smith, Kern and Mccullough.
in public before he would be assured of
their loyalty. He did not think that they
We're needed particularly in the campaign,
as there was plenty of others to make
speeches and carry on the fight for silver.
but these were men who had been honored
by the party in the past and all loyal sill
yer men wanted to know where they stood
in the fight as matter for future refer
enCe.
AS a result of the conference Mr. Roche
ford has notified MeSSrS. Smith, Kern and
Mccullough that he expects to have a pub
lie meeting addressed by them in this city
within the next few weeks and desires to
that occasion. The date for the meeting
has not been set and Mr.. ROCKFORD does
not yet know whether the gentlemen
named have time to devote to the prepara-
SnpnchpS