The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-22
SCENES AT THE PRIMARIES.
Lively Scrimmages in the Tenth
Cleared with n Gun.


TT was a fight between the pushes" in
the Tenth ward last night, with the chief
struggle in the fifth precinct. One fac
ton of the push represented Taggart and
the other Nayin, but primarily the contest
was between George Golfer and James
Moriarty, opposing candidates for the
councilmanic nomination. Goose" Eden
was the head Of the Taggart-Colter crowd,
and he handled the reins in a manner that
demonstrated his ability as a primary-con-
vention manager. 1t was claimed by the
opposing force that he did not live in the
precinct, but that made no difference with
him nor with the PEOPLE whose ally he was.
He named the chairman of the convention
and was Johnny the spot when it
was necessary to make motion or to sec
ond one He was there" at every stage
of the game and his influence carried the
convention, Notwithstanding the loud pro-
tests, kicks and curses of the Morfarity
crowd.
The convention was held in large room
adjoining the Germania House barroom at
the corner of South and Meridian streets.
Two hundred men packed themselves into
the room, and when the moment arrived
Goose" Eden moved that George Golfer be
made chairman.
"AI in favor of the motion say ayel" he
shouted.
"Aye? yelled a large part of the crowd,
while bowls Of MOT came from the other
push"
1.-THE ayes have it," declared Eden, with
out putting the negative side OF the ques-
ton, and Mr.. Golfer was installed to pre-
side. Four names were quickly presented
to represent the precinct in the convention,
I'D Nrrh. I1r,r.
elected. The Moriarty-Navin crowd was
not given any show at all. Moriarity was
there, and ne frothed at the mouth when he
realized that he had been foiled.
- - the - - proceedings " he
yelled as he kicked over chairs and tables
and sprang to the front of the room. This
Taggart scheme" He made blue streak
through the atmosphere as he scrambled to
the place which Golfer had occupied. The
Taggart-Colter push was Withdrawing TO
the neighboring barroom, where syndicate
beer was flowing freely. Moriarty mar
shaled the force and had delegates of his
cinct in the convention. 1t was declared
that the act of the other push" was un-
American and un-Democratic.
When the contestants had concluded their
work Moriarty drove to his saloon, at the
corner of Virginia avenue and East street.
and from there to the committee room
where ne presented his contest His follow
ers defeated in the primary, were not
loath to accept the hospitality of the OPP
plenty of it, and ii was merry crowd that
flled the barroom for an hour afterward.
No one not familiar with the condition
could have guessed that there had been
split in the ranks OF the push"
Beers all gomez announced the bar
tender when the last glass of the free beer
had been drawn. From that time it was
understood that money would have to be
passed over the bar in exchange for the
amber fluid, and there was hasty scatter
ing of the crowd a few rerAained about
George Golfer, in the back partb the room,
but as he showed no disposition to Spring
anything this crowd, too. disappeared.
The first precinct of the belhgerent Tenth
had a lively primary. 1t was held at the sa-
loon of oklahoma Ralph Balm, on Irish
HILL" and the redoubtable Balm himself was
THE precinct committeeman whose duty it
was to call the crowd to order. The Mori-
arty gang was on hand early, but Balm,
the leader of the Golfer forces. had acquired
a tumultuous jag and did not appear on
time. After waiting until a few minutes
after the Moriartyites called the meeting
10 order, declared c.. f. Myers chairman
and put their slate through. They had just
about finished when Balm appeared and de-
clared II all off. lie backed UP the declara-