The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-21
WANT CURTIS'S SCALP
SILVER DEMOCRATS DEMAND HIS
RESIGNATION AS CITY CHAIRMAN.
Remarkably Lively Gathering of the
CIark's Committee Meets.

The push had about the liveliest meet
ing last night that city politics has ever
given rise TO, and it will be recalled that
in the past there have been some fairly
lively times in city politics. AS a result
Of the gathering a committee of five, COM
posed Of Franklin Landers, Romus F. Stu
art, E. II. Johnson (half- breed, Andrew
Bruce and Henry Neeson, representing the
real Democracy of the city. will demand the
resignation of Capt. ]. b. Curtis, city attor-
ney, as chairman of the Democratic city
committee. Captain Curtis is lucky to
get off thus lightly, for he came near be-
ing denounced before the world as all kinds
of a political traitor.
A week ago a dozen or more of the silver
enthusiasts gathered at the Hotel English
upon the call of Charles w. Bridges, to talk
about the reorganization of the city COM
mittee. Just few days before an anony-
nous circular had been distributed detail
ing an interview with Captain Curtis. print
ed in the Indianapolis News after election,
in which he did not appear particularly
sorry for the defeat of Bryan and denounc-
ing Curtis as no Democrat. Deputy City
Attorney Bell dropped in upon this meet
ing and nothing was accomplished, but an
adjournment was taken to last night.
AS time went on it became apparent that
the assembly room of the English would
hardly hold the crowd, and the big hall in
the Iron Hall building was procured and
the faithful were quietly notified that the
conclave would be held there. About sew
enty-five or eighty of them turned up, de-
spite the storm, and among them were all
the great statesmen who led the party to
such inglorious defeat last autumn. AS
might have been expected, the men who
exhibited what little brains might have
been found among the mob last year were
IN turn turned down last night and the
reins given over to others. 1t sounds queer
to call 'Cadi' Buskirk, Bill Flynn, Smith
Myers, Percy Thall, Judge Cox and such
servatives last night and there were only
eight of them on the final showdown.
The meeting had no sooner got started
than Mr.. Bridges presented a set of resolu-
tons understood to have been prepared by
Stuart and himself declaring that Curtis
had shown himself out of sympathy with
the party, had gloated over its downfall
and had proved a traitor to silver and all
the principles of the party that was furnish
ing him with a salary. Therefore, the reso-
buttons declared, it was a burning shame
that he should pose as the head of Demo-
crailc conlnlttee, ana they as Democrats,
could not recognize him as such or pay any
attention to any call issued by him. Then
the fun began. Judge M1llard Cox opposed
the resolutions warmly and came near be-
ing denounced as traitor and "Taggart
tool for his pains. Romus Stuart support
ed the resolutions in boisterous speech,
and then Bill Flynn, took turn at
speech-malking, He told in his own pic
turesque style how he had clicked" Albert
Lleber and all the rest of the gold bugs
that dared show their heads in the Eff
teenth 'war-rud' and was ready to do it
again, but these resolutions were too rough.
The debate was long and stormy, and grave
doubts We're expressed of the loyalty to the
sacred cause of nearly everybody that OPP
posed the resolutions. Finally Franklin
Landers made a fatherly speech in the
course Of which he offered q substitute reso-
luton providing for the appointment of
committee Of five which should demand the
resignation of Curtis, and IF it We're not
Forthcoming at once another meeting should
be called and further steps taken.
Then followed another debate of half an
hour, the conservatives mentioned OPP
posing this resolution. 1t was finally put to
vote and carried with but eight votes
against it, including those of Cox, Myers,
Thall, Mahoney, Flynn and Buskirk. When
1t came to appointing the committee Flynn,
in his rage, demanded that Bridges and
Stuart both be put upon it in order that
Curtis might kick them out of his office
when they should call upon him. Bridges
at once declined. "Yis," cried Flynn, yer
Jist loike some brave gin'rais OF know.
Yez hev pushed us into this scrap and now
yez is afraid to face the music!'