The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-23
SAW THE DANGER SIGNAL
POPULISTS AND SILVER REPUBLIC
ANS WARNED NOT TO DELAY.
They Hasten to Nominate "A City Tick
et-JohD f. White Is the Conven-
TONS Choice for Mayor.

Between seventy-ive and hundred Pop
ulists and silver Republicans held a con-
vention at the courthouse yesterday after
noon and placed a city ticket in the field,
A call had been issued for two separate
conventions and the Circuit Court room
ana Room ? Superior Court, had been en-
gagged.
At 3 o'clock a committee went over to
the Populists from the silver Republicans
and invited the delegation to join with them
in q general citizens convention. The in
vitation was accepted and the silverites
sat down together. +. ]. Van Vorhis was
selected as chairman land Harrison Ogburn
as secretary. The chairman made a speech
in which he warned the convention to be
ware of the machine" which was nomi-
mating Thomas Taggart over at Tomlnson
Hail. 1t was then decided to have a COM
mittee on resolutions, or, rather, q commit
tee to draft a platform to submit to the
people. This committee was composed of
Silas NJ. Shepard, E. Lawrence, Worth
Wright r. H. Hobbs and d. l.. Burnett
The report of the committee adopted
after considerable argument. The report
treated the financial question at some
length and then jumped on to the city adj
mlntstration. 1t declared the convention
opposed to the present Park Board and its
methods, and against the present system
OF making street and other improvements.
1t declared the convention in favor of three
cent street-railroad fares and substantial
reduction in water and electric-light rates
One plank" of the platform read: I'VE
demand that the business of our city in all
its details, shall be an open book to all its
citizens, and that the mayor and other Of
f1cers shall devote their time to the bust
ness for which they are paid"
During the argument over the report of
the committee William V. Rocker made a
speech, in which he announced his senti-
ments and declared that the question
seemed to be whether or not the Populist
idea should rule over the silver Republican
idea Mr.. Rocker then asked permission
of the convention to bolt. He was followed
Il few minutes later by W. b. Atkinson,
who withdrew from the convention because
he did not believe it the best thing to nom
mate a ticket without giving all citizens
an opportunity to participate. He wanted
the convention to adjourn for week. There
was q long argument over this point, but
1t was decided finally that it would be dam
gerous to adjourn without nominating
ticket.
You can't tell what influences will be
brought to bear by those fellows over at
Tomlinson Hail." said one delegate. They
may get into our convention ana control
ii" This proposition brought with 1T such
force that the convention straightway pro-
ceeded to nominate q ticket, with the ex-
ception of councilmen. John f. White,
Democratic member of the Board of Public
Safety under Mayor Denny, appeared to be
the unanimous choice of the convention for
mayor. Mr.. White was not present, but
one of his supporters assured the conven-
ton he would accept the nomination. +.
M. BranthooVer, secretary of the Demo-
cratic Silver League, was the choice of the
convention for city clerk. Mr.. Branthoover
was in the convention and made a speech
of acceptance. Clarence Wier, a free-silver
Republican, was the nominee for police
Judge. The convention decided to place the
s<1,4 F1,- oil IN he
hands of a committee of fifteen, which is
yet to be selected.