The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-04
THEY NAMED NO TICKET
POPULTsTs STILL ATTACHED TO THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
County Convention Last Night Manfp-
uIated by Jennings and Two
Young Attorneys.

Twenty-four Populists and alleged Popu-
lists met last night at the Criminal Court
room for the purpose of not nominating a
county ticket. There were perhaps six of
the delegates" who yearned for indie
pendence in the coming election and held out
for the naming of ticket, but they counted
for nothing Frank Shepard, Allen Jennings
and mysterious parsonage named S. p
Dixon, attorney whom the men who wore
the grey hirsute badges of the party had
never seen before nor heard Of" engineered
the meeting to the goal of no action. At
times things grew squally, but by ingenious
petting and light pulling of the reins these
three men accomplished their pur-
pose. Harrison Ogborn was elected
chairman of the convention. and
John Medart secretary. When this
action had been taken Frank Shepard
began his evenings work. He said that he
had not put himself in touch with the work.
ings of the party. He supported principles,
not parties. A resolutions committee COM
posed of Ogborn, Medart and Hilton was
appointed, and Ogborn produced a set of
resolutions which he and others had worked
all day Sunday preparing and which the
convention was welcome to-" These resolu-
tons were reported on favorably by the
looking at the ready-prepared resolutions
there was much discussion of the affairs of
the party.
w. P. Atkinson said there are 1900 Popu-
lists in the county who wanted to vote for
a straight Popuist free-silver ticket and
would have no other. He said the Populists
want unity of action. Committees from the
Populsts. he related. had gone to the Demo-
Gratis and conferred with them. They found
that the Democrats did not want to have
anything to do with the Populists. Then"
said Atkinson, their candidate for Congress
came to US and begged us not to nominate
candidate for Congress. He gave us to
understand that the Populists would have
representation on the Democratic ticket if
they nominated no candidate for Congress.
We did as he asked and we got nothing.
We were slapped in the face. The machin-
cry of the Democratic party is in the hands
OF the gold-bugs, no doubt of it in the world.
Hun hundreds Of Populists in this, district be-
lieve that Baiy will betray them just as
Turpie, VOORHEES, and Bynum did. There is
no good faith in the Democratic machine
OF this county,
Atkinson continued in this strain and
when he finished one lone pair of hands APP
plauded him.
10 counterfeit any effect that Adkinson's
fiery speech might have had, a man named
Thompson. from the West End" arose
and said it would be suicide for the Popu-
lists must support the Democratic ticket
II they expect the Democrats to continue
to support free silver and the denomination
OF w. }. Bryan He advocated KILN = the
gold bugs who are on the Democratic ticket.
Our business is TO educate the Democrats
he said.
All the time of the discussion Frank
Shepard sat on one side of the room and
the mysterious Dixon on the other. They
Ill concealed their smiles when the others
were talking, but they became serious as
Owls when they arose to make a ''sugges-
ton, which they very often did Jennings
ana Atkinson became, entangled in per-
Jenningss politics. Chairman Ogborn ven
tured Gentlemen. please don't get per-
ton was paid to him. Atkinson charged
Jennings with having been candidate at
the Democratic legislative convention.
AT this time the committee on resolutions
reported. The resolutions warned Populists
against voting for Turpie, 1.-THE enemy of
tree silver, if he should be renamed as
CARED for Bryan and the national Populist
platform and, greatest of all, free silver
The trio which was leading the convention,
succeeded In persuading the others that it
would not be right to condemn the Demo-
Gratis for not having given the Populists two
places on the. ticket and two paragraphs
IN the resolutions having this spirit were
struck out.
With a sauve and modest smile Frank
shepard oHered resolution that the con-
vention should nominate no candidates, ex-
pressing ralth in the sincerity of the mass
Of the Democrats in their declaration for
the Tree coinage of silver and criticising
the Democrats for not recognizing the Pom
ulists. Shepard afterward generously per-
mitted the striking out of the criticism.
Inc resolution went through.
The spectators found it amusing and in
structive to see the two young LAWYERS.
shepard and Dixon, play with the old gray
bearded Populists. They seemed to exfract
much pleasure from it. and the old men
were easily bent. Only once or twice did
the real Ingram Populists express any
suspicion or the young mems sincerity and
then It was easily smoothed over Atkinson
ana the one or two who chung to him
threatened to hold a convention and nomi-
nate n ticket the Populists can vote for
out Shepard had an antidote for this senti-
ment In that any voter can scratch the
gold bugs on the Democratic ticket if he
thinks he finds one" =
:, me Democratic machine had controlled
the convention very effectively.