The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-31
Contrasting Delegations Come Up from
Nearly Every Precinct in
the County.
ROCHFORDlTES CLAIM VICTORY
CITY EMPLOYEES FIGURED IN MOST
OF THE TROUBLESOME SCENES.
Credentials Committee I'm Albright
SessiOn-What the Resolutions
VIII Be-ROchfOrd Ill.

AS was predicted, the Democratic prima-
ries held last night were conducted in
manner more disgraceful and riotous than
any held for years. In nearly every pre-
cinct there was trouble. Fights occurred in
about half of them and in at least half Of
the other half there were contests.
1t was a struggle on the part of the Tag
gart-Maguire forces, which now control the
city political machine and which are anx-
ious to get hold of the county machine,
against the men headed by County Chair
man John Rockford, who have the county
committee in hand. 1t was machine against
the silver push" but with the majority
of the committeeman under the command
of Rockford. 1t was a case of dog eat dog,
or to bring it up to date, of Spaniard
against Spaniard. Both sides were merciless
and left nothing undone which would bring
them the least strength.
The fight was one which was carried to
extremes never before witnessed in the DO
litical history of the county. 1t resulted in
feeling of enmity between the two factions
that 1t will be impossible to overcome in
the long time between now and the cleo
ton. 1t has caused a bad split in the party
II the victory is with the Rockford push
the healing process will be easier for the
men opposing are more experienced in po-
ntlcal work and can more easily take de-
feat If, however, the Rockford element
mas lost, it is certain to mean the defeat
or the entire party machine, Rockford.
Taggart and all.
1t was difficult to determine last night
now the convention will be made up
whether majority of delegates will be of
the Taggart kind or of the Rockford ele-
ment. There were so many contests, and,
without knowing the decisions of the COM
mittee on credentials, any statement in this
llne IS largely conjecture. Both sides were
confident in talk, but the Rockford element
seemed the more sincere in it's confidence
The committee on credentials met at 9:3O
o'clock and worked until midnight to reach
the Sixth ward, and then had to go back
and commence over again on the First
ward. There were comparatively few con-
tests on the North Side, and when the COM
mittee reached the South Side wards the
work was much slower. At the rate the
business progressed the committee must
have remained at the Cleveland Club rooms
until daylight. Nothing was given out and
no one had the least intimation how the de-
cisions were to be made
From the reports of the precinct meeting
it seemed that the Taggart element had
been thrown down." One South Side man.
who had heard from a. number of precincts
declared that the Taggart machine and the
whole city administration had received a
blow from which it would never recover
He said the spirit manifested at the pri-
mteries was to be interpreted as a denun-
citation of the administration.
CITY EMPLOYEES CONTESTS
At o'clock this morning neither the Tag
CART nor Rockford faction appeared to be-
lieve it had a sure thing on the convention,
although the latter made the strongest
claims. Both sides admitted that q good
deal depended on the action of the ere
dentials committee, on account of the large
number OF contests made by city employees.
The Rockford crowd had one advantage
Except in cases where precinct committee
men are in the city employ the credentials
were given to Rockford delegations unless
they were clearly in the minority. The city
employees were prepared to fight at every
step, and made contests on all sorts of
fiimsy pretexts. If the ring delegations are
seated the Rockford crowd will be defeated
in the convention, otherwise it will win with
flying colors. 1t was impossible to learn
anything of what was being done by the
committee. Two representatives of each side
were heard on the many contests. They
were simply permitted to tell their stories
and then retire, without receiving any infor-
nation as to what the decision was to be-
There was great throng about the door,
behind which the committee sat- and a Jour-
nal reporter was refused admission A note
was handed in to Judge Bartholomew, who
informed the reporter, through a patrolman,
who was on guard inside that the decision
of the committee would not be made public
until the convention meets this morning
One thing favorable to the Rockford dele
cations is that they hold the credentials in
most cases, and that the contests were be-
ing made by the Taggart men. 1t did not
appear that the work of the credentials
committee would be completed much before
daylight this morning as the committee
was only down to the Seventh ward at l
o'clock, and as the call of wards proceeded
they increased in number and difficulty.
There was the usual wild scenes incident
to Democratic gatherings at the Cleveland
Club rooms, where the committee met.
Among the great throngs were iunumerabIe
faces familiar to those who visit the city
offices. A good many of Rochford's friends
were on hand keeping 81 watch on what was
going on, among them E. w. Little, Judge
Cox and Romus f. Stuart. Judge Cox and
MIR. Stuart went home about 10 o'clock.
realizing that nothing was to be learned by
remaining. Mr.. Little remained until con-
sderably later. He observed that the Tag
CART men did not appear to be overconfident.
He said that IL Rockford was defeated IL
would be owing to the combined forces
against him. Rockford had against him the
combined efforts OF the ring and the two
Taggart newspapers.
There was but little activity at the Grand
Hotel. Charles Mcguire and Il. NJ. Johnson
were there early in the evening, and other
slate" candidates dropped in to report 10
the mayor how things had been progressing
Mr.. Mcguire said that he believed he would
be nominated to-day. Mayor Taggart did
ton. His friends. however, say that ne is
confident Rockford will be defeated in the
convention to-day and that tomorrow the
county organization will pass under his con-
troll and strengthen the machine that he
hopes will secure him the gubernatorial
nomination in two years.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
The committee on resolutions failed to
hold u meeting last night, although one was
called for o'clock, TO be held at the Of
flee of s. T. Morss, chairman of the COM
mittee. Mr.. Morss waited until IL O'Clock,
and as no member of the committee APP
peared he decided that the resolutions would
have to be prepared this morning before
the convention. 1t Is probable that the
resolutions will be brief and will not at
tempt to go far into a discussion of the
questions of the day. Three points. how
ever. Will be emphatically covered. 1t is
likely that 1trOnQ resolution will he re-