The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-08
HANNA MEN CHANGE TACTICS
SECRECY NOW THE WATCHWORD AT
THEIR HEADQUARTERS.
Representative Manuel, Who Was
Claimed by the Opposition, Now Out
for the Regular Republican.


COLUMBUS, o, Jan. This was quiet
day among the army of political workers
enlisted III the senatorial contest but it
was productive of some important develop
ments. The situation is practically un-
changed, however. Senator Hanna's man
ayers were apparently more cheerful to-
day, but the cause for it was not apparent.
They have adopted quite different policy
in their canvass from that followed at the
beginning Of the contest here. They are
now following the tactics OF Mr.. Kurtz,
leader of the opposition. whose plan has
been to conceal everything possible from
the Hanna people 1t is not so easy now
to secure inside information from the
Hanna headquarters and this policy is gen.
orally approved by the senator's support
ers Whatever important developments
there may be are now kept under cover
and as result the opposition has beer
forced to partially change its plans.
The efforts of the steering committee to
whip the Democratic members of the Leg
isature in line to vote for a Republican,
| for senator have not been so successful as
they expected. AS a result, it Isl stated au-
thoritatively tonight that there will be
caucus of the Democratic members next
Monday night. The purpose of the caucus
is to locate the doubtful members and
pledge those who are willing to carry out
the proposed fusion SO that enough mem-
bers can be kept in line to insure the mains
tenance of a deadlock should one be forced.
The most reliable information tonight is
that Mr.. Kurtz will be proposed as the
candidate of the opposition, both for the
long and the short term 1t is believed Sv
the Democratic leaders now that Mr.. Kurtz
will be more acceptable to the majority OF
the Democratic members of the Legislature
than any other man. Mr.. Kurtz is almost
worn out with the fatigue of all-night vigils
in which he has participated at the Great
Southern Hotel during the week and has
spent the greater part of the day in re-
tirement.
There was a resumption of activity about
the anti-Hanna headquarters early in the
evening" when Allen O. Myers returned
from a mysterious mission. Myers left the
city on an early morning train and re-
turned in the afternoon with information
that was apparently satisfactory to Mr..
Kurtz. The opponents of Senator Hanna
are as confident as ever of winning.
COMBINE" WILL BE DIVIDED.
Senator Hanna spent a comparatively
quiet day at the Neil House. The activity
Speculation on the vote for senator has not
changed. Mr.. Hannas managers are fol-
lowing the tactics of the opposition and are
not giving any figures. 1t. is generally be-
lieved now that the vote on the first bal
lot will show Mr.. Hannas strength to be
about the same as in the organization OF
the Legislature The opposition will be di-
vided. Two of the Hamilton county mem-
bers are counted to vote for a free-silver
Republican. 1t is claimed by the leaders OF
the opposition that all the Democrats will
stand together, but this claim is not borne
out by the information from other sources.
1t is claimed by some that at least twenty
Democrats will refuse to attend the caucus,
but this is probably exaggerated. More con-
servativey the number is placed at from six
to ten. Indications tonight were that the
opposition is preparing for a long deadlock.
The calling of a mass convention of Re-
publicans in this city next Monday by the
Republican state executive committee to
protest against the attempt to defeat Sena-
tor Hanna somewhat disconnected the OPP
position. They claimed that 1t was merely
a move on the part of Hanna people to i'm
tmidate the Republican members who re-
fused to vote for Mr.. Hanna. The calling
of the convention has been generally in
Hanna in all parts of the State, according
to kilograms that have been received at
the Hanna headquarters. 1t develops that
the Kurtz people had decided to take adj
vantage of the efforts of certain Republics
ans to throw cold water on the ceremonies
attending the Inauguration of Governor
Bushnell The Kurtz people thought the
disapproval of Governor BushnelIs attitude
would keep the Hanna Republicans away
from the city. and they set about to bring
a big crowd of Governor BushnelPs friends
here. 1t is stated that for this purpose
railroad tickets were sent to certain locali-
ties where the Governors friends were
thought to be numerous, for free distribu-
ton, for the purpose of bringing as many
as possible to the city. The calling Of the
mass convention will now bring large
crowd OF Hanna supporters to Columbus.
Agents of the Kurtz people are to-day en-
deavoring to place pictures of the Governor
in the windows of business houses on all
the principal streets. They met with con-
siderable opposition and but a few pictures
appear.
WILL NOT ACT AS ESCORT.
Preparations are being pushed for the in
augural by the local committee. despite the
opposition. The inaugural parade will be
made up chieily OF military, as nearly all
of the political clubs that had decided TO
participate have rescinded their action
Some weeks ago the Ninth Battalion OF
colored troops rendered It's services as
escort TO the Governor in the parade. and
the Governor promptly accepted the tender
in recognition of the loyalty shown by the
colored people of the State in the election
in the face Of the tight made against him
on account OF the Jrrhana iynchfns To
day Major Charles Fillmore, commanding
the Ninth Battalion, sent TO the GoVarnor
letter declining TO act as personal