The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-23
THE FIGHT FOR AUpIToR.
flaming Decentralization COunty's
TreacherY Afterwards.

INSTRUMENTATION OOunty'0
Treachery Afterwards.
AS had been anticipated Samuel M Rails
ton. of Lebanon. Boone county. was the,
only name presented for secretary of state
on the roll call by districts A delegate from
Tippecanoe moved that the nomination be
made unanimous The motion was put and
Senator Turpie declared Mr.. Ralston to be
the unanimous choice of the convention
There were calls for that gentleman and lie
came forward to speak briefly, thanking the
convention for calling him to head the tick
et without division He accepted the obliga-
ton without any sort of mental reservation
and asked the delegates to take a message
of good cheer to the Democrats of the State,
whom he adjured to fight bravely, assured
that if zach did his duty success must he
sure.
Next came the roll call by districts for
candidates for auditor. Winfield S. johnson
was named by the Second district After
the district had been passed "Ar' Harston.
of this CITY, crowded down to its seats, and
asked that the district be called again, when
he proceeded to nominate Joseph t. Fan
ming. Harston, when asked what business
he had in the Second district, facetiously
declared he had moved down to the south
part of the State for The day. Thomas Tag
SdIl dIOSS 10 .ldulG RAINING Wn6l the sew
enth district was reached, but the chair said
he was slready nominated. John W. Minor
named by the Seventh, William H.
Ernst by the Eighth and jerome Herff by
the Eleventh, when the balloting proceeded
by counties There was little interest as the
roll call proceeded. Once, when Marion
county cast ninety-nine votes for Tanning
and four for Minor, the Tanning people
cheered. The convention was inert and
seemed Indifferent to the result. The total
official number of delegates in the conven-
ton was 1928, of which 765 were necessary
for choice None Of the candidates having
received a majority, the chairman ordered
another poll taken. There was but little in
terest as 1T proceeded, although as it showed
RAINING gains ''AP' Harston and other
thusiastic followers of the old candidate
gave sundry Whoops of satisfaction. The
result of the second ballot was: Tanning,
5S1; Minor, 3S3; Johnson, 165; Ernst, 100, and
Herff, 295. No choice having been made the
third ballot was taken. Mortimer Nye, ex-
lieutenant governor assumed the gaveI
but even with his parliamentary experience,
could not subdue the beehive buzzing of
the convention. There was none of the wild
enthusiasm and tumultuous noises of the
ordinary Democratic convention, but the
hum made it difficult for the roll clerks to
hear.
1t being apparent that William H. Ernst
could not be nominated and was running far
behind his vote on the second ballot, that
drew his name. He had received but one
vote az this time. AS the vote proceeded
after his withdrawal it was apparent that
the votes which had been cast for him be-
fore were going to Tanning and Minor in
about equal proportion. When Harrison
county was reached John r. East. of War
rick county, arose To withdraw the name of
Winfield s. Johnson, narrowing the contest
down TO Tanning, Minor and Herff. Johnson
received but eleven votes before his name
was Withdrawn.
A NECK AND NECK RACE.
Then it was, neck and neck time be-
tween Tanning and Minor. both having $50
votes when the vote of Johnson county was
cast. On Marion county being reached there
was a change of one vote, Thomas Taggart
announcing 100 for Tanning and three for
Minor. After this vote was announced. an
obstreperous delegate somewhat under the
influence, challenged the vote claiming there
were three votes for Ernst A good deal OF
excitement prevailed in the rear of the hall.
delegates from other districts standing on
their seats gazing at the crowd curiously.s
When it was explained 10 the Ernst man
that his candidate had withdrawn his
name, he was satisfied and the vote stood
as announced by the chairman OF the dele
CATION. The vote veered back and forth,
but with the weight Marion county's vote
put on the side for Tanning. his nomination
seemed assured. There was only about fifty
votes difference between Minor and Tanning
at the end of the rollcall. Hamilton county
CIldHBSu It's vote 10 HlteeH Tor ray
ette changed 10 eight for Minor. At this
juncture Senator Turpie returned to the
chair. lie arbitrarily refused to allow any
vote to be changed, saying that under the
rules changes could not be allowed unless
directed by the chair.
The chair" said he. directs no changes.
The clerks will foot up the votep4
Before the vote was announced move
menT was set on foot to secure Vanderburg
countys thirty-six votes for Tanning by
a promise OF Marion county's one hundred
solid votes for Henry Stockfleth for
treasurer. The attitude of Vanderburg,
however, was most belligerent. The vote
announced was Tanning, 70l Minor GOO:
Herff, 2i4: Johnson. IL. Ernst q
The excitement in the First district was
most intense as the fourth ballot proceeded.
Both the Tanning and Minor men were at
work trying TO get the vote of the district
especially the thirty-six from Vanderburg
county and eighteen from Gibson. Goodwin
and Menzies were divided as 10 whether
they should trade with Minor Tanning.
Menzies favoring the latter course: believ-
ing Marion countys one hundred sure"
votes would make the election OF Stockfleth
certain. Goodwin. on the other hand. feared
the Tanning men would not be able To con-
troll the Marion county vote for StockhetF