The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-23

Secretary of state-sAMUEL M. RALsToN.
Auditor of state-JoHN w MINOR, of Marion
county.
Attorney General--JOIIN G. M'NUTT. of vigo.
Clerk Supreme Court-HENRY WARRUM, of
Marion.
Superintendent Public Instructon-W. B. SIN
CLAIR, of Starke.
State Observation-Disclosures s. GUTHRIE. of
state Geoiogist-EDwARD BARRETT of Hen
bricks.
Judges Supreme Court
Second District-LEoNARD j. HACKNEY. of
Third District-JAMEs MCABE. of Warren.
Fifth District-TIMOTHY E. HOWARD, of
ST. Joseph.
Judges Appellate Court
First District-EDwIN TAYLOR. of Wander
Second District-c. j. KoLEMEYER. of
Third District-EDGAR A. BROWN. of
Fourth District-wILLIAM S. OWEN. Of
Fifth District-JoHANNA KoPELKE of
Lake.
The Democratic state convention at Tom
lirson Hall yesterday, where the above cam
didates were nominated. was marked by
several sensational features. In the first
place. the Taggart-Morss "half-breed" COM
bine was badly routed in their efforts to
nominate Joseph T. Tanning for secretary
of state, and learned with disgust that it's
power is not all-powerful throughout the
State, and that it cannot hope to dominate
things hereafter without taking other poll
ticians into consideration Another thing
for which the convention was notable was
the passing OF Allen w. Clark, king of all
the push who conducted the Bryan forces
in 1896, and who since that time has rep
resented much if not more than any one
other man in Indiana the free silver or BIZ
metallic idea, as he and his followers are
now fond of calling the 16 to ! theory.
Clark's downfall was entirely due to the
treachery of the Marion county half
Breeds who had placed his name on the
"slate" and made him half way believe I'M
til the day before the convention that he
might depend on the support of Marion
county. Clark learned too late that Kelley
had been set up to divide his strength, and
that at the critical moment Reilys vote
was to be thrown to Henry Warrum, all of
which came to pass Clark at the outset re-
ceiving but a small portion. of Marion coun-
ty votes, and at the wind up only six out of
103. Incidental to the downfall of the Fan
ming boom, Democrats from the south of
the State learned that there is not much
trust to be put in promises made by Tag
CART and other Marion county politicians.
The First district which came here to nomi-
nate Henry Stockfeth, was induced to cast
it's heavy vote for Tanning by promises of a
large vote from Marion county, but when
the time came the bosses were unable or,
at least, did not care to deliver the vote, and
Stock1eth was buried in the landslide that
nominated Hugh Doherty for treasurer.
Taggart's forces were never more complete
ly surprised that when John w. Minor, of
this city, was nominated for auditor. He re-
ceived but four votes from Marion county,
yet by judicious wire pulling and by COM
bining with Doherty he completely annihi
lated the Taggart schemes and was nomi-
mated after one of the two exciting contests
of the' convention. 1t was a foregone con-
clusion that Judge Leonard J. Hackney
would be renominated. 1t only took one
ballot to do this. and the opposition devel
oped such a small following that it could
hardly be dignifed with the name of con-
test, Judge Hackney receiving l, 269 votes
and Hugh D. McMullen, his opponent,
but 247.>
The big delegations from the south part
of the State. which came here determined
to land at least one of the important places,
went home feeling very unkindly toward
Marion county and it's political tricksters
the good offices to go to the north half of
Indiana. Only one or two unimportant
places were given to the southern districts,
the nomination for secretary going to the
Ninth district. those for auditor and clerk
to the Seventh Qndianapolis) treasurer to
the Eighth and superintendent of instruc-
ton to the Thirteenth. While the Fifth
got the attorney generalship and the state
geologist and the Fourth the statistician,
the big territory of the First, Second and
Third districts did not get an office Dem
ocrats from these districts vowed that they
would remember Taggart two years hence.
There is a large German contingency from
the southern quarter of the State, but al
though it had several strong candidates. no
representation was given to it. This created
further dissatisfaction, and long before the
convention was nearly ended scores of del
egates stalked out in high dudgeon
The convention was very unlike anything
of Democratic nature seen for many
years, and was very tame in comparison
with the recent three days convention of
Mayor Taggart and the local Democracy.
1t was depressingly orderly to spectators
who come to Democratic conventions ex-
pecting to witness vigorous, enthusiastic,
noisy times. One spectator said that it was
more ike d Sunday-School gathering than
of Democratic politicians. A quiet Demo-
cratic convention only occurs when coming
defeat is regarded by the party leaders as
a stern fact. The platform was more re-
markable for its length, in the estimation
of tho many who heard it read. than for
any of its utterances. Those who had ex-
pected a fierce TRADE on the war situation
were greatly disappointed, 1t could
scarcely have been milder without being an
open Endorsement of the administration war
policy. While men who are cassed as gold
Democrats were not plentiful. there was
less Of Populism apparent in the physical
makeup of the delegates and among them
were men who have always been active in
politics, as they demonstrated by their abil-
ity to set at naught the well-laid plans of
such polished convention manipulators as
Taggart, Kern and others. Many of the
men who were at the fore yesterday were
of that class which. while sympa thizing
with the gold Democrats. kept discreetly in
the background two years ago and took
no sides. They are looked upon as the ele-
ment TO restore harmony without which
the party leaders admit the organiza don
must go under.
CONVENTION IN DETAIL.