The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-02


most loudly cheered of any one. A large
portion of the precinct committeeman
elected Wednesday night were city en-
ployes and they hailed Captain Curtis with
delight. Hardly had Mr. Hoffman finished
declaring Mr.. Bell was an Original" silver
man when members of the push" began
circulating handful showing by an in
terview with the new chairman published in
the Sentinel June Is, 1896, that Bell was
an Original gold man, and a stanch
friend of sound money. The interview. is
reproduced below.
1t has been predicted for some time by
the 'stalwarts'' that Taggart's aim was to
turn Marion county over to the half
breeds" so as to stifie free silver in the
coming state convention. With the Marion
county delegation in the state convention
under his control the mayor will be in
position to exert very large influence in
the state convention with regard to the
platform adopted and the candidates chosen.
Silver men assert that Taggart's influence
will be thrown to Judge Hackney who has
been practically ostracized by the silver
Democrats of his own county The silver
men are contrasting the platform adopted
at the county convention Thursday with
that of the city convention of last year.
which not only reaffirmed the Chicago plat
form but was even more radical on the
'16-to-I' doctrine. The silver question was
practically ignored Thursday, s. E. Morss.
editor of the Sentinel, read the platform on
both occasions, and, as the chairman Of the
committee on resolutions on both occasions,
was credited with being the author of the
two platforms. The fact that the silver
question was barely mentioned Thursday is
fo1r ne r1<7fo
to the background in the state convention
by the Taggart ring and the elements that
assured his victory day before yesterday.
The new chairman appoints the ward COM
mitteemen, who are to control the ward
primaries for the selection of delegates to
the state convention. That means Taggart
is to control their appointment; that Tag
CART is to select the slate delegations and
is to dictate the policy of the Marion county
delegation in the convention His friends.
Joseph Kelley, Joseph Tanning and Henry
Warrum are candidates for state offices.
Another significant incident was noted at
the committee meeting yesterday Ex-
Judge Willard F. Cox was called on for a
speech. He said that In the convention he
was up part of the time and down part of
the time. and then finally realized that he
was down altogether Il am one of the
class that will stay down for some time to
come so far as personal political ambitions
are concerned" said he. Willard F. Cox
and his brother, Police Judge Cox have
been classed always as original silver men.
The former was a candidate in Thursdays
convention. He, with other silver men, real
lied that they were ''downed'' and will stay
doWned' for good. Nevertheless the speak
er went on to assure the committee that he
would stand by the party. Some one of the
other side had urged him to get on the
am a lvx7qS Tc m
old hickory Democratic wagon and there l
will stay Mr.. Cox deprecated the news
paper talk of factions and asserted that
he believed the talk had been exaggerated
Il know no factions" said he. Whatever
differences there may have been, let US try
to think they have not been so bad as the
newspapers made out"
Other silver men who were there were
not deceived by the disappointed silver can
didate's assurance that he was still ION the
band wagon and they say that his turning
down ranlxleS and will rankle in his heart
for good while. They all realize that the
gold Democrats, who Endorsed Taggart last
fall when he was running for mayor, but
consigned his silver sentiment to the dem
milton bowwows, are perfectly contented
with the result and look on 1t a victory
for themselves and as forecasting a greater
victory for the cause of sound money and a
death blow for free silver, so far as Indiana
is concerned, when the state convention
shall be held.
There was really little use for a meeting
of the county committee yesterday after
noon to elect Soseph Il. Bell county chair
man. Aside from the long time consumed
in making the roll call and the still longer
time consumed in speech making the work
of the committee required but a few mo-
ment's time. In the absence of retiring
Chairman John j. Rockford. who was stu
at home very i'll, the meeting was called to
order by Secretary James IL. Berry. VIII
liam E. English was proposed as temporary
chairman by Charles Polster and was unani-
mously elected Charles +. Barrett was
suggested for temporary secretary, but
stated that he could not remain for the en-
tire meeting, and Albert Earring, Mayor
Taggart's private secretary, was chosen. AS
the roll call proceeded many contests were
reported Bert Feibleman and Charles A.
korblay, jr were appointed additlonal Sec
retaries to keep track of the contests. The
roll call showed many absent, but a ma
iority present G. e. Barrett offered a reso-
luton providing that the election of the
chairman should proceed and that COM
mittee of five be appointed to pass on the
contests next Friday at the Cleveland Club.
This carried unanimously, and Mr.. English
named Charles +. Barrett, John Shea, John
l.. Lewis, c. A. Korblay, Jr., and Timothy
Griffin the contest committee. Charles Pol
ster then nominated Joseph e. Bell for
permanent county chairman. No other
name was suggested and his election was
made unanimous. Mr. Bell was called to
the chair and was applauded. He spoke
briefly, congratult.ting the Democrats on the
work of Thursdays convention and adJur-
coming campaign. He said not a word
about free silver. Mr.. Barrett was again
recognized to Introduce resolution author
izina the newly elected chairman to appoint
an executive committee of one from each
ward, with power to remove them for fail
ure to do their duty, and authorizing him
TO appoint a secretary and such other as
sistaTts as might be necessary. This reso-
luton carried without a dissenting voice.
Delegates were leaving Mr.. Bell announced
that the tag end of the county convention
would be held in Tomlinson Hall tomorrow
night instead of the Cleveland Club.
IHow about our credentials?' asked one
of the committee.
THE credentials were destroyed" said
Mr.. Bell There will be a committee APP
pointed of men well acquainted throughout
the county to stand at the doors of Tom
linson Hall and designate those who are en-
titled to be admitted.
Some of the delegates did not like this
idea. They could not see why their ere
dentials could not be given them again.
The credentials were not destroyed. They
were taken up at the box office in Tomln-
son Hall at Chairman Rochfords direction.
Tickets of admission 70 the hall were issued
in lieu OF the credentials. which were care
fully preserved and will be turned over to
Mr.. Bell to-day as Mr. Rochfords sue
cessor
Brief speeches were made by w. Il. Eng
llsh Leon O. Bailey, James r.
Curtis. Willard f. Cox and J. W.
Hoffman Mr.. English Indicated that
the party will oppose fusion. although IL
welcomes to it's ranks the Populists. Repub-
licans and Prohibitionists. Mr.. English did
not say that many of the gold Democrats
had already been welcomed TO IT, That