The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-01
HACKNEY'S ACTION
DEMOCRATS NOW TALK OF "wHAT
THEY WE'RE GOING TO DO"
The Supreme Judge Wrote Chairman
Martin a Letter Which Was
: Evidently Suppressed.

When the semi-official statement was
made yesterday that Judge Leonard j.
Hackney had declined the nomination for
reelection to the Supreme Bench of the
State because he could not conscientiously
swallow the 16-to-1 plank in the party plat
form it set the Democrats to thinking of the
effect this statement would have on the
voters of the party throughout the State.
In their excitement they overlooked the
delicate way in which Judge Hackney pre-
scented his .declination to the voters of the
State, and not content 10 let his statement
stand as a reason for his action in declin-
ing to run for a second term, the party
managers set to work with innuendo to pub
lish to the world the statement that had
not Judge Hackney announced his with
drawal from the ticket when he did 1t was
the purpose of the executive committee of
the Democratic party to summarily remove
his name from the ticket and justify the
act with the statement that Judge Hackney
could not command the votes OF the silver
men to whom the party is irrevocably
pledged by the silver plank in the platform
Prominent men of both parties VINO nave
been interviewed on the subject feel that
Judge Hackney, in giving as his reason
for declining to run on the ticket that ne
meant to accept position with railroad
corporation, did so out OF consideration Tor
the Democratic party and, while truthful
statement, 1t was the easiest way OF drop
ping from the ticket without occasioning
any discussion by enemies of the party.
All these men, with equal readiness, admit
that the Democratic managers in their zeal
10 foster the I'opocratic vote failed, to ap-
preciate the dellsacy Of the JuriSts action.
The executive committee Of the Demo-
cratic party d1sclaims having made the
statement attributed to it, but the source OF
information Is too high to allow full weight
to be given TO is denial Among the Re
publicans and Cold Democrats of the city
it is considered evident that the denialS are
meant to paclfy the Gold Democrats who
regard Judge Hackney as something OF a
leader, at least as a representative OF the
best that there is in local Democracy.
The Democratic decentralization caused by
Judge Hackney's withdrawal is evidenced
by the. way the Sentinel treated the matter
yesterday. Way down in an obscure corner,
under a one-line head, was few lines an
nouncing his action.
A LETTER IN MARTINS HANDS.
Judge Hackney said yesterday at Shelby
vile that he had no inclination to speak
publicly of his private and business affairs.
but that the Journals informant was seri-
ously mistaken in the belief that he, the
judge would this fall support the Repub-
lican ticket or that he would declare any
antagonism to the Democratic party any
of its candidates. He said: 1.-THE step have
taken has been after long consideration as
to my duties to myself and family and my
obligations to party and friends. l have
decided to retire from official life and from
the political field only from feeling that
my best interests so require, and 1T has been
with the most kindly consideration for the
Democratic party and it's candidates. In
addition to my formal withdrawal, filed with
the Governor, have placed a letter in the
hands of Chairman Martin, which will be
made public at his pleasure and in which L
party That letter will leave no room for
reasonable doubt that am a Democrat.