Evening star., 1898-10-15
Republicans Fear the Loss of First
and Eighth Districts.
UNPOPULAR NOMINATIONS MADE
Services Of Perry Heath Needed as
a Peacemaker.
HARRIsON's}' ABSENCE FELT
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

| Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star
| INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, October IA, 1S9S
| Trouble is looming up before the republi-
cans in this state, and the feeling of IN
easiness among the leaoers has grown per-
| cept1biy within the last fCrty-eight hours
Ihey begin TO fear they may lose the
eighth district. This ureasiness comes
! from several causes. Madison is the lar
| Sest county in the district and two years
ago gave a handsome plurality for Major
Henry. 1t is the queen county of the gas
belt. Within its limits are located the
largest glass works in the state and the
| great tin plate works. Two years ago the
worklngmen of this county voted almost
| solidly for Mckinley and protection, but
| prosperity has not come in as large chunks
| as they expected and now there is a very
| marked feeling of discontent. If there
| Shouid be revolution in this county, and
II should give one of its old-time democrat tic
majorities, the political complexion of the
| district would be changed
| NeiIher the democrats Tor republicans
| look Tor any such decided overturning, but
| the former are full of faith that the re-
| publican majority of two years ago will be
| changed to one for them. The republicans
| admit that there is danger of their ma jor-
| lty being greatly reduced but are not will
| ing to concede they will lose the county.
| The conditions in the county are enough to
! make the republicans of the district un-
| easy Since the last election the repuDli-
| cans have lost their best friend in the
| county by the death of Major Doxey. He
had more influence with the workinaman
| than any other man in the state. He had
| been their friend and had used his great
wealth to better their condition. While
he lived the republicans could be sure cf
L large per cent of the labor vote. His
death has practically left the party without
a leader in that county.
nisSeusiOnS Candidate
The other great matter of distress to the
republicans in the district arises from dis
sensions in their own ranks over the can
didate nominated. Delaware county is the
banner republican county of the district
and state. but for some time there have
been growing up several factions in the
party. George Mccullough, who fell heir
to Mr.. Gowdy, lives IN that county. He is
a wealthy manufacturer. but has always
been al war with organized labor He had
many enemies in his own party, and from
some cause never fully explained to the
public he retired from the Craftsmanship of
the state committee. When it came time
to nominate a candidate for Congress Della
ware county put up candidate in the per
son of David Cromer.." Cromer had been
mayor of the city of Muncie, and was built
on the ''wide-opep' order politically. Del
aware county has many Quakers, and they
are all republicans. They did not approve
| Oh tHc CONNlNldl niDltS Sl MT. ATOHltt, anu
shortly before the meeting of the conven-
tiOn they issued very numerouSly signed
protest against his nomination, declaring
| that he could not possibly carry the tuil
strength of the party.
The publication of tins protest created
great sensation at the time and no one be-
| lieved it was possible for him to carry off
the nomination.; but ne and his friends
We're snrewd and active workers. The con-
VentiOn hal been called to meet in a re-
| mote corner of the district, and he and his
friends chartered railroad trains, hlled them
with shooters and thus created pressure
upon the delegates before the convention
| was organized. A long and bitter contest
| resulted, but Cromer finally won. 1t was
thought the opposition to him would die
away and that he would practically com
| mand the whole strength of his party.
1t has now developed that the opposition
| has by no means ceased, but has actually
| gained in Vigor. Just how extensive it is
| cannot be determined, but the fact that it
| is there and is persistent gives the demo
crats the opportunity to make the most of
| it in other parts of the district. At demo-
| cratic headquarters they are now actually
| claiming the district The republicans make
| the same claim, but from the hustle going
| on and the anxiety to flood the district with
their best speakers and all other means of
| holding the party steadfast evidences that
| they considerably alarmed over the out
| look.
| Home of Mr.. Perry Heath.
| This district is the home of First Assist
| ant postmaster beIltTdi f1tdlu ana DeId-
| ware is his native county. He is exceed
| ngly popular in the district. and especially
| in Delaware county, the seat of the trouble.
He is also noted as. a peacemaker, and his
| friends are anxiously hoping that he will
come out and get matters in line. 1t was
Mr. Heath's shreWd management which
gave Indiana to Mckinley at the St Louis
| convention, for which Mr.. Gowdy got the
credit Mr.. Gowdy's bad management had
practically lost the state to Mckinley. 1t
was certain the state convention would re-
| fuse TO instruct for him, and Mr.. Gowdy
| had consented to accept a resolution mere
| ly indorsing McKineys previous record
| when Mr.. Heath came on the carpet. He
strengthened the spines of the Mckinley
adherents and announced that nothing but
positive instructions would be accepted He
had not assumed the management of the
boom but a few hours when the opposition
| found that he had matters in such shape
that he could force the resolution of in
! structions through, and they gave up the
struggle. If ever his party needed him in
the state 1t is now.
Matters in the first district are going from
bad to worse for the republicans. The fight
between the republican factions is waging
with more than ordinary bitterness. There
was lull week or two ago and the hopes
of the republicans grew strong but they
are now down to zero again. Evansville
was the seat of the Gresham strength in
1888, when he contested the state with Har-
| rison AT that time Mr.. Fairbanks was the
leader of the Gresham wing of the party
and today is their idol He has now return
ed from Canada. and 1t is believed will soon
heal all difficulties in the party in the first
district. If they can be healed at all he
can do it. He is addressing himself TO the
work and is giving the state committee his
aid in every direction.
Harrison's Absence Felt
The absence of Gen. Harrison is still feI;
by the republicans, and his enemies in the
ranks of his own party are insinuating that
he is hostile to Mr.. Mckinley and will do
nothing that wil1 tend to help him The
President is to pass through the state on
his way back to Washington from Omaha
and the republicans are hoping much good
will result from his trip. They do not ex-
pect him to make any political speeches.
but they expect that his popularity will
help to bring out the vote. II is danger
Gus experiment. There, is no doubt that the
trip of Mr.. Blaine in 1884, when he was
candidate lost him the vote of Indiana
and the people will look upon the journey of
Mr.. Mckinley as an electioneering tour by
the President, who ought to be above all
parties. and the chances are it will lose
votes for his party