The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-01
THE POPS HOLD A WAKE
NEW LAW REMOVES ALL VALUE
FROM THE LEADERS SERVICES.
Fight Between MOtsinger and ROsen-
heimer for the Corpse, and
Then a Compromise.

The Populists from several parts Of the
State gathered in the English Hotel yes
terday and held a protracted wake. Ever
since the Legislature passed the law pre-
venting fusion, by declaring that no name
can appear on the official ballot more than
once, the doom of the Populist party has
been sealed. To all intents and purposes it
is now dead, and yesterdays gathering
was pitiable exhibition of the efforts of
the hirsutic gentlemen to galvanize into
semblance of life the stark limbs Of a pO-
litical corpse For good many years the
party was kept alive in this State by lead
ers who found it to their advantage to
manipulate it in favor of one or the other
of the great parties in every campaign
Last year the state committee left the
question of nominating a separate electoral
ticket in the hands of a committee of thir-
teen. This special committee had plenary
powers and it hawked the Populist party
about the political camps in search of the
highest bidder. The proposition was that
if the Democrats would sbuy there would
be fusion, and If the Republicans would
buy there would be no fusion. The Demo-
Gratis bought and there was fusion. With
fusion an impOssibility the occupation of
the leaders was gone and the party must
die This is the conclusion to which many
though they made no public ex-
preston of their views, yet
dismally in the corridors The situation
that impressed itself clearly on their minds
was that henceforth they must be either
Democrats or PopulistS-no half -and- half
business would go any more. The hopes of
straight-out Populist party are virtually
nil, but as there was nothing else to be done
yesterday except to make a pretense of put
ting the old concern on it's feet again, the
meeting passed several resolves and where
asses and adjourned declaring that all was
lovely.
I'VE are sorting ourselves nut of the Dem
ocratic ranks" said one of the statesmen,
and we are again united family, with no
fusion proclivities."
During the morning and afternoon what
was called a conference was held, and at
night the state committee held a session
that lasted to nearly midnight. At the con-
ference there were about twenty-five Popu-
lists. S. L. Williams, of VincenneS, was
chosen chairman and l.. Il. Collier of Ko-
komo, secretary The meeting was held be-
hind closed doors. and the mystery that
pervaded the whole affair was very depres-
sing. But when late in the afternoon it was
all over the gentlemen gathered around the
corridors and held public love feast in
which they denounced each other as Demo-
Gratis or enemies TO the principles Of the
Shoals, caused the most trouble. He came
to the gathering with a few friends,
such as E. l.. Collier J. b. Rogers
of Logansport and the Harbisons, father
and son, of Vincennes, with the intent of
getting himself boosted into the leadership
and also to have the Nonconformist, of this
city, deprived Of its prestige as the state or
FIGHTING FOR THE CORPSE.
Mr.. Motsinger is chairman Of the reorgan-
ization committee appointed for this state
at the Nashville conference of last June,
and it has long been his desire to see the
regularly created state committee deprived
of it's power, while his own committee
would become the fountain of authority.
Under the direction Of his committee three
districts in the State have already chosen
district chairmen. These districts are the
First. which chose A. L. Helm, of Chand-
Ter: the Second, which chose A. ". Will
liams and the Eleventh, which chose L. f..
Collier The end sought to be accomplished
by Motsinger was TO have these three
chairman declared members OF the state
the committee would be had and himself
made state chairman. Bat his scheming
proved abortive. His friends tried TO make
IL out that Rosenheimer and the whole state
committee as at present organized was a
Democratic side show, and that If the mid
dle-of- the-roaders wanted to save the party
they must revolu6iionize the committee.
But the majority OF the middle-of- road
ers appeared to be conseryatiyely inclined.
their would-be champion with much force.
He made a motion that the state COM
mittee be requested TO reorganize, admit
his three friends and elect new Of
ficers and Ii il said the motion
Was defeated two 10 one After much argu-