The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-08-21

DEMOCRATIC CITY CONVENTION WILL
BE HELD NEXT SATURDAY.
Mayor Me- Democratic Leaders mt
Grand Hotel Yesferday-HopefuI,
However, of Escaping.

Mayor Thomas Taggart will be renom-
mated by the Democratic city convention
to be held in Tomlinson Hall next Satur-
day morning at 1880 o'clock. when all the
candidates, including counciImen at large.
will be named. This was decided at a meet
ing held at the Grand Hotel yesterday
morning by a number of the local Demo-
cratic leaders, including City Controller
Johnson. Deputy City Attorney Bell, Chair
man Joseph T. Tanning and other lights.
The meeting was held in a room upstairs.
and after the gentlemen had been In session
for a brief time discussing the outlook. the
mayor was summoned. He was told that it
was the unanimous sentiment of the party
that he should be nominated. Mr.. Taggart
protested that he had already held the Of
fee four years and was entitled to a rest.
IL was explained to the mayor that the con-
vention would probably nominate him any
now. One Of those present saws the mayor
replied: well. If the convention dominates.
1 will have to accept" following this with
another protest against being drafted.
Chairman flaming will issue a call to-day
for the convention. The primaries will be
held Friday night. There will be a dele
gate in the convention for every thirty
eight votes cast In each precinct for Mayor
Taggart at the last municipal election. and
one for each fraction of sixteen votes or
more.
Later in the day the mayor was asked
what was done at the meeting and what
bearing IL had on his candidacy. He replied
tina he was not a candidate and would
make 1t plain TO the nominating convention
that his record as mayor and his hard party
work in the past had earned him the right
to ask for some consideration when his
| health and his private business was suffer
ing for his attention.
But, suppose you are nominated by ac-
clamation and pressure is brought to bear
on you, will you still decline?" he was
asked.
THAT Is an improbable and almost i'm
possible situation and, should 1t occur, !
think 1 can convince the convention that 1t
has no need Of me, with so much good
material at hand. / do not think Dore John
son will be a candidate. but i feel free in
saying that the party will have Albert
Sahm, Capt. William E.. English and many
| others well known TO the voters of the city
to choose FROM / trust the Democrats will
not force me TO take more energetic steps 70
get out of the harness for they don't need
| me, and L need rest"
Chairman Tanning. when asked for his
Il VIE" Oh the matter, SdId. mayor IdSSdIt
still persists in his declaration that he will
not be a candidate. He explains that he
has had four years of the office and is en-
titled to a rest, but the sentiment of the
Democrats Is so strong for his renomina.
ton that. when the convention is held, we
viii nominate him 0y reclamation and In
that condition pass the matter up to him."
Every city official has been interviewed
sRce the return of Mayor Taggart and each
one insists that, while the mayor is prob
ably sincere in his desire to retire from of
hce,- party pressure will compel him TO be z
candidate at the last moment.
1t IS understood that, at the meeting yes
terday morning, Mayor Taggart's attention
was called to the fact that the administra
ton had undertaken many public enter
prises which, in their infant state, demand
ed the care Of their founders. Prominen
among them was the park system. which /
was felt to be the duty Of the present ad
ministration to see on it's feet before think
ing of retiring. 1t is said the mayor wa
also given to understand that the burden
some work of the office, in case he 4
elected, would be assumed by Mr.. johnson
willingly.
When asked about the meeting last nigh
the mayor said that he did not know of an,
meeting having been held, except that
few leading Democrats had talked over TIL
situation together. hat he had taken n,
part in IL and that, in his opinion, it coult
hardly be called a meeting at all.