The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-02
Probably q Goebel Scheme to Cast
Discredft ON the Democrats Who
Are Opposing Him.
HARDIN's STRENGTH WANING
ANTS WILL ORGANIZE BOTH
BRANCHES OF LEGISLATURE.
Republicans, However, Still Hopeful
of Defeating Blackburn with the
Aid of the Latter's Enemies.


to the ability of the Goebel Democrats to
organize both houses of the Legislature was
demonstrated by the attendance in the
Democratic caucus tonight. In the House
caucus all of the .ffty-eight Democrats
answered to roll call and participated.
South Trimble, of Franklin county. was
nominated for speaker on the thirteenth
ballot. Cantrill, of Scott, was the candi-
date of the .original' Goebel men and
Trimble's nomination, therefore, is pleas
ing to the element which supported P.
Wat Hardin for the nomination for Gov
ernor.
| In the Senate four Democrats remained
out. They were Senators Alexander, Hays,
| Gillespie and Roberts. Senator Hill was
| sick and absent. but is not classed with
| the dlssenters. In the Senate caucus Sen
| ator Haraid created a sensation by max
| ing an alleged expose of the anti-Goebel
leaders. declaring that he had been ap-
preached by ]. H. Whallen, of Louisville.
and paid $4.5OO to remain out of the caucus.
The money, he said. had been placed in a
| box with the Louisville Trust Company,
the key to which he passed up to Senator
Goebel. who was presiding over the caucus.
ending his speech by declaring that he had
| entered into the deal for the purpose of
exposing Whallen and further that there
| was not money enough in the world to
make him disloyal to his party and to his
| State. Goebel was nominated for presi-
| dent pro tenn, Claude Desha for chief
clerk and William Cromwell for assistant
clerk. The entire slate of the Goebel or
| ganization for places in the Senate went
| through.
| The local courts promise to play an i'm
portant part in the contest now going on
In addition to the fact that Judge Cantrill
will tomorrow hear arguments on the mo-
tion to enjoin Governor Taylor's appointees
| for election commissioners from entering
upon those offices it is said tonight that
the grand jury will take up the Harald-
Whallen alleged attempted bribery mat
ter, and that Whallen and other prominent
people may be indicted. 1t was announced
late tonight that a warrant had already
been issued for the arrest of Whallen on
| the charge of attempting to bribe Harald.
| HARALD'S STATEMENT.
After the caucus Senator Harald made a
statement in which he said he was ap-
preached shortly before Christmas at his
home in Russellville by man who asked
him If he could be persuaded to vote
against Senator Goebel. He told him he
might, and an appointment was made ito
| go to Louisville next morning and see
John Whallen." Harald then described his
trip, saying he and a companion met Whal-
| len in a room on Jefferson street. He con-
tinued: After some preliminary CONVEX
| sation Whallen asked what was my price
| for agreeing to stay out Of the caucus, vote
| against Goebel, etc. I said / wanted 5000.
He replied that 5000 was an outrageous
price, and suggested $500. / would not
consent. and gradually he raised the
amount to $45O0."
Harald says Whallen then went to the
Fidelity Trust Company, after which the
two went to the Louisville Trust Com
pany, where a box was rented and the
money. four one-thousand-dollar bills, and
five OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES bills, was de-
posted. Harald continued: ''Whallen then
said to the vault ~.erk: Now let the doctor
register the box is his name. We have gone
into an agreement that he is to keep both
keys, but he is not to open the box unless
1 am present. The number of the box is
$50. as shown on keys turned over to the
| caucus" Senator Harald said when he
reached Frankfort he was invited to a
meeting of anti-Goebel men at the Fleming
Hotel, where a statement of the reasons
for opposing Goebel was presented for sig
nature by those present. He excused him.
self, however, and entered the Democratic
cucus, where he made the charge of at
tempted uribery
The result of the caucusing and other
things transpiring during the day led to a
| big falling-off in the Blackburn stock
| tonight and At is admittedly questionable
whether the p. Wat Hardin movement
| will become as formidable as ii promised
| to on Hardins arrival here last night
| Hardin Is still on the ground, however
and he and his lieutenants are working
| like Trojans to hold the anti -Goebel ele-
ments together.
The Republicans decided tonight to hold
a conference tomorrow and nominate q
straight Republican slate of candidates.
This action was taken when it became ap-
parent that the Republican anti-Goebel
coalition could not organize either house
The anti-Goebel leaders say the large at
tendanceN at the Democratic caucuses to-
night does not indicate anything as to the
gubernatoral contest or the senatorship. as
In the Senate the Goebel men and anti
Goebel meh entered into deal regarding
division of NE Offices in that branch. and
that several others would have stayed ou,
but for this agreement. They also claim
that the anti-Gcebel men were brought into
the House caucls by like trade. and that
IL extends no farther than to-morrow's pro-
ceedings. II
Tae lobby of TIP 'anti-Goebel Democrats