The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-21
Each of His Opponents Is Hopeful and
They Are Relying on n COM
bination Against Steele.
HEADQUARTERS ARE THRoNGED
MUCH PRESSURE BROUGHT TO
BEAR ON THE DELEGATES.
Cass County Furnishes second
Choice PrObIem-Miam mi and Black
ford in an Agreement.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WABASH. Ind. May 2o.-Interest in the
greatest congressional fight ever made in
the Eleventh district is growing rapidly.
with the gathering of the delegates and
friends of the four aspirants for office.
The first contingent from outside TO ar
rive in Wabash was that of Fred Lands.
of Logansport. who reached here at 1880
o'clock this morning. Mr.. Lands was
never more confident, and expressed the
belief that he would win. Mr.. Lands looks
for twenty-six votes the FIRST ballot.
S. L. Mcconnell. of Logansport, who is
Mr.. Landiss manager. says the delega-
tion will be for Lands as long as ne wants
it, He also disputed the correctness OF
the dispatch sent out from Logansport
that Major Steele was the favorite OF any
considerable number of the delegates on
second choice. Mr. Mcconnell said that
not to exceed five of the Cass county dele
CATION would 90 to Steele with Lands out
of the way.
DIR. Charles II. Goode and part OF the
Huntington delegation came over the Wa
bash at noon. DR.. Goode said he was
we'll satisfied with the situation. and ex-
poets to have at least thirty-ive votes on
the first ballot. and anticipates a steady
growth. He claims that Major Steele has
no strength in Huntington county on any
ballot, and that should he (Goode) with
draw, the Huntington county votes would
go to Cowgirl and Lands.
Major Steele came over from Marion late
this afternoon. and his wonted composure
was without a ruffle. He realizes that a
strong and united effort is being made TO
defeat him. but asserts that there is no
possibility Of its success. 1t may take same
time to get the necessary votes. but he
AYERS that they will come to him when.
after many fruitless ballots. other candi-
dates get out of the way. He is claiming
with confidence a large proportion OF the
Lands delegation In Cass soon lands
sees that he cannot win and he says that
two or three votes each will come from
Wabash and Huntington counties. Major
Steele does not expect TO lose any of the
Grant county delegates. Notwithstanding
the claims Of his opponents. and IL is clear
to-day that great pressure is being en-
ployed TO hold the Grant county men in
line.
Milton Kraus. OF Peru. will be the tenn
porary chairman of the convention, and
John A Bonham. of Hartford City. Will be
the permanent chairman. All Of the candi-
dates agreed that the officers should come
from counties which have candidates.
All the candidates headquarters on the sec
ond floor OF the fremont Hotel were opened
this afternoon. They are practically adjoin-
ing. and crowds filed through them with
out intermission.
The big tent is now in place on a vacant
lot on South Miami street within two blocks
of the business district. George Fogman,
of Chicago, has charge OF its erection and
will remove IL after the convention.
The supporters OF Cary Cowgirl this
afternoon issued a circular appeal TO the
delegates for support for their man. The
circular has attached to it all the names
of the Wabash county delegation.
The demand for tickets is remarkable. At
noon to-day nearly all the stage tickets
were disposed of and two-thirds of the
general admission tickets had been dis
tributed. with anything like a pleasant
day the tent will not begin 10 sccommo-
date the crowd. now estimated at 7.oo0
Every preparation has been made by the
local committees for taking care OF the
crowds All the churches have arranged
10 serve dinners. the lodge rooms Of all
orders will be thrown open and commit
tees will see that all who come are cared
for
This evening there was announced the
terms of an agreement entered into by the
ten anti-Steele delegates from Miami coun-
ty and the nine anti-Steele men from Black
ford by which they obligate themselves TO
support any candidate other than Steele.
The announcement caused somewhat OF q
sensation. but the Steele men have been
moved thereby to greater effort and are
ton. Whether a break in the Lands
forces can be effected is problemstical.
Late this evening the outcome OF the con-
vention Is as much in doubt as ever. The
anti-Steele men will organize the conven-
ton. but that will confer little advantage.
as practically all contests. save that in this
county, have been settled.
Major steele's supporters tonight are
claiming he will be nominated early as
suming that the three opposing candidates
will be unable 10 deliver the vote OF their
counties against him. All interest is CEN
tered in the Cass county delegation. as IL
il there Major Steele must get his votes.
Tonight it is asserted on good authority
that Major Steele is more friendly with
lands than any other candidate. and that
in case Steele cannot be nominated. his
strength will be thrown 10 Lands which
will nominate him. Steele however. con-
tends no such emergency will arise. On the
first ballot. the leader OF the Marion dele
cation says Steele will have Grant county
solid. and a total OF s. votes: lands claims
26 Cowgirl. 30. and Goode. s.
There some delay in reaching an
agreement by the district committee, which
met at o'clock tonight. in the matter