The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-23
Two Sessions Held to Discuss the Com
ing Convention, with Chairman
O'Brien at the Helm.
REPORTS FROM THE DISTRICTS
PRESIDING OFFICER FOR STATE
CONVENTION EXCITEs INTEREST.
Probable PIanks in the State Plat
fOrm-Some Gossip About Cam
didates for State Offices.

The Democratic State committee held a
meeting at the Grand Hotel yesterday and
practically completed the arrangements for
the State convention. which will convene
at Tomlinson Hall on June T. The COM
mittee held two sessions-one at IL o'clock
in the morning and another in the after
noon. Chairman O'Brien presided. All of
the members of the central committee were
present and about twenty members of the
executive committee were there. consid-
cradle part of the session was devoted to
reports from the different districts
They were very satisfactory" said
Chairman OBrien after the meeting 'In
some parts of the State" said the chair
man, 1.-The Democratic victories in the re-
cent city and town elections were attributed
to the trend or change of public opinion
and the members fell that the results will
be of great benefit this fall" The commit
teemen admitted that in other parts of
the State the Democratic successes were
due entirely to local conditions. Short ad-
dresses were made by Benjamin F. Shive-
ley, S. 4. Morss, John w. Kern, Dan w.
Simms, John Nolan, Parks NJ. Martin,
Joseph T. Tanning and Lincoln Dixon in
which the speakers dealt with the condi-
UOHS III the Gldle mere was also a speech
from Senator Fleming on conditions in the
Twelfth district. All of the speakers were
either members of the regular committee or
the executive committee.
James w. Fortune, who a captain in
the SpaniSh-American war was made SER
geant-at-arms for the State convention He
will have about thirty assistants. Ii is
stated that all of these assistants will be
veterans of the Spanish-American war
The question of who shall be chairman of
the State convention was not brought up"
said Chairman O'Brien yesterday evening
My personal view is that the committee
had right to take up this matter and sug-
gest a man for the Craftsmanship because
1 believe that whoever presides ought to
have plenty of time in which TO prepare A
speech. He should have time TO think about
what he is going to say in justice to himself
and TO his party. However, L did not feel
like bringing the question before the COM
mittee because | felt that l had no right
to bring up a matter that the members
might feel was not properly one of the
functions of the committee"
The committee discussed the State plat
form at some length. In my opinion" said
the chairman, the platform will be made
up of the issues that are before the people
to-day. Imperialism will, of course be one
of the topics. There will be a strong tariff
plank. 1t will urge a tariff for revenue
will be a strong antitrust plank and the
State administration will be arraigned for
CXtravagan in the management of benev-
olent and penal institutions. We will COM
mend the soldiers for their valor and
patriotism in the Spanish American war
and also in the Philippines We will declare
against the ship subsidy steal. against the
lishment OF branch banks as provided for in
the Fowler bill