The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-21
Seating Of the Nine jackson Township
Delegates the OstensibIe Cause
of the Withdrawal.
OF THE RESOLUTIONS
CONCISE AND PATRIOTIC PLEDGE OF
PARTY FEALTY.
Large Crowd Present. Including Many
women-Madison County Repub-
Iicans-Other State Politics.
pecial to the indianapolis Journal

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
KOKOMO. Ind. March 2O.-The Ninth
district convention, which renominated
Charles B. Lands for Congress here to-day,
was marred by the withdrawal of the forty
eight Baldwin delegates. No one sought 10
stay them, and with the dignity which they
felt was becoming abused delegation
they marched from the convention hall.
The bolting delegation was led by George
Shirts, of Noblesville. To many of the
delegates in the hall the action of the Bald
win men surprise, but later informa-
tion showed that IL had been arranged dur
ing the morning that unless the entire dele
cation was recognized by the convention
they would withdraw from the hall.
The convention met at 10 o'clock this
morning in Sipe's Opera House. a pretty
new edifce. that was filled with delegates
and spectators. Mr.. lands was renomi-
mated by accamation. the name of Mr..
Baldwin not being presented. The conven-
tion was called TO order by Fred Sims,
chairman of the Ninth district. A brass
band furnished the usual convention music.
The theater was appropriately decorated
with American hags and a large picture OF
William Mckinley. drsped in black, was
QISpldNeO- On ellneF SlOe OF the portrait
were busts of Washington and Lincoln.
Many women were present. occupying
chairs on the stage and in the boxes. Most
Of the delegates wore badges, many of them
bearing the portrait of Representative Ian
dis. In the theater were many OF the st -
candidates and here and there could be seen
the familiar face of some well-known
statesman. James F. Statesman. OF Peru.
s1..
right Of the stage. John r. Bonnell. of
Terre Haute. or, more properly OF Mont
gomery county, in the crowd. II. g.
Petit, United States marshal, was among
the interested spectators
The convention was opened with prayer
by the Rev. w. d. Psrr. OF Kokomo. Harry
Sheridan, of Frankfort. was permanent
chairman and Ed t. staley. OF Upton. was
secretary. The incidents leading TO the
withdrawal of the Baldwin men started
when Finley P. Mount. of Montgomery
county, chairman OF the committee on Gre
dentials. read the committees report and
moved it's adoption. This report provided
for the seating OF nine Lands men selected
at convention held in Jackson township
OF Hamilton county. There were two sets
of delegates from this township. The Bald
win delegates had been selected by a COM
mittee appointed at mass convention held
in Noblesville. This convention. II seems.
gave Mr.. Baldwin the right TO name COM
mittee which should select all the county's
delegates TO the convention. The delegates
selected were naturally Baldwin men.
REVOLT IN JACKSON.
The Jackson township Republicans be-
came dissatisfied with this proceeding. con-
tending that the mass convention had no
right TO take the action il did. The result
was that at a convention held i'm this town
ship nine men who were favorable to Mr.
Lands were selected. Chairman Mount
said the committee from the records it
had before it, concluded that the men Sc
lected at the Jackson township conven-
ton were entitled TO a place in the con-
vention. These men would. of course. take
the places of the Baldwin men from Jack
son township. The forty-eight Baldwin
men then decided to withdraw, but did not
do so until Mr. Shirts had made an appeal
to the convention setting out his and his
colleagues side OF the case. Mr.. Shirts
said that all the other townships approved
the action of the mass convention. lie
contended that there was nothing per-
sonal i'm the contention of himself and his
friends-their action was simply to MAIN
tain the party organization I'm Hamilton
county. He pointed 20 Hamilton countys
record as stanch Republican county
When the waves OF Democracy had swept
over other counties. spreading political
havoc. Hamilton county had stood like
Gibraltar-firm and solid I'VE claim
be Republicans Of the highest type" he
said. You are asked here 60 seat men
who could not be elected delegates by the
people OF Hamilton county. We claim We
are entitled to justice, and that Is all We
The other side contended that the mass
convention had no right to proceed as Il
did. on the theory that there was nothing In
for the action taken. Chairman Mount.
of the committee on credentials. said the
jackson township convention was called
by the county central committee. and II had
a right 10 meet and appoint delegates
If the delegates or the Jackson town
ship convention were legally selected all
the rest of as have been Illegally selected"
declared Joel Stafford. a Baldwin man.
as Mr.. Mount sat down. After little
more speech making the convention then
voted 10 concur i'm the report OF the COM
mittee on ceredntials. The vote stood 1872
for the majority report and - Tor minori-
" report which Mr.. Shirts had submitted.
Mr.. Shirts then arose TO a question OF
privilege and announced that he and his
colleagues had no further place In the con-
vention. The Baldwin men then slowly fled
out Of the hall, and the nine other delegates
from Jackson township took the vacant
chairs IL is understood that these nine
Lands men intended giving their votes TO
Mr. Baldwin, as they felt that ne ought 10
have his own county solid. In the call OF
counties for nominations Mr. Landis's was
the only name brought before the conven-
tiOn.
The convention adopted resolutions de-
ploring the death OF William Mckinley.
General Harrison and Governor Mount.
The administration OF President Roosevelt
was indorsed and praise bestowed on Sena-
tors Fairbanks and BeVeridge and Repre-
sentative Lands. In conclusion the reso-
lutions said. At the beginning OF the
campaign OF 1892 we again pledge our faith
In and renew our allegiance 70 the grand
old Republican party. II has lifted this